How far is Lake Charles, LA from Morgan City, LA?

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Morgan City, LA is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 124.7 miles (200.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 34m 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
142.75 mi
02h 47m
Flight
124.74 mi
200.75 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
124.74 mi
Kilometers
200.75 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
142.75 mi
Kilometers
229.73 km
Drive Time
02h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Morgan City
Thu, Apr 23, 7:04 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Thu, Apr 23, 9:51 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-23T04:16
Arrive Morgan City
Thu, Apr 23, 7:04 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:47 AM to 12:47 PM CDT

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

Leave by
12:56 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
Lafayette
LA

The third most populous city in Acadiana, Louisiana.

From Lake Charles
71.3 mi
01h 23m
To Morgan City
71.5 mi
01h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles and Morgan City.

  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

    70.1 mi · 1 hr 16 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 182

    1334 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    93 m · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Turn slight right onto North University Avenue

    4 mi · 7 min · North University Avenue

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Southeast Evangeline Thruway

    154 m · 8 sec · Southeast Evangeline Thruway

  10. 10

    Continue on Southwest Evangeline Thruway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Southwest Evangeline Thruway

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Morgan Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

    549 ft · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive

  14. 14

    Turn left onto St Etienne Road

    1 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street

    3032 ft · 52 sec · Young Street

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    2434 ft · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    995 ft · 13 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    885 ft · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1151 ft · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1.2 km · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right

    54.6 mi · 1 hr

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    1166 ft · 31 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Freret Street

    70 m · 8 sec · Freret Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Federal Avenue

    876 ft · 26 sec · Federal Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Brashear Avenue

    33 m · 2 sec · Brashear Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Brashear Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Belden Street
70.4 mi · 49%
Veterans Memorial Expressway
56.6 mi · 40%
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
4.64 mi · 3%
North University Avenue
3.98 mi · 3%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
North Morgan Avenue
1.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Belden Street

Merge slight left

70.1 mi · 01h 16m

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 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18 mi
124.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lafayette
01h 23m from Lake Charles
Leave By
12:56 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake Charles and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Morgan City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Charles to Morgan City?

The road trip is about 142.7 miles (229.7 km) and usually takes 02h 47m 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?

Lafayette is a useful midpoint, sitting about 71.3 miles from Lake Charles and 71.5 miles from Morgan City.

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

The direct path is about 124.7 miles (200.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:56 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.09 one way or $38.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 44.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lake Charles and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Morgan City.

Stop Ideas Near Lafayette

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 Lafayette and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 13.2 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 2.5 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 3.8 mi away

Housing Authority of Lafayette

Lafayette , LA
100 C O Cir, Lafayette, LA 70501
Rating 3.2/5 10 reviews Housing authority

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Lafayette

1 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

New Iberia

31 mi away
West Washington St.
BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

85 mi away
1253 Florida St.
RAIL

Lake Charles

115 mi away
100 Ryan Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Morgan City. Straight-line distance: 124.74 mi (200.75 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Morgan City

#2 Morgan City

City in Louisiana, United States

Population10,742
Coordinates29.6993700, -91.2067700
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Morgan City (-91.20677, 29.69937)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 230 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.04 gal
19.07 L · about $19.09
Round trip
$38.17
10.08 gal · 38.14 L
Estimated CO2
44.8 kg one way
Round trip: 89.6 kg / 198 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $19.09 $38.17
Mid-grade $4.26 $21.47 $42.93
Premium $4.63 $23.31 $46.62
Diesel $5.42 $27.29 $54.58

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Morgan City. The current time is 04:16:55.

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.