This 332.1-mile drive from Chauvin to Shreveport will take you approximately 6 hours and 11 minutes to complete. Primarily using roads like Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, Raceland-M C Expressway, and Highway 56, about 32% of this journey is on highways, offering a mixed driving experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $50, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The drive traverses from the Southeast region of Louisiana to the same region, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your journey.
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
166 miles from Chauvin, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 11m. Total distance: 332.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a varied driving experience on this 332.1-mile trip, with a 32% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 197.8 miles on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, which suggests a significant portion of your drive will be on this particular road. The 'mixed drive' profile indicates you'll transition between faster highway sections and potentially more local or two-lane roads as you progress toward Shreveport. This route isn't a monotonous interstate grind but rather a journey with changing road personalities.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 197.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near LA 56 / Highway 56.
Driving Effort5/10
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 332.1 miles you will encounter 21 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: near the start (LA 56 / Highway 56): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (Prospect Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 109 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 56 / Highway 56
Turn left onto LA 56 / Highway 56
Navigation decision point
5
13.9 mi into trip|~21m in|Prospect Boulevard
Turn right onto Prospect Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
109 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
329.1 mi into trip|~6h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
197.8 mi
3h 22m
Raceland-M C Expressway
84 mi
1h 31m
Highway 56
11.1 mi
16m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10.2 mi
11m
Bayou Blue Road
7.5 mi
12m
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
6 mi
9m
East Main Street
2.8 mi
4m
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 197.8 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chauvin, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Chauvin Street
99 ft·9 sec·Chauvin Street
2
Turn left onto LA 56
11 mi·16 min·Highway 56
3
Continue on LA 24
2.8 mi·4 min·East Main Street
4
Turn right onto Prospect Boulevard
1.9 mi·3 min·Prospect Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto LA 316
7.5 mi·12 min·Bayou Blue Road
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 204Toward US 90 West: Morgan City
7
Merge onto US 90
84 mi·1 hr 31 min·Raceland-M C Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·14 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.4 mi·24 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.4 mi·28 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·15 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1
0.2 mi·13 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
13
Take the exit onto LA 92-1
0.1 mi·21 sec·Young Street
14
Continue on LA 92-1
0.3 mi·38 sec·Young Street
15
Turn right onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi·3 min·St Etienne Road
16
At end of road, turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Fairfield Drive
17
Turn left onto LA 3073
1.5 mi·2 min·Ambassador Caffery Parkway
18
Turn right onto South Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·South Morgan Avenue
19
Turn right onto US 90; LA 182
0.2 mi·13 sec·Southwest Evangeline Thruway
20
Keep slight left at fork
158 ft·7 sec
21
Turn left onto US 90; LA 182
2.5 mi·2 min·Southwest Evangeline Thruway
22
Continue on US 90; LA 182
6.0 mi·9 min·Southeast Evangeline Thruway
23
Continue on I 49; LA 182
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
24
Continue on I 49; US 167
198 mi·3 hr 22 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
26
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
27
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
28
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
29
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
30
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 11-minute duration, starting your drive from Chauvin early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility with your single planned stop. The estimated $50 fuel cost is reasonable for this 332.1-mile journey, so ensure your tank is full before departing. While the longest stretch is nearly 200 miles, planning your one stop around the halfway point can break up the drive nicely. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach your destination in Shreveport, as fuel availability can vary.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166 miles from Chauvin, LA, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.8 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 73 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chauvin, 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 Chauvin, LA
This is one driving day of about 332.1 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Chauvin, 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 Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 197.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 166 mi from Chauvin, LA
· 3h 18m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 251.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.6
1
$34.87
$15.94
Efficient EV
83
0
$29.06
$13.28
EV Truck/SUV
132.8
1
$46.49
$21.25
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Chauvin, LA
Night
in Chauvin on Friday
Local time
10:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Night
in Shreveport on Friday
Local time
10:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
7 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
6h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chauvin, LA to Shreveport, LA covers 332.1 miles and takes about 6h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, Raceland-M C Expressway, Highway 56. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 166 miles from Chauvin, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 332.1 miles you will encounter 21 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: near the start (LA 56 / Highway 56): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (Prospect Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 109 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Chauvin, LA to Shreveport, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cane River Creole National Historical Park.
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.
