How far is Lake Charles, LA from Bayou Cane, LA?

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Bayou Cane, LA is about 174.1 miles (280.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 152.4 miles (245.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
174.12 mi
03h 22m
Flight
152.44 mi
245.33 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Charles.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
152.44 mi
Kilometers
245.33 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.12 mi
Kilometers
280.22 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bayou Cane
Mon, Apr 20, 9:04 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Mon, Apr 20, 12:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-20T05:42
Arrive Bayou Cane
Mon, Apr 20, 9:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:23 AM to 11:23 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Charles
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Youngsville
LA

Suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States of America

From Lake Charles
87 mi
01h 41m
To Bayou Cane
87.1 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
75°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Charles and Bayou Cane.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles and Bayou Cane.

  1. 1

    Start on Enterprise Boulevard

    146 m · 15 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

  2. 2

    Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Belden Street

    28 m · 2 sec · Belden Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left

    1211 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    70.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 182

    1334 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    93 m · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto North University Avenue

    4 mi · 7 min · North University Avenue

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Southeast Evangeline Thruway

    154 m · 8 sec · Southeast Evangeline Thruway

  10. 10

    Continue on Southwest Evangeline Thruway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Southwest Evangeline Thruway

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Morgan Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

    549 ft · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive

  14. 14

    Turn left onto St Etienne Road

    1 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street

    3032 ft · 52 sec · Young Street

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    2434 ft · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    995 ft · 13 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    885 ft · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1151 ft · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1.2 km · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    81.7 mi · 1 hr 29 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    2028 ft · 49 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right

    120 m · 10 sec

  24. 24

    Turn straight onto West Main Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · West Main Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Charles and Bayou Cane.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Veterans Memorial Expressway
83.9 mi · 48%
Belden Street
70.4 mi · 40%
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
4.64 mi · 3%
West Main Street
4.26 mi · 2%
North University Avenue
3.98 mi · 2%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right

81.7 mi · 01h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.7 mi
152.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Youngsville
01h 41m from Lake Charles
Leave By
10:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lake Charles and Partly Sunny near Bayou Cane.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Charles to Bayou Cane?

The road trip is about 174.1 miles (280.2 km) and usually takes 03h 22m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Youngsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87 miles from Lake Charles and 87.1 miles from Bayou Cane.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 152.4 miles (245.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.25 one way or $46.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lake Charles and Partly Sunny near Bayou Cane.

Stop Ideas Near Youngsville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Youngsville and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 11.1 mi away

Parks City Hall

Parks , LA
1010 Martin St, Parks, LA 70582
Rating 4.3/5 10 reviews Park
Lafayette Consolidated Government
Meeting point 10.9 mi away

Lafayette Consolidated Government

Lafayette , LA
705 W University Ave, Lafayette, LA 70506
Rating 3.4/5 9 reviews City government office,Government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 10.3 mi away

Housing Authority of Lafayette

Lafayette , LA
100 C O Cir, Lafayette, LA 70501
Rating 3.2/5 10 reviews Housing authority
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 7.3 mi away

City of St. Martinville Tourist Information Center

Saint Martinville , LA
125 S New Market St, St Martinville, LA 70582
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist information center

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Youngsville.

RAIL

Lafayette

14 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

New Iberia

19 mi away
West Washington St.
BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

87 mi away
1253 Florida St.
RAIL

Lake Charles

119 mi away
100 Ryan Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Bayou Cane. Straight-line distance: 152.44 mi (245.33 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Bayou Cane

#2 Bayou Cane

City in Louisiana, United States of America

Population19,355
Coordinates29.6241000, -90.7512000
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Bayou Cane (-90.7512, 29.6241)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 280 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.14 gal
23.26 L · about $23.25
Round trip
$46.50
12.28 gal · 46.52 L
Estimated CO2
54.6 kg one way
Round trip: 109.1 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $23.25 $46.50
Mid-grade $4.26 $26.15 $52.30
Premium $4.63 $28.40 $56.79
Diesel $5.42 $33.25 $66.50

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Louisiana · Apr 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Bayou Cane. The current time is 05:42:14.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.