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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Jonesboro, LA is about 168.3 miles (270.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 143.1 miles (230.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 05m 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
168.31 mi
03h 32m
Flight
143.07 mi
230.25 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
143.07 mi
Kilometers
230.25 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.31 mi
Kilometers
270.87 km
Drive Time
03h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jonesboro
Fri, Apr 10, 9:06 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Sat, Apr 11, 12:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-10T17:33
Arrive Jonesboro
Fri, Apr 10, 9:06 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 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
9:54 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
Woodworth
LA

City in Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States of America

From Lake Charles
84.3 mi
01h 46m
To Jonesboro
84 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    12.7 mi · 14 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 165: Kinder, Alexandria

    2422 ft · 59 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    135 m · 12 sec

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    78.3 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Masonic Circle

    1799 ft · 34 sec · Masonic Drive

  10. 10

    Exit the rotary onto Masonic Drive

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Masonic Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Fenner Street

    657 ft · 20 sec · Fenner Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Overton Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Overton Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Casson Street

    2881 ft · 50 sec · Casson Street

  14. 14

    Take the ramp straight

    1115 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Pineville Expressway

    47.4 mi · 59 min · Pineville Expressway

  16. 16

    Continue on West Court Street

    21.7 mi · 28 min · West Court Street

  17. 17

    Continue on South Hudson Avenue

    1.6 km · 1 min · South Hudson Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Old Winnfield Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Old Winnfield Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    689 ft · 14 sec · East Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Chatham Highway

    802 ft · 18 sec · Chatham Highway

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Allen Avenue

    33 m · 2 sec · Allen Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Allen Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 165
78.9 mi · 47%
Pineville Expressway
47.4 mi · 28%
West Court Street
21.7 mi · 13%
Belden Street
13 mi · 8%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
Masonic Drive
1.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 165

Continue straight

78.3 mi · 01h 37m

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 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.2 mi
143.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodworth
01h 46m from Lake Charles
Leave By
9:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny near Jonesboro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 168.3 miles (270.9 km) and usually takes 03h 32m 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?

Woodworth is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.3 miles from Lake Charles and 84 miles from Jonesboro.

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

The direct path is about 143.1 miles (230.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.2 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 9:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.49 one way or $44.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.8 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 near Jonesboro.

Stop Ideas Near Woodworth

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Woodworth, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Lafayette

112 mi away
133 East Grant St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Jonesboro. Straight-line distance: 143.07 mi (230.25 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

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

#2 Jonesboro

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

Population4,415
Coordinates32.2412700, -92.7159900
Altitude68
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Jonesboro (-92.71599, 32.24127)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 271 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.94 gal
22.48 L · about $22.49
Round trip
$44.99
11.88 gal · 44.96 L
Estimated CO2
52.8 kg one way
Round trip: 105.6 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $22.49 $44.99
Mid-grade $4.26 $25.30 $50.60
Premium $4.63 $27.47 $54.95
Diesel $5.42 $32.17 $64.33

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

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Jonesboro. The current time is 17:33:53.

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.