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

The driving distance from Sterlington, LA to Lake Charles, LA is about 207.5 miles (334 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 183.8 miles (295.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 15m 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
207.52 mi
03h 37m
Flight
183.8 mi
295.79 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
183.8 mi
Kilometers
295.79 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
207.52 mi
Kilometers
333.97 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Charles
Wed, Apr 15, 3:13 PM CDT
Return by in Sterlington
Wed, Apr 15, 6:51 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 Lake Charles
Wed, Apr 15, 3:13 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 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
9:44 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
103 mi
01h 48m
To Lake Charles
104.6 mi
01h 48m

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
66°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    Take the ramp slight right

    128 m · 12 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    109.6 mi · 2 hr 10 min

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Masonic Circle

    763 ft · 15 sec · Masonic Drive

  7. 7

    Exit the rotary onto Masonic Drive

    78 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Masonic Drive

  8. 8

    Take the exit right

    2324 ft · 57 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    12.9 mi · 14 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1605 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Enterprise Boulevard

    3249 ft · 1 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Enterprise Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · Enterprise Boulevard

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Enterprise Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Old Highway 2
110 mi · 53%
Masonic Drive
91.7 mi · 44%
Enterprise Boulevard
1.61 mi · 1%
Masonic Circle
0.07 mi
Old Sterlington Road
0.02 mi
Longest Stretch

Old Highway 2

Merge slight left

110 mi · 02h 10m

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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.7 mi
183.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ball
01h 48m from Sterlington
Leave By
9:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sterlington and Partly Cloudy near Lake Charles.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 207.5 miles (334 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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 103 miles from Sterlington and 104.6 miles from Lake Charles.

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

The direct path is about 183.8 miles (295.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.72 one way or $55.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sterlington and Partly Cloudy near Lake Charles.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sterlington and Lake Charles. Straight-line distance: 183.8 mi (295.79 km).

Sterlington

#1 Sterlington

City in Louisiana, United States of America

Population2,974
Coordinates32.6962500, -92.0859700
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Lake Charles

#2 Lake Charles

The second most populous city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

Population78,433
Coordinates30.2130900, -93.2044000
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Highway 2 (-92.085705, 32.696953)
End: Enterprise Boulevad (-93.204402, 30.21309)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 334 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.32 gal
27.72 L · about $27.72
Round trip
$55.44
14.64 gal · 55.44 L
Estimated CO2
65.1 kg one way
Round trip: 130.1 kg / 287 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $27.72 $55.44
Mid-grade $4.26 $31.18 $62.35
Premium $4.63 $33.86 $67.71
Diesel $5.42 $39.64 $79.28

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 Lake Charles. The current time is 11:35:58.

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.