How far is Sterlington, LA from Lafayette, LA?

The driving distance from Sterlington, LA to Lafayette, LA is about 197.5 miles (317.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 170.9 miles (275 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 27m 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
197.45 mi
03h 13m
Flight
170.85 mi
274.96 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sterlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
170.85 mi
Kilometers
274.96 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
197.45 mi
Kilometers
317.77 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lafayette
Wed, Apr 15, 2:49 PM CDT
Return by in Sterlington
Wed, Apr 15, 6:03 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sterlington
2026-04-15T11:35
Arrive Lafayette
Wed, Apr 15, 2:49 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 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
10:32 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sterlington
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
Ball
LA

Suburb town of Alexandria, located in Rapides Parish just north of Pineville, Louisiana, United States

From Sterlington
98.6 mi
01h 36m
To Lafayette
98.8 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
84°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sterlington and Lafayette.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sterlington and Lafayette.

  1. 1

    Start on Old Sterlington Road

    35 m · 11 sec · Old Sterlington Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Old Highway 2

    2327 ft · 1 min · Old Highway 2

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  4. 4

    Turn right

    101.9 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  5. 5

    Turn left onto US 165 North: Monroe

    1473 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Pineville Expressway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Pineville Expressway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

    1.2 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

    76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard

    1147 ft · 34 sec · Jefferson Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Rue Jefferson

    1654 ft · 52 sec · Rue Jefferson

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest

    102 m · 17 sec · Rue Vermilion Ouest

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Rue Vermilion Ouest

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sterlington and Lafayette.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
2 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
38 mi · 19%
Martin Luther King
38 mi · 19%
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.75 mi · 4%
Pineville Expressway
4.16 mi · 2%
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
1.87 mi · 1%
I 49 South
0.75 mi
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

102 mi · 01h 59m

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 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
170.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ball
01h 36m from Sterlington
Leave By
10:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sterlington and Mostly Sunny near Lafayette.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sterlington to Lafayette?

The road trip is about 197.5 miles (317.8 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Ball is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.6 miles from Sterlington and 98.8 miles from Lafayette.

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

The direct path is about 170.9 miles (275 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 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 10:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.40 one way or $52.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sterlington and Mostly Sunny near Lafayette.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterlington and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 170.85 mi (274.96 km).

Sterlington

#1 Sterlington

City in Louisiana, United States of America

Population2,974
Coordinates32.6962500, -92.0859700
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Lafayette

#2 Lafayette

The third most populous city in Acadiana, Louisiana.

Population126,535
Coordinates30.2240900, -92.0198400
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Start: Highway 2 (-92.085705, 32.696953)
End: South Buchanan Street (-92.019794, 30.224075)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 318 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.97 gal
26.37 L · about $26.40
Round trip
$52.79
13.94 gal · 52.74 L
Estimated CO2
61.9 kg one way
Round trip: 123.9 kg / 273 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $26.40 $52.79
Mid-grade $4.26 $29.69 $59.37
Premium $4.63 $32.24 $64.47
Diesel $5.42 $37.74 $75.49

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Sterlington and Lafayette. The current time is 11:35:39.

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.