especially 'as the crow flies.' The interstate runs NW before it turns west again. Using the I-10 from memory, It's 80 miles to Baton Rouge, then 47 to Lafayette. New Iberia is probably 35 miles south of Lafayette or so. Lake Charles is 72 miles west of Lafayette. So using those figures, Lake Charles would be about 200 miles west of me no the I-10 and maybe 170 (?) on a straight line. Metairie is suburban New Orleans. We're immediately (and abutt) the city to its west. If you look at a map and don't know where New Orleans is, look at "LA" and you'll see Lake Pontchartrain in the SE corner of the state. The city borders the lake to the South. The western periphery of the lake is about 20 miles WNW from where I live.

Hope that kindasorta makes sense.

Steve