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

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Paradis, LA is about 198.5 miles (319.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167.3 miles (269.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 39m 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
198.56 mi
03h 49m
Flight
167.29 mi
269.22 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
167.29 mi
Kilometers
269.22 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.56 mi
Kilometers
319.55 km
Drive Time
03h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Paradis
Tue, May 5, 11:05 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Tue, May 5, 2:55 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-05-05T07:15
Arrive Paradis
Tue, May 5, 11:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 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
9:20 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lydia
LA

This small Iberia Parish community is situated 10 feet above sea level in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana.

From Lake Charles
99.2 mi
01h 54m
To Paradis
99.4 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    110.6 mi · 2 hr 3 min

  22. 22

    Turn slight left onto Audubon Street

    57 m · 9 sec · Audubon Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Audubon Street

    106 m · 14 sec · Audubon Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Early Street

    621 ft · 21 sec · Early Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Early Street

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Veterans Memorial Expressway
112 mi · 57%
Belden Street
70.4 mi · 35%
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
4.64 mi · 2%
North University Avenue
3.98 mi · 2%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.73 mi · 1%
North Morgan Avenue
1.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right

111 mi · 02h 03m

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.2 mi
167.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lydia
01h 54m from Lake Charles
Leave By
9:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Lake Charles and Partly Sunny near Paradis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 198.5 miles (319.5 km) and usually takes 03h 49m 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?

Lydia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.2 miles from Lake Charles and 99.4 miles from Paradis.

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

The direct path is about 167.3 miles (269.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.2 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 9:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.55 one way or $53.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Lake Charles and Partly Sunny near Paradis.

Stop Ideas Near Lydia

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 Lydia and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 11.5 mi away

City of St. Martinville Tourist Information Center

Saint Martinville , LA
125 S New Market St, St Martinville, LA 70582
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Tourist information center
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 8.2 mi away

Loreauville Town Hall

Loreauville , LA
103 S Main St, Loreauville, LA 70552
Rating 3.7/5 3 reviews City Hall
St Martinville Recreation Center
Nearby stop 12.7 mi away

St Martinville Recreation Center

Saint Martinville , LA
1800 N Main St, St Martinville, LA 70582
Rating 4.4/5 8 reviews Recreation center

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

New Iberia

10 mi away
West Washington St.
RAIL

Lafayette

40 mi away
133 East Grant St.
BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

83 mi away
1253 Florida St.
RAIL

Schriever

96 mi away
Hwy 20 and Hwy 24

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Paradis. Straight-line distance: 167.29 mi (269.22 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 Paradis

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

Population1,298
Coordinates29.8796500, -90.4339700
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Paradis (-90.43397, 29.87965)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 320 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.01 gal
26.52 L · about $26.55
Round trip
$53.09
14.02 gal · 53.04 L
Estimated CO2
62.3 kg one way
Round trip: 124.6 kg / 275 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $26.55 $53.09
Mid-grade $4.26 $29.86 $59.71
Premium $4.63 $32.42 $64.84
Diesel $5.42 $37.96 $75.92

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Paradis. The current time is 07:15:45.

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.