Origin
Ball, LA
Afternoon in Ball on Sunday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ball, LA to Houma, LA
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
200.2 mi
322 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Ball, LA to Houma, LA covers 200.2 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Monroe Highway, US 165 North, Pineville Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.61 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
100.1 miles from Ball, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 200.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Monroe Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ball, LA to Houma, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 165 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pineville Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Evangeline Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Morgan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Monroe Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ball, LA and Houma, LA.
1
Start on Monroe Highway
194 ft
·
9 sec
·
Monroe Highway
2
Continue on Monroe Highway
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Monroe Highway
3
Turn left onto US 165 North: Monroe
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 165 North: Monroe
4
Merge slight left onto Pineville Expressway
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Pineville Expressway
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
6
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
7
Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8
Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
9
Continue straight
6.1 mi
·
8 min
10
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Morgan Avenue
11
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ambassador Caffery Parkway
12
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Fairfield Drive
13
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
St Etienne Road
14
At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Young Street
15
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
20
Keep slight right
82 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
21
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
22
Keep slight right
394 ft
·
10 sec
23
Turn straight onto West Main Street
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
24
Turn right onto Lafayette Street
197 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lafayette Street
25
Turn left onto School Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
School Street
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100.1 miles from Ball, LA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 1h 37m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houma, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ball, 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 Ball, LA
This is one driving day of about 200.2 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ball, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.1 mi from Ball, LA · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.1 miles from Ball, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Houma, LA
The final approach into Houma, 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 Houma, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.61 one way
$61.21 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $33.57 | $67.14 |
| premium | $4.61 | $36.34 | $72.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.48 | $88.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.02 | $9.61 |
| Efficient EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.52 | $8.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.1 | 1 | $28.03 | $12.81 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Houma, LA
Afternoon in Houma on Sunday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 15m 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 Ball, LA to Houma, LA covers 200.2 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Monroe Highway, US 165 North, Pineville Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.1 miles from Ball, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 3h 15m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ball, LA to Houma, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ball, LA to Houma, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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