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Trip from Bossier City, LA to Gardere, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 42m

Distance

253.5 mi

408 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 29m ★
6 AM
4h 42m
8 AM
5h 9m
10 AM
4h 52m
12 PM
4h 49m
3 PM
4h 53m
5 PM
5h 8m
8 PM
4h 34m

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

Downtown Bossier City, LA, LA

Bossier City, LA

Stephen Leonardi

Downtown Gardere, LA, LA

Gardere, LA

Miguel Cuenca

Trip Overview

The drive from Bossier City, LA to Gardere, LA covers 253.5 miles and takes about 4h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, US 190, Nicholson Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 186.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.28 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

126.7 miles from Bossier City, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 253.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 42m drive with frequent turns across 253.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 186.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 253.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Barksdale Boulevard

Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5
189 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas

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

Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
6
189.6 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | US 190

Merge onto US 190

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
246 mi into trip | ~4h 28m in

Take the exit toward LA 30

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 155A Toward LA 30
6
246.4 mi into trip | ~4h 29m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

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 Bossier City, LA to Gardere, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.

Opelousas

189 mi in | ~3h 15m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway 186.4 mi 3h 10m
US 190 49.5 mi 1h 3m
Nicholson Drive 7 mi 12m
LA 415 Spur 3.6 mi 5m
I 10 3 mi 3m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway 1.4 mi 2m
Barksdale Boulevard 0.2 mi <1m
Oklahoma Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway — 186.4 mi, about 3h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Gardere, LA.

1

Start on Monroe Street

78 ft · 4 sec · Monroe Street
2

Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Barksdale Boulevard
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
4

Merge onto I 20; US 71

1.4 mi · 2 min · Purple Heart Recipients Highway
5

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
6

Continue on I 49

186 mi · 3 hr 10 min · Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
7

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
8

Keep slight left at fork

362 ft · 9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
9

Merge onto US 190

49 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur

3.6 mi · 5 min · LA 415 Spur
11

Turn left

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
12

Merge onto I 10

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 155A Toward LA 30 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork

399 ft · 9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn straight onto LA 3290-1

494 ft · 16 sec · Oklahoma Street
16

Turn left onto LA 30

7.0 mi · 12 min · Nicholson Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn left onto LA 327 Spur

65 ft · 1 sec · Gardere Lane
18

Arrive at destination

LA 327 Spur

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 126.7 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 56 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 126.7 miles or 2h 11m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 39m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bossier City, 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 Bossier City, LA

This is one driving day of about 253.5 miles and 4h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Bossier City, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 186.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 126.7 mi from Bossier City, LA · 2h 11m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alexandria, LA

127 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

Shreveport, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alexandria, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 126.7 miles from Bossier City, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.4 miles.

Arriving in Gardere, LA

The final approach into Gardere, 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 Gardere, 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

$38.28 one way

$76.57 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 89 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $42.03 $84.05
premium $4.56 $45.50 $91.00
diesel $5.61 $55.97 $111.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 76.1 0 $26.62 $12.17
Efficient EV 63.4 0 $22.18 $10.14
EV Truck/SUV 101.4 1 $35.49 $16.22

Gas CO2

89 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bossier City, LA

Morning in Bossier City on Friday

Local time

11:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gardere, LA

Morning in Gardere on Friday

Local time

11:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

85°F

Alexandria, LA

127 mi in

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

16 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

4h 42m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bossier City, LA to Gardere, LA covers 253.5 miles and takes about 4h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, US 190, Nicholson Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 126.7 miles from Bossier City, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.28 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 253.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Bossier City, LA to Gardere, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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