How far is Shreveport, LA from Lake Charles, LA?
The driving distance from Shreveport, LA to Lake Charles, LA is about 187 miles (301 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 163 miles (262.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 25m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Village in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shreveport and Lake Charles.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shreveport and Lake Charles.
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1
Start on River Parkway
2701 ft · 1 min · River Parkway
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2
Turn left onto Jack Wells Boulevard
757 ft · 31 sec · Jack Wells Boulevard
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3
Turn left onto Airport Drive
1389 ft · 39 sec · Airport Drive
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4
Turn right onto North Common Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · North Common Street
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5
Turn right onto Caddo Street
1505 ft · 37 sec · Caddo Street
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6
Continue on Ford Street
646 ft · 23 sec · Ford Street
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7
Turn left onto Allen Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · Allen Avenue
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8
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South: Alexandria
1.1 km · 1 min
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9
Continue on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
56.9 mi · 1 hr · Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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10
Take the exit slight right
2070 ft · 51 sec
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11
Turn slight right
62 m · 5 sec
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12
Turn right onto State Route 485
153 m · 10 sec · State Route 485
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13
Continue on LA 485
10.4 mi · 14 min · LA 485
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14
At the end of the road, turn right
14.4 mi · 17 min
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15
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive
1.1 km · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
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16
Continue on Martin Luther King Drive
14 m · 9 sec · Martin Luther King Drive
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17
Turn left onto Fisher Road
2377 ft · 52 sec · Fisher Road
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Fisher Road
20.9 mi · 24 min · Fisher Road
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19
Continue on Shreveport Highway
11 mi · 13 min · Shreveport Highway
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20
Continue on Shreveport Highway
73 m · 3 sec · Shreveport Highway
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21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North 6th Street
41 m · 2 sec · North 6th Street
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22
Exit the roundabout onto North 6th Street
2 mi · 2 min · North 6th Street
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23
Merge slight left onto South 5th Street
1.5 km · 2 min · South 5th Street
-
24
Keep slight right to continue on South 5th Street
1511 ft · 33 sec · South 5th Street
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25
Continue on Main Street
12.9 mi · 18 min · Main Street
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26
Continue on Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
3.7 mi · 5 min · Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
-
27
Continue on North Pine Street
2.5 mi · 4 min · North Pine Street
-
28
Turn left onto West 1st Street
2.5 mi · 3 min · West 1st Street
-
29
Continue on Highway 171
37.5 mi · 43 min · Highway 171
-
30
Continue on Martin Luther King Highway
4.5 mi · 8 min · Martin Luther King Highway
-
31
Take the exit slight right
2158 ft · 53 sec
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32
Merge slight left
1.2 mi · 1 min
-
33
Take the exit slight right
1605 ft · 41 sec
-
34
Turn straight onto Enterprise Boulevard
3249 ft · 1 min · Enterprise Boulevard
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35
Continue on Enterprise Boulevard
1.6 km · 2 min · Enterprise Boulevard
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Shreveport and Lake Charles.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Continue on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
56.9 mi · 01h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Shreveport and Mostly Sunny near Lake Charles.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Shreveport to Lake Charles?
The road trip is about 187 miles (301 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?
Florien is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.1 miles from Shreveport and 91.9 miles from Lake Charles.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 163 miles (262.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 24 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 10:10 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.99 one way or $49.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Shreveport and Mostly Sunny near Lake Charles.
Stop Ideas Near Florien
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Florien.
Nacogdoches, Texas
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Shreveport and Lake Charles. Straight-line distance: 162.96 mi (262.26 km).
#1 Shreveport
The second most populous city in Louisiana.
| Population | 184,786 |
| Coordinates | 32.5251500, -93.7501800 |
| Altitude | 44 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lake Charles
The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
| Population | 78,433 |
| Coordinates | 30.2130900, -93.2044000 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: Enterprise Boulevad (-93.204402, 30.21309)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 301 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 13m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 44m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 07m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $24.99 | $49.99 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $28.11 | $56.22 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $30.53 | $61.05 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $35.74 | $71.48 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.