Origin
Central, LA
Morning in Central on Thursday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central, LA to Opelousas, LA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
65.2 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central, LA
Jesus Alfonso
Opelousas, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Central, LA to Opelousas, LA covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Plank Road, Airline Highway, South Union Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.85 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 65.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 28m drive with frequent turns across 65.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Plank Road 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Central, LA to Opelousas, LA is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Central, LA to Opelousas, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Plank Road | — | — |
| Airline Highway | — | — |
| South Union Street | — | — |
| East Bellevue Street | — | — |
| South Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Plank Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, LA and Opelousas, LA.
1
Start on Hooper Road
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Hooper Road
2
Turn left onto Plank Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Plank Road
3
Take the ramp slight right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge slight left onto Airline Highway
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Airline Highway
5
Continue straight
51 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
6
Turn right onto South Union Street
387 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Union Street
7
Turn left onto East Bellevue Street
233 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Bellevue Street
8
Turn left onto South Main Street
157 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Main Street
9
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.6 mi from Central, LA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.6 miles from Central, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Opelousas, LA
The final approach into Opelousas, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.85 one way
$19.69 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.81 | $21.62 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.70 | $23.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.40 | $28.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Opelousas, LA
Morning in Opelousas on Thursday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Livonia, LA
33 mi in
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
21 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 28m 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 Opelousas, LA covers 65.2 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Plank Road, Airline Highway, South Union Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.6 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 $9.85 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 Opelousas, LA is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Central, LA to Opelousas, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Central, LA to Opelousas, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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