Origin
Houma, LA
Late night in Houma on Monday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houma, LA to Minden, LA
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
319.9 mi
515 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 0m
★
6 AM
6h 13m
8 AM
6h 38m
10 AM
6h 21m
12 PM
6h 19m
3 PM
6h 23m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houma, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Minden, LA
Photography Maghradze PH
Trip Overview
The drive from Houma, LA to Minden, LA covers 319.9 miles and takes about 6h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Barrow Street, Park Avenue, Raceland-M C Express for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
159.9 miles from Houma, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 12m drive with frequent turns across 319.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Barrow Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houma, LA to Minden, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Park Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Raceland-M C Express | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Young Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| St Etienne Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Fairfield Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ambassador Caffery Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Barrow Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houma, LA and Minden, LA.
1
Start on School Street
46 ft
·
7 sec
·
School Street
2
Turn left onto Barrow Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Barrow Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Park Avenue
7.4 mi
·
14 min
·
Park Avenue
4
Turn left
358 ft
·
15 sec
5
Take the ramp straight
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Raceland-M C Express
82 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Raceland-M C Express
7
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
12
Take the exit slight left toward Young Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Young Street
13
Continue on Young Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Young Street
14
Turn right onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
St Etienne Road
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Fairfield Drive
16
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ambassador Caffery Parkway
17
Turn right onto South Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Morgan Avenue
18
Turn right onto Southwest Evangeline Thruway
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
19
Keep slight left
157 ft
·
8 sec
20
Turn left onto Southwest Evangeline Thruway
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
21
Continue on Southeast Evangeline Thruway
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
22
Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
23
Continue on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
154 mi
·
2 hr 36 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
24
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
25
Keep slight right
315 ft
·
8 sec
26
Turn straight
8.1 mi
·
12 min
27
Continue on HWY 84 EAST
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
HWY 84 EAST
28
Turn left onto Ringgold Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ringgold Avenue
29
Turn left onto Ringgold Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Ringgold Avenue
30
Keep slight right to continue on HWY 371
35 mi
·
49 min
·
HWY 371
31
Continue on South Main Street
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
South Main Street
32
Continue on Sibley Road
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Sibley Road
33
Continue on Lee Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lee Street
34
Turn right onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Broadway Street
35
Turn left onto West Union Street
177 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Union Street
36
Turn left onto Main Street
105 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
37
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 159.9 miles from Houma, LA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.9 miles or 3h 6m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minden, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Houma, 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 Houma, LA
This is one driving day of about 319.9 miles and 6h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Houma, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159.9 mi from Houma, LA · 3h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
160 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 159.9 miles from Houma, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Minden, LA
The final approach into Minden, 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 Minden, 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
$48.90 one way
$97.81 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $53.64 | $107.28 |
| premium | $4.61 | $58.06 | $116.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.07 | $142.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96 | 1 | $33.59 | $15.36 |
| Efficient EV | 80 | 0 | $27.99 | $12.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128 | 1 | $44.79 | $20.47 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Minden, LA
Late night in Minden on Monday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
65°F
Newton, TX
160 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
4 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 12m 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 Houma, LA to Minden, LA covers 319.9 miles and takes about 6h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Barrow Street, Park Avenue, Raceland-M C Express. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.9 miles from Houma, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.90 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houma, LA to Minden, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Houma, LA to Minden, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Minden, LA
More trips to Minden, LA
Explore more options from Houma, LA or browse trips ending in Minden, LA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse LA road trips.
Explore maps for Houma, LA or Minden, LA on MapSof.net.