The drive from Haughton, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 139.5 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, I 20, North Elm Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.3 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.07 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.8 miles from Haughton, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 139.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 30m drive with frequent turns across 139.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 120.3 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near LA 157 / North Elm Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Haughton, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 2h 30m with 11% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (LA 157 / North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 138.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 157 / North Elm Street
Turn right onto LA 157 / North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.2 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
5
138.3 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward Elliott Street, Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Elliott Street, Downtown Alexandria
4
139.1 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 165 BUS / Jackson Street
Turn left onto US 165 BUS / Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
5
139.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|Murray Street
Turn left onto Murray Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
120.3 mi
2h 3m
I 20
14.7 mi
17m
North Elm Street
0.8 mi
1m
West McKinley Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Highway 157
0.4 mi
<1m
Jackson Street
0.4 mi
1m
Thorn Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East Taylor Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 120.3 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Haughton, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on LA 614
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Taylor Street
2
Continue on LA 614
0.6 mi·1 min·West McKinley Avenue
3
Turn right onto LA 157
0.8 mi·1 min·North Elm Street
4
Continue on LA 157
0.4 mi·51 sec·Highway 157
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·17 min·I 20
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
8
Continue on I 49
120 mi·2 hr 3 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Elliott Street, Downtown Alexandria
10
Continue on Thorn Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·Thorn Road
11
Turn left onto US 165 BUS
0.4 mi·1 min·Jackson Street
12
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·4th Street
13
Turn left onto Murray Street
159 ft·6 sec·Murray Street
14
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Haughton, LA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.3 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 17m 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 2m
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 Haughton, 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 Haughton, LA
This is one driving day of about 139.5 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Haughton, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 120.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.8 mi from Haughton, LA
· 1h 17m 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 96.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.07 one way
$42.14 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$23.13
$46.25
premium
$4.56
$25.04
$50.08
diesel
$5.61
$30.80
$61.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.65
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.53
$8.93
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Haughton, LA
Afternoon
in Haughton on Friday
Local time
1:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Afternoon
in Alexandria on Friday
Local time
1:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Zwolle, LA
70 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
29 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
2h 30m 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 Haughton, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 139.5 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, I 20, North Elm Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.8 miles from Haughton, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.07 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Haughton, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 2h 30m with 11% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (LA 157 / North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 138.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Haughton, LA to Alexandria, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
