Origin
Jonesboro, LA
Afternoon in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
1:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jonesboro, LA to Houma, LA
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
263.5 mi
424 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Traveling from Jonesboro to Houma covers 263.5 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 17 minutes of drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you should plan for a full day on the road. Budget roughly $36 for fuel to complete the journey in one sitting. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Louisiana, you will remain in a familiar geographic corridor for the duration of your trip. While a single-day push is entirely manageable, your pace will be dictated by the local road network rather than high-speed highway cruising.
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
131.8 miles from Jonesboro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on driving experience as you navigate via Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, and Winnfield Highway. With a highway share of 0%, this route relies entirely on local roads, making it a turn-heavy journey that requires your full attention. You won't find any long, monotonous stretches here; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment on Chatham Highway is 0 miles. The road’s personality is defined by constant adjustments rather than the cruise-control ease of a major interstate. Be prepared for a winding, technical drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chatham Highway 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
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jonesboro, LA to Houma, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Hudson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Winnfield Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Lafayette Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Evangeline Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chatham Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, LA and Houma, LA.
1
Start on Allen Avenue
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
Allen Avenue
2
Turn left onto Chatham Highway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Chatham Highway
3
Turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hudson Avenue
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hudson Avenue
5
Continue on Winnfield Highway
22 mi
·
27 min
·
Winnfield Highway
6
Continue on East Lafayette Street
48 mi
·
58 min
·
East Lafayette Street
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
8
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
9
Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10
Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
11
Continue straight
6.1 mi
·
8 min
12
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Morgan Avenue
13
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ambassador Caffery Parkway
14
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Fairfield Drive
15
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
St Etienne Road
16
At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Young Street
17
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
21
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
22
Keep slight right
82 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
23
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
24
Keep slight right
394 ft
·
10 sec
25
Turn straight onto West Main Street
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
26
Turn right onto Lafayette Street
197 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lafayette Street
27
Turn left onto School Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
School Street
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since you are relying on local roads for the entire 263.5-mile trip, I recommend leaving early in the morning to beat local traffic and ensure you reach Houma before dark. Pacing yourself is essential, so take advantage of the one planned stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Because you won't benefit from interstate connectivity, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when navigating the smaller segments of Winnfield Highway. A pro tip for this specific route: since the drive is turn-heavy, double-check your GPS navigation settings before departing Jonesboro to ensure you stay on the intended local path.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 131.8 miles from Jonesboro, LA, or about 2h 8m 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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.8 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houma, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, LA
This is one driving day of about 263.5 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jonesboro, 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 131.8 mi from Jonesboro, LA · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 131.8 miles from Jonesboro, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Houma, LA
The final approach into Houma, 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 Houma, 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
$40.28 one way
$80.56 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $44.18 | $88.37 |
| premium | $4.61 | $47.82 | $95.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $58.54 | $117.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.67 | $12.65 |
| Efficient EV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.06 | $10.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.4 | 1 | $36.89 | $16.86 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Houma, LA
Afternoon in Houma on Sunday
Local time
1:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
65°F
Newton, TX
132 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
3 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
4h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jonesboro, LA to Houma, LA covers 263.5 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, Winnfield Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131.8 miles from Jonesboro, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.28 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jonesboro, LA to Houma, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Jonesboro, LA to Houma, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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