How far is Lake Charles, LA from Hammond, LA?

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Hammond, LA is about 172.1 miles (276.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.7 miles (265 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
172.05 mi
02h 43m
Flight
164.68 mi
265.02 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Charles.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
164.68 mi
Kilometers
265.02 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.05 mi
Kilometers
276.89 km
Drive Time
02h 43m

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 02h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hammond
Tue, May 12, 9:52 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Wed, May 13, 12:36 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-05-12T19:09
Arrive Hammond
Tue, May 12, 9:52 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:44 AM to 12:44 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Charles
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Henderson
LA

Town in the U.

From Lake Charles
85.9 mi
01h 21m
To Hammond
86.1 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE
Destination
83°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles and Hammond.

  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

    128 mi · 2 hr 22 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 12 East: Hammond

    1.3 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue on West Florida Republic Parkway

    39.2 mi · 43 min · West Florida Republic Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 51 Business: Hammond, Ponchatoula

    1289 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Veterans Avenue

    86 m · 5 sec · Veterans Avenue

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto Veterans Avenue

    120 m · 7 sec · Veterans Avenue

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Southwest Railroad Avenue

    43 m · 3 sec · Southwest Railroad Avenue

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Southwest Railroad Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Southwest Railroad Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto West Charles Street

    124 m · 20 sec · West Charles Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Charles Street

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Belden Street
128 mi · 75%
West Florida Republic Parkway
39.2 mi · 23%
Southwest Railroad Avenue
1.8 mi · 1%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
I 12 East
0.78 mi
US 51 Business
0.24 mi
Longest Stretch

Belden Street

Merge slight left

128 mi · 02h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 43m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.4 mi
164.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Henderson
01h 21m from Lake Charles
Leave By
1:02 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lake Charles and Sunny near Hammond.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Charles to Hammond?

The road trip is about 172.1 miles (276.9 km) and usually takes 02h 43m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Henderson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.9 miles from Lake Charles and 86.1 miles from Hammond.

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

The direct path is about 164.7 miles (265 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.99 one way or $45.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lake Charles and Sunny near Hammond.

Stop Ideas Near Henderson

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 Henderson and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 7.2 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 13.8 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 12.1 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 13.5 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 Henderson.

RAIL

Lafayette

24 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

New Iberia

34 mi away
West Washington St.
BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

61 mi away
1253 Florida St.
RAIL

Schriever

113 mi away
Hwy 20 and Hwy 24

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Hammond. Straight-line distance: 164.68 mi (265.02 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Hammond

#2 Hammond

City in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population21,359
Coordinates30.5046300, -90.4629300
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: Enterprise Boulevad (-93.204402, 30.21309)
End: West Charles Street (-90.46295, 30.504696)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 277 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.07 gal
22.98 L · about $22.99
Round trip
$45.97
12.14 gal · 45.96 L
Estimated CO2
53.9 kg one way
Round trip: 107.9 kg / 238 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $22.99 $45.97
Mid-grade $4.26 $25.85 $51.70
Premium $4.63 $28.07 $56.15
Diesel $5.42 $32.87 $65.74

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Hammond. The current time is 19:09:06.

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.