How far is Lake Charles, LA from Bayou Gauche, LA?
The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Bayou Gauche, LA is about 199.4 miles (320.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 169.6 miles (272.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 52m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Charles and Bayou Gauche.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles and Bayou Gauche.
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1
Start on Enterprise Boulevard
146 m · 15 sec · Enterprise Boulevard
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2
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
1.6 mi · 3 min · Enterprise Boulevard
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3
Turn right onto Belden Street
28 m · 2 sec · Belden Street
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4
Take the ramp slight left
1211 ft · 30 sec
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5
Merge slight left
70.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward LA 182
1334 ft · 33 sec
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7
Keep slight right
93 m · 8 sec
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8
Turn slight right onto North University Avenue
4 mi · 7 min · North University Avenue
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9
Merge slight left onto Southeast Evangeline Thruway
154 m · 8 sec · Southeast Evangeline Thruway
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10
Continue on Southwest Evangeline Thruway
4.6 mi · 6 min · Southwest Evangeline Thruway
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11
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi · 3 min · North Morgan Avenue
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12
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi · 3 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway
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13
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
549 ft · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive
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14
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road
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15
At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street
3032 ft · 52 sec · Young Street
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
2434 ft · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
995 ft · 13 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
885 ft · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
1151 ft · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
1.2 km · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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21
Keep slight right
106.3 mi · 1 hr 57 min
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22
Turn right onto WPA Road
2.9 mi · 5 min · WPA Road
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23
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayou Gauche Road
2.5 mi · 4 min · Bayou Gauche Road
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Bayou Gauche Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Charles and Bayou Gauche.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right
106 mi · 01h 57m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bayou Gauche.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lake Charles to Bayou Gauche?
The road trip is about 199.4 miles (320.9 km) and usually takes 03h 52m 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?
Lydia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.6 miles from Lake Charles and 99.8 miles from Bayou Gauche.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 169.6 miles (272.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.8 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 9:16 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.33 one way or $56.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bayou Gauche.
Stop Ideas Near Lydia
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City of St. Martinville Tourist Information Center
Loreauville Town Hall
St Martinville Recreation Center
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lydia.
New Iberia
Lafayette
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Schriever
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Bayou Gauche. Straight-line distance: 169.58 mi (272.92 km).
#1 Lake Charles
The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
| Population | 78,433 |
| Coordinates | 30.2130900, -93.2044000 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Bayou Gauche
City in Louisiana, United States of America
| Population | 2,071 |
| Coordinates | 29.7874300, -90.4131400 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
End: Bayou Gauche (-90.41314, 29.78743)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 321 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 50m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $28.33 | $56.65 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $31.86 | $63.71 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $34.60 | $69.19 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $40.50 | $81.01 |
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 10, 2026