The drive from Central, LA to Broussard, LA covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m 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 35 miles on US 190.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.02 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
39.8 miles from Central, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 58m highway drive covering 79.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 190 and US 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 35 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 13 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 35 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 190 and US 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near LA 67 / Plank Road.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Central, LA to Broussard, LA is easy. At 1h 58m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (LA 67 / Plank Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 65.4 miles (LA 361 / La 361): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
7 mi into trip|~11m in|LA 67 / Plank Road
Turn left onto LA 67 / Plank Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
8.3 mi into trip|~14m in|US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge onto US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|LA 361 / La 361
Turn right onto LA 361 / La 361
Navigation decision point
3
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|Barron Road
Turn left onto Barron Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 190
35 mi
46m
US 71
16.7 mi
24m
State Route 107
7.3 mi
13m
Hooper Road
7 mi
11m
La 361
6.9 mi
12m
Airline Highway
5.3 mi
7m
Plank Road
0.7 mi
1m
Barron Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 190
— 35 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, LA and Broussard, LA.
1
Start on LA 408
7.0 mi·11 min·Hooper Road
2
Turn left onto LA 67
0.7 mi·1 min·Plank Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto US 61; US 190
5.3 mi·7 min·Airline Highway
5
Continue on US 190; LA 1
35 mi·46 min·US 190; LA 1
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left
460 ft·13 sec
7
Continue on US 71
17 mi·24 min·US 71
8
Turn right onto LA 361
6.9 mi·12 min·LA 361
9
Continue on LA 107
0.7 mi·1 min·State Route 107
10
Continue on LA 107
2.7 mi·4 min·State Route 107
11
Continue on LA 107
4.0 mi·7 min·State Route 107
12
Turn left onto Barron Road
395 ft·17 sec·Barron Road
13
Arrive at destination
Barron Road
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 39.8 miles from Central, LA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 56m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Broussard, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Central, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Central, LA
This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Central, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 190 for about 35 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.8 mi from Central, LA
· 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.02 one way
$24.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.20
$26.39
premium
$4.56
$14.29
$28.57
diesel
$5.61
$17.57
$35.15
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: 27.9 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
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
EV Truck/SUV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
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 17, 2026
Origin
Central, LA
Morning
in Central on Saturday
Local time
8:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Broussard, LA
Morning
in Broussard on Saturday
Local time
8:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 58m 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 Central, LA to Broussard, LA covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 58m 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 39.8 miles from Central, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.02 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.
The drive from Central, LA to Broussard, LA is easy. At 1h 58m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (LA 67 / Plank Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 65.4 miles (LA 361 / La 361): Navigation decision point.
The route from Central, LA to Broussard, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
