The drive from Broussard, LA to Central, LA covers 79.9 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 190, US 71, State Route 107 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40 miles on US 190.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.07 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.
Midpoint
40 miles from Broussard, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 79.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 59m highway drive covering 79.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 190 and US 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 40 miles on US 190.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 190 is the longest continuous segment at about 40 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 190 and US 71. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near LA 107 / State Route 107.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (LA 107 / State Route 107): Navigation decision point; at 14.3 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|LA 107 / State Route 107
At end of road, turn right onto LA 107 / State Route 107
Navigation decision point
5
14.3 mi into trip|~25m in|US 71
At end of road, turn left onto US 71
Navigation decision point
5
31.2 mi into trip|~50m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward LA 67: Plank Road, Baker, Zachary, Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward LA 67: Plank Road, Baker, Zachary, Clint...
8
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 67: Plank Road, Baker, Zachary, Clinton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 67: Plank Road, Baker, Zachary, Clint...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Broussard, LA and Central, LA, road signs point toward Baker, Zachary and Clinton.
Baker
71.3 mi in|~1h 44m
Zachary
71.3 mi in|~1h 44m
Clinton
71.3 mi in|~1h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 190
40 mi
53m
US 71
16.7 mi
24m
State Route 107
7.3 mi
12m
Hooper Road
7 mi
11m
La 361
6.9 mi
12m
Plank Road
0.9 mi
1m
Barron Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 190
— 40 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Broussard, LA and Central, LA.
1
Start on Barron Road
395 ft·17 sec·Barron Road
2
Turn right onto LA 107
4.0 mi·7 min·State Route 107
3
At end of road, turn right onto LA 107
2.7 mi·4 min·State Route 107
4
Continue on LA 107
0.7 mi·1 min·State Route 107
5
Continue on LA 361
6.9 mi·12 min·LA 361
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 71
17 mi·24 min·US 71
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
8
Merge onto US 190
34 mi·44 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 190; LA 1
6.4 mi·9 min·US 190; LA 1
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward LA 67: Plank Road, Baker, Zachary, Clinton
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward LA 67: Plank Road, Baker, Zachary, ClintonUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto LA 67
0.9 mi·1 min·Plank Road
13
Turn right onto LA 408
7.0 mi·11 min·Hooper Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
LA 408
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40 miles from Broussard, LA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 18 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Broussard, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Broussard, LA
This is one driving day of about 79.9 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Broussard, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 190 for about 40 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40 mi from Broussard, LA
· 1h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.07 one way
$24.13 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.25
$26.49
premium
$4.56
$14.34
$28.68
diesel
$5.61
$17.64
$35.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Green Park Park & Charge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Other
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Other
1 DCFC
Green Park Baton Rouge Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Other
1 DCFC
GreenPark Charging Station
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Other
1 DCFC
GreenPark Charging Station
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Other
1 DCFC
Red E Charging Station
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.39
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$6.99
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.19
$5.11
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Broussard, LA
Morning
in Broussard on Saturday
Local time
11:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Central, LA
Morning
in Central on Saturday
Local time
11:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Livonia, LA
40 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
2 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
1h 59m 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 Broussard, LA to Central, LA covers 79.9 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 190, US 71, State Route 107. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40 miles from Broussard, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.07 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (LA 107 / State Route 107): Navigation decision point; at 14.3 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Broussard, LA and Central, LA, road signs point toward Baker, Zachary and Clinton.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
