How far is Lake Charles, LA from Red Chute, LA?

The driving distance from Lake Charles, LA to Red Chute, LA is about 196.8 miles (316.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 163.7 miles (263.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 57m 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
196.81 mi
03h 58m
Flight
163.66 mi
263.39 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
163.66 mi
Kilometers
263.39 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.81 mi
Kilometers
316.73 km
Drive Time
03h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Red Chute
Fri, Apr 10, 4:44 PM CDT
Return by in Lake Charles
Fri, Apr 10, 8:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Charles
2026-04-10T12:45
Arrive Red Chute
Fri, Apr 10, 4:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:59 AM to 11:59 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
9:02 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
Fisher
LA

Village in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Lake Charles
98.5 mi
01h 59m
To Red Chute
98.2 mi
01h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Charles and Red Chute.

  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

    1.4 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Opelousas Street

    553 ft · 14 sec

  7. 7

    Continue on I-10 Service Road

    676 ft · 14 sec · I-10 Service Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Opelousas Street

    1218 ft · 26 sec · Opelousas Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Martin Luther King Highway

    5 mi · 8 min · North Martin Luther King Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 171

    37.5 mi · 43 min · Highway 171

  11. 11

    Continue on East 1st Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Mahlon Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Mahlon Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Shirley Street

    1065 ft · 20 sec · Shirley Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Pine Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · North Pine Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Lake Charles Highway

    12.9 mi · 17 min · Lake Charles Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on South 5th Street

    3.1 mi · 5 min · South 5th Street

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on North 5th Street

    126 m · 6 sec · North 5th Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shreveport Highway

    56 m · 2 sec · Shreveport Highway

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto Shreveport Highway

    11.1 mi · 13 min · Shreveport Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Hammond Street

    20.9 mi · 25 min · Hammond Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Fisher Road

    2274 ft · 45 sec · Fisher Road

  23. 23

    Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive

  24. 24

    Turn right onto San Antonio Avenue

    1695 ft · 22 sec · San Antonio Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on Natchitoches Highway

    14.1 mi · 16 min · Natchitoches Highway

  26. 26

    Turn left onto LA 485

    10.4 mi · 14 min · LA 485

  27. 27

    Continue on State Route 485

    1513 ft · 37 sec · State Route 485

  28. 28

    Turn left

    2208 ft · 54 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left

    56.9 mi · 59 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on I 20: Dallas, Monroe

    1169 ft · 29 sec

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on I 20 East: Monroe

    3011 ft · 1 min

  32. 32

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Recipients Highway

    5.3 mi · 7 min · Purple Heart Recipients Highway

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB

    922 ft · 23 sec

  34. 34

    Keep slight left

    42 m · 7 sec

  35. 35

    Turn left onto Industrial Drive

    1558 ft · 41 sec · Industrial Drive

  36. 36

    Continue on Industrial Drive

    996 ft · 24 sec · Industrial Drive

  37. 37

    Turn straight onto East Texas Street

    3.1 mi · 5 min · East Texas Street

  38. 38

    Continue on Highway 80

    1.1 km · 1 min · Highway 80

  39. 39

    Continue on Highway 80

    23 m · 7 sec · Highway 80

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Highway 80

Car Route Details

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

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
40 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Route 485
57.2 mi · 29%
Highway 171
37.5 mi · 19%
Hammond Street
20.9 mi · 11%
Natchitoches Highway
14.1 mi · 7%
Lake Charles Highway
12.9 mi · 7%
Shreveport Highway
11.1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

State Route 485

Merge slight left

56.9 mi · 01h 00m

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 58m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.1 mi
163.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fisher
01h 59m from Lake Charles
Leave By
9:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny near Red Chute.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Charles to Red Chute?

The road trip is about 196.8 miles (316.7 km) and usually takes 03h 58m 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?

Fisher is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.5 miles from Lake Charles and 98.2 miles from Red Chute.

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

The direct path is about 163.7 miles (263.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.1 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 9:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.32 one way or $52.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lake Charles and Mostly Sunny near Red Chute.

Stop Ideas Near Fisher

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

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

BUS

Nacogdoches, Texas

112 mi away
University Drive & Starr Road
BUS

Shreveport, Louisiana

117 mi away
451 Clyde Fant Parkway
BUS

Shreveport, LA

117 mi away
408 Fannin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Charles and Red Chute. Straight-line distance: 163.66 mi (263.39 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 Red Chute

City in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population6,261
Coordinates32.5559800, -93.6132300
Altitude65
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake Charles (-93.2044, 30.21309)
End: Red Chute (-93.61323, 32.55598)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 317 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.95 gal
26.29 L · about $26.32
Round trip
$52.64
13.9 gal · 52.58 L
Estimated CO2
61.8 kg one way
Round trip: 123.5 kg / 272 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $26.32 $52.64
Mid-grade $4.26 $29.60 $59.20
Premium $4.63 $32.14 $64.29
Diesel $5.42 $37.63 $75.27

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 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Charles and Red Chute. The current time is 12:45:23.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.