Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
210.5 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
The drive from Iowa, LA to Shreveport, LA covers 210.5 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Thomson Avenue, State Route 383, US 171 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.59 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
105.2 miles from Iowa, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 17m drive with frequent turns across 210.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Thomson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 383 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 171 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 171 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 171 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mahlon Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa, LA and Shreveport, LA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn left onto North Thomson Avenue
Continue on State Route 383
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 171: DeRidder, Shreveport
Keep slight right to continue on US 171 North: DeRidder, Shreveport
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Highway
Continue on Highway 171
Continue on East 1st Street
Continue on Mahlon Street
Continue on Shirley Street
Turn right onto North Pine Street
Continue on Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
Continue on Lake Charles Highway
Continue on South 5th Street
Keep slight left to continue on North 5th Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Shreveport Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Shreveport Highway
Continue on Hammond Street
Continue on Fisher Road
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Drive
Turn right onto San Antonio Avenue
Continue on Natchitoches Highway
Turn left onto LA 485
Continue on State Route 485
Turn left
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
Turn right onto Caddo Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.2 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Iowa, 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 Iowa, LA
This is one driving day of about 210.5 miles and 3h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 105.2 mi from Iowa, LA · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
The final approach into Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$28.59 one way
$57.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $31.91 | $63.81 |
| premium | $4.15 | $34.39 | $68.79 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $31.08 | $62.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.10 | $10.10 |
| Efficient EV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.42 | $8.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.2 | 1 | $29.47 | $13.47 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Iowa on Saturday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Shreveport on Saturday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Tyler, TX
105 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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