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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Oakdale, LA is about 59.5 miles (95.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 52.8 miles (84.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 30m 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
59.55 mi
01h 15m
Flight
52.76 mi
84.91 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
52.76 mi
Kilometers
84.91 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
59.55 mi
Kilometers
95.83 km
Drive Time
01h 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 01h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oakdale
Sat, Apr 18, 2:06 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Sat, Apr 18, 3:22 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-18T00:51
Arrive Oakdale
Sat, Apr 18, 2:06 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:00 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
Kinder
LA

City in Louisiana, United States of America

From Lake Charles
29.8 mi
00h 37m
To Oakdale
29.8 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
88°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    43.9 mi · 55 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East 7th Avenue

    1231 ft · 36 sec · East 7th Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto South 12th Street

    561 ft · 26 sec · South 12th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    93 m · 13 sec · East 6th Avenue

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 6th Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 165
44.4 mi · 75%
Belden Street
13 mi · 22%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 3%
East 7th Avenue
0.23 mi
South 12th Street
0.11 mi
East 6th Avenue
0.06 mi
Longest Stretch

US 165

Continue straight

43.9 mi · 00h 55m

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
01h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.7 mi
52.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kinder
00h 37m from Lake Charles
Leave By
4:00 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Lake Charles and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Oakdale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 59.5 miles (95.8 km) and usually takes 01h 15m 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?

Kinder is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.8 miles from Lake Charles and 29.8 miles from Oakdale.

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

The direct path is about 52.8 miles (84.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.7 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 4:00 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.95 one way or $15.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Lake Charles and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Oakdale.

Stop Ideas Near Kinder

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

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

RAIL

Lake Charles

44 mi away
100 Ryan Street
RAIL

Lafayette

85 mi away
133 East Grant St.
RAIL

New Iberia

112 mi away
West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Oakdale. Straight-line distance: 52.76 mi (84.91 km).

Lake Charles

#1 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

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

#2 Oakdale

Small city in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population7,500
Coordinates30.8160300, -92.6604200
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Oakdale (-92.66042, 30.81603)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 96 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.1 gal
7.95 L · about $7.95
Round trip
$15.91
4.2 gal · 15.9 L
Estimated CO2
18.7 kg one way
Round trip: 37.3 kg / 82 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $7.95 $15.91
Mid-grade $4.26 $8.94 $17.89
Premium $4.63 $9.71 $19.43
Diesel $5.42 $11.37 $22.74

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 · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Oakdale. The current time is 00:51:37.

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.