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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Monticello, LA is about 241.3 miles (388.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 196.2 miles (315.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 59m 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
241.37 mi
04h 59m
Flight
196.25 mi
315.83 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
196.25 mi
Kilometers
315.83 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
241.37 mi
Kilometers
388.44 km
Drive Time
04h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Monticello
Wed, Apr 15, 10:39 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Wed, Apr 15, 3:39 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-15T05:39
Arrive Monticello
Wed, Apr 15, 10:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 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
7:00 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
Pollock
LA

Suburb town of Alexandria, located in Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Lake Charles
120.8 mi
02h 29m
To Monticello
120.5 mi
02h 29m

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
86°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    78.1 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  9. 9

    Turn slight left onto Macarthur Drive

    1 km · 1 min · Macarthur Drive

  10. 10

    Turn right

    32 m · 7 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Macarthur Drive

    4 mi · 6 min · Macarthur Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

    3026 ft · 43 sec · Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge

  13. 13

    Continue on Monroe Highway

    62.5 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Monroe Highway

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    23 mi · 26 min

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    6.1 mi · 7 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    549 ft · 13 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    1537 ft · 37 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    34.2 mi · 37 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 17: Delhi, Winnsboro

    1309 ft · 32 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto State Route 17

    73 m · 10 sec · State Route 17

  21. 21

    Continue on Broadway Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Broadway Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Main Street

  23. 23

    Continue on State Route 17

    8.3 mi · 12 min · State Route 17

  24. 24

    Turn right onto State Route 877

    3.9 mi · 10 min · State Route 877

  25. 25

    Continue on State Route 577

    1.6 mi · 4 min · State Route 577

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on State Route 577

    2902 ft · 1 min · State Route 577

  27. 27

    Turn right onto State Route 877

    73 m · 7 sec · State Route 877

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · State Route 877

Car Route Details

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

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
28 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Monroe Highway
120 mi · 50%
US 165
78.7 mi · 33%
Belden Street
13 mi · 5%
State Route 17
8.33 mi · 3%
Macarthur Drive
4.6 mi · 2%
State Route 877
3.99 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 165

Continue straight

78.1 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
04h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.1 mi
196.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pollock
02h 29m from Lake Charles
Leave By
7:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny near Monticello.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 241.3 miles (388.4 km) and usually takes 04h 59m 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?

Pollock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.8 miles from Lake Charles and 120.5 miles from Monticello.

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

The direct path is about 196.2 miles (315.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.1 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 7:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.27 one way or $64.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Monticello. Straight-line distance: 196.25 mi (315.83 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 Monticello

Monticello is a place in Louisiana, United States.

Population0
Coordinates32.5965300, -91.3940000
Altitude26
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Monticello (-91.394, 32.59653)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 388 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.52 gal
32.24 L · about $32.27
Round trip
$64.53
17.04 gal · 64.48 L
Estimated CO2
75.7 kg one way
Round trip: 151.4 kg / 334 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $32.27 $64.53
Mid-grade $4.26 $36.29 $72.57
Premium $4.63 $39.41 $78.81
Diesel $5.42 $46.14 $92.27

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Monticello. The current time is 05:39:36.

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.