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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Meraux, LA is about 215.6 miles (347 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 197.6 miles (318 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 31m 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
215.62 mi
04h 15m
Flight
197.57 mi
317.96 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
197.57 mi
Kilometers
317.96 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
215.62 mi
Kilometers
347.01 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 04h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meraux
Thu, Apr 16, 12:22 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Thu, Apr 16, 4:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-15T20:06
Arrive Meraux
Thu, Apr 16, 12:22 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:28 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
Grosse Tete
LA

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

From Lake Charles
107.7 mi
02h 07m
To Meraux
107.9 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
80°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    199 mi · 3 hr 43 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Slidell

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 3021: Elysian Fields Avenue

    919 ft · 32 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Elysian Fields Avenue

    3149 ft · 1 min · Elysian Fields Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Elysian Fields Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Elysian Fields Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Claiborne Avenue

    530 ft · 15 sec · North Claiborne Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on North Robertson Street

    1.6 mi · 4 min · North Robertson Street

  12. 12

    Turn straight

    7.7 mi · 17 min

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Judge Perez Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Belden Street
199 mi · 92%
Slidell
3.9 mi · 2%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
North Robertson Street
1.59 mi · 1%
Elysian Fields Avenue
1.22 mi · 1%
LA 3021
0.17 mi
Longest Stretch

Belden Street

Merge slight left

199 mi · 03h 43m

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
04h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18 mi
197.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Grosse Tete
02h 07m from Lake Charles
Leave By
8:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny near Meraux.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 215.6 miles (347 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Grosse Tete is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.7 miles from Lake Charles and 107.9 miles from Meraux.

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

The direct path is about 197.6 miles (318 km), while the road route adds roughly 18 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 8:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.82 one way or $57.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny near Meraux.

Stop Ideas Near Grosse Tete

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Grosse Tete, 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 Grosse Tete.

BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

25 mi away
1253 Florida St.
RAIL

New Iberia

58 mi away
West Washington St.
RAIL

Lafayette

59 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

Hammond

94 mi away
404 N.E. Railroad Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Meraux. Straight-line distance: 197.57 mi (317.96 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Meraux

City in Louisiana, United States of America

Population5,816
Coordinates29.9301700, -89.9162300
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Meraux (-89.91623, 29.93017)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 347 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.61 gal
28.8 L · about $28.82
Round trip
$57.64
15.22 gal · 57.6 L
Estimated CO2
67.6 kg one way
Round trip: 135.3 kg / 298 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $28.82 $57.64
Mid-grade $4.26 $32.41 $64.82
Premium $4.63 $35.20 $70.39
Diesel $5.42 $41.21 $82.42

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Meraux. The current time is 20:06:35.

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.