Trip from Franklin, LA to Alexandria, LA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 35m

Distance

135.4 mi

218 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 25m ★

6 AM

2h 35m

8 AM

2h 56m

10 AM

2h 42m

12 PM

2h 40m

3 PM

2h 43m

5 PM

2h 55m

8 PM

2h 29m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Franklin, LA

Abhishek Navlakha

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

Alexandria, LA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 135.4-mile drive from Franklin to Alexandria, Louisiana, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. You'll primarily travel on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, US 90, and the Veterans Memorial Expressway, with 32% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience, and with only one recommended stop, it's a straightforward journey through the Southeast region of Louisiana. This trip is well-suited for a single day of travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

67.7 miles from Franklin, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this 135.4-mile route, with a significant portion, 32%, featuring highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 76.3 miles along Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This means you'll likely experience periods of faster driving interspersed with more localized road conditions. As you progress from Franklin to Alexandria, the character of the road may shift, offering a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous one.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 26 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 76.3 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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near Chatsworth Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 135.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 1.3 miles (Chatsworth Road): Navigation decision point; at 34.7 miles (US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.9 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | Chatsworth Road

At end of road, turn right onto Chatsworth Road

Navigation decision point

34.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

35.9 mi into trip | ~42m 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

41 mi into trip | ~52m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

134.5 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in

Take the exit toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria

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

Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway	76.3 mi	1h 17m
US 90	32.1 mi	34m
Veterans Memorial Expressway	10.2 mi	11m
Southeast Evangeline Thruway	6 mi	9m
Southwest Evangeline Thruway	2.7 mi	3m
South Morgan Avenue	1.6 mi	2m
Ambassador Caffery Parkway	1.5 mi	2m
Iberia Street	1.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway — 76.3 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, LA and Alexandria, LA.

Start on Iberia Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · Iberia Street

At end of road, turn right onto Chatsworth Road

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Chatsworth Road

Turn left onto LA 3211

0.5 mi · 1 min · Northwest Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Merge onto US 90

32 mi · 34 min · US 90

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.4 mi · 28 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Take the exit onto LA 92-1

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Young Street

Continue on LA 92-1

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Young Street

Turn right onto St Etienne Road

1.0 mi · 3 min · St Etienne Road

At end of road, turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

0.1 mi · 22 sec · East Fairfield Drive

Turn left onto LA 3073

1.5 mi · 2 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway

Turn right onto South Morgan Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Morgan Avenue

Turn right onto US 90; LA 182

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Southwest Evangeline Thruway

Keep slight left at fork

158 ft · 7 sec

Turn left onto US 90; LA 182

2.5 mi · 2 min · Southwest Evangeline Thruway

Continue on US 90; LA 182

6.0 mi · 9 min · Southeast Evangeline Thruway

Continue on I 49; LA 182

8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Continue on I 49; US 167

76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria

Continue on 10th Street

0.2 mi · 22 sec · 10th Street

Turn right onto Murray Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Murray Street

Arrive at destination

Murray Street

Trip Plan

With a total duration of 2 hours and 35 minutes and a fuel cost of about $20, this route from Franklin to Alexandria is easily accomplished in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility and to make the most of your daylight. Given the longest stretch of 76.3 miles, plan for a break around that point or shortly after to stretch your legs. The Veterans Memorial Expressway is a key artery, so be aware of potential traffic patterns as you approach Alexandria. This straightforward drive offers ample room for spontaneous detours if time permits.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 67.7 miles from Franklin, LA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.3 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 30 miles or 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.7 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 8m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, LA

This is one driving day of about 135.4 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Franklin, 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 76.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.7 mi from Franklin, LA · 1h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lafayette, LA

68 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

New Iberia, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Opelousas, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.7 miles from Franklin, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.3 miles.

Arriving in Alexandria, LA

The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, LA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.45 one way

$40.90 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$22.45	$44.90
premium	$4.56	$24.30	$48.61
diesel	$5.61	$29.89	$59.79

Estimated Tolls: $0.59

Southeast Evangeline Thruway (6 mi) $0.42

Southwest Evangeline Thruway (2.5 mi) $0.17

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.6	$14.22	$6.50
Efficient EV	33.9	$11.85	$5.42
EV Truck/SUV	54.2	$18.96	$8.67

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (66% 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

Franklin, LA

Evening in Franklin on Wednesday

Local time

8:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Alexandria, LA

Evening in Alexandria on Wednesday

Local time

8:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°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

23 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

2h 35m 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 Franklin, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 135.4 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, US 90, Veterans Memorial Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 67.7 miles from Franklin, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.45 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The route from Franklin, LA to Alexandria, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Franklin, LA to Alexandria, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Alexandria, LA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Franklin, LA

Alexandria, LA

Same local time

23 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 35m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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