Where is Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Lake Charles Located? - Lake Charles is a city located in the Calcasieu County of Louisiana, United States. Lake Charles lies between 41.900101 Degrees North latitudes and 71.0897674 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Lake Charles, Louisiana

Where is Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles Map, Louisiana, USA

Where is Lake Charles?: The Google Map showing the location of Lake Charles in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Where is Lake Charles Located?

Lake Charles is a city located in the Calcasieu Parish of Louisiana, United States. Lake Charles lies between 41.900101 Degrees North latitudes and 71.0897674 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Lake Charles city is 84872 people and the city has a total area of 44.89 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Lake Charles, Louisiana Quick Facts

Property Details
CityLake Charles
ParishCalcasieu Parish
StateLouisiana
State CapitalBaton Rouge
US RegionSouthern United States (Gulf Coast)
Latitude30.2266° N
Longitude93.2174° W
Elevation13 ft (4 m)
Land Area43.24 sq mi
Water Area5.54 sq mi
Total Area48.78 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)84,872
Population DensityApproximately 1,964 per sq mi
ZIP Codes70601–70616
Area Code337
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST, UTC−6)
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code22-41155
Metropolitan AreaLake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area

Transportation and Connectivity in Lake Charles

Category Details
Nearest AirportLake Charles Regional Airport
IATA CodeLCH
Major HighwaysInterstate 10, Interstate 210, U.S. Highway 90, U.S. Highway 171, U.S. Highway 165
Public TransitLake Charles Transit System
Rail ServiceAmtrak Sunset Limited
Regional AccessConvenient access to Lafayette, Beaumont, Houston, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Coast
  • Interstate 10: Connects Lake Charles with Houston to the west and Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans to the east.
  • Interstate 210: Serves as a southern bypass around the city and provides access to industrial and residential areas.
  • Lake Charles Regional Airport: Offers scheduled passenger flights and supports commercial and general aviation.
  • Amtrak Sunset Limited: Provides long-distance rail service between Los Angeles and New Orleans with a stop in Lake Charles.

Top Places to Visit in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Landmark Name Type
Millennium ParkCity Park
Imperial Calcasieu MuseumMuseum
Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial CalcasieuMuseum
Prien Lake ParkWaterfront Park
Sam Houston Jones State ParkState Park
North BeachBeach
Creole Nature Trail Adventure PointVisitor Center
Golden Nugget Lake CharlesCasino Resort
L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake CharlesCasino Resort
Lake Charles Civic CenterConvention & Event Center

Driving Distances from Lake Charles, Louisiana to Nearby Cities

City State Distance (mi) Approx. Drive Time
SulphurLouisiana1015 minutes
WestlakeLouisiana410 minutes
Moss BluffLouisiana815 minutes
IowaLouisiana1720 minutes
JenningsLouisiana3640 minutes
DeRidderLouisiana4855 minutes
BeaumontTexas581 hour
LafayetteLouisiana751 hour 15 minutes
OrangeTexas3840 minutes
Baton RougeLouisiana1282 hours

Colleges and Universities in and near Lake Charles, Louisiana

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
McNeese State UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, business, nursing, agriculture, and education
SOWELA Technical Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTechnical education, process technology, healthcare, and workforce training
Delta School of Business and TechnologyPrivateCareer CollegeHealthcare, business, information technology, and skilled trades
Louisiana State University at EunicePublicCommunity CollegeAssociate degree programs and university transfer education
Lamar UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, business, education, and health sciences

Waterbodies in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles, Calcasieu River, Prien Lake, Contraband Bayou, English Bayou, Moss Lake, Calcasieu Lake, Gulf of Mexico (nearby)

Stadiums in Lake Charles

Cowboy Stadium (McNeese State University), Joe Miller Ballpark, Burton Coliseum, Ward 3 Recreation Stadium, Sulphur Parks & Recreation Stadium

Lake Charles, Louisiana — Key Historical Facts

  • Lake Charles was founded in 1861 and was named after Charles Sallier, one of the area's early settlers and landowners.
  • The city developed as a major lumber and timber center during the late nineteenth century, supported by abundant pine forests and access to the Calcasieu River.
  • During the twentieth century, Lake Charles expanded into an important petrochemical, refining, manufacturing, and shipping hub along the Gulf Coast.
  • The city is well known for its annual Mardi Gras celebrations, casino resorts, waterfront attractions, and vibrant Cajun and Creole cultural heritage.
  • Lake Charles experienced significant damage from Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020, followed by extensive rebuilding efforts that continue to support the region's economic and community recovery.

References

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