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Trip from Alexandria, LA to Vivian, LA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 50m

Distance

155.3 mi

250 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

largest city and parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States

Alexandria, LA

Wikimedia Commons

town in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States

Vivian, LA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Alexandria, LA to Vivian, LA covers 155.3 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, Alvin B Kessler Memorial Highway, Highway 170 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.5 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.45 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

77.7 miles from Alexandria, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 2h 50m drive with frequent turns across 155.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 120.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 121.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 121.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.9 miles (LA 173 / Caddo Street): Navigation decision point; at 124.2 miles (US 71; LA 1 / North Market Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
121.4 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
4
122.9 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | LA 173 / Caddo Street

Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street

Navigation decision point

6
124.2 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | US 71; LA 1 / North Market Street

Turn left onto US 71; LA 1 / North Market Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
127 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | LA 3194 / Doctor Martin Luther King Drive

Turn left onto LA 3194 / Doctor Martin Luther King Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
146.6 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Take the exit toward LA 170: Vivian, Gilliam

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward LA 170: Vivian, Gilliam

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Alexandria, LA to Vivian, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Gilliam along the way.

Gilliam

146.6 mi in | ~2h 37m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway 120.5 mi 2h 3m
Alvin B Kessler Memorial Highway 18.7 mi 19m
Highway 170 6.6 mi 9m
North Market Street 2.8 mi 4m
South Pardue Street 1.4 mi 2m
Common Street 1 mi 1m
Pete Harris Drive 0.8 mi 1m
Doctor Martin Luther King Drive 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Martin Luther King, Jr Highway — 120.5 mi, about 2h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, LA and Vivian, LA.

1

Start on Murray Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Murray Street
2

Turn right onto 10th Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · 10th Street
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec
4

Merge onto I 49; US 71 BYP; LA 28

120 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
6

Continue on Pete Harris Drive

0.8 mi · 1 min · Pete Harris Drive
7

Turn right onto LA 173

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Caddo Street
8

Turn left onto Common Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Common Street
9

Turn left onto US 71; LA 1

2.8 mi · 4 min · North Market Street
Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto LA 3194

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Doctor Martin Luther King Drive
Use the left lane.
11

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
12

Merge onto I 49

19 mi · 19 min · Alvin B Kessler Memorial Highway
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward LA 170: Vivian, Gilliam
14

Turn left onto Highway 170

6.6 mi · 9 min · Highway 170
15

Continue on LA 170

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Pardue Street
16

Turn slight left onto East Arkansas Avenue

0.3 mi · 35 sec · East Arkansas Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

West Arkansas Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.7 miles from Alexandria, LA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.5 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 77.7 miles or 1h 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vivian, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Alexandria, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Alexandria, LA

This is one driving day of about 155.3 miles and 2h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alexandria, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway for about 120.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 77.7 mi from Alexandria, LA · 1h 21m into the drive

city in and county seat of Smith County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tyler, TX

78 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Tyler, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tyler, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 77.7 miles from Alexandria, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Martin Luther King, Jr Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.5 miles.

Arriving in Vivian, LA

The final approach into Vivian, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Vivian, LA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.45 one way

$46.91 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $25.75 $51.49
premium $4.56 $27.87 $55.75
diesel $5.61 $34.29 $68.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.6 0 $16.31 $7.45
Efficient EV 38.8 0 $13.59 $6.21
EV Truck/SUV 62.1 0 $21.74 $9.94

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Alexandria, LA

Morning in Alexandria on Wednesday

Local time

7:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Vivian, LA

Morning in Vivian on Wednesday

Local time

7:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

24 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 50m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alexandria, LA to Vivian, LA covers 155.3 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, Alvin B Kessler Memorial Highway, Highway 170. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77.7 miles from Alexandria, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 121.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.9 miles (LA 173 / Caddo Street): Navigation decision point; at 124.2 miles (US 71; LA 1 / North Market Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Alexandria, LA to Vivian, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Gilliam along the way.

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