Origin
Lake Providence, LA
Afternoon in Lake Providence on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Providence, LA to Lafayette, LA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
5h 4m
Distance
253.8 mi
408 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 51m
★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 11m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 30m
8 PM
4h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Providence, LA to Lafayette, LA covers 253.8 miles and takes about 5h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, I 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89 miles on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.33 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
126.9 miles from Lake Providence, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 4m drive with frequent turns across 253.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Martin Luther King Jr Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 89 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 253.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.4 miles (LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road): Navigation decision point; at 72.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road
Turn left onto LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road
Navigation decision point
4
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road
At end of road, turn right onto LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road
Navigation decision point
4
72.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 165 South: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 165 South: Columbia
4
161.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
Turn left toward US 165 North: Monroe
Navigation decision point
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
6
165.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive | 89 mi | 1h 43m |
| Martin Luther King, Jr Highway | 76 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 20 | 34.6 mi | 37m |
| Tensas Bayou Road | 24.3 mi | 43m |
| State Route 17 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Pineville Expressway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Northwest Evangeline Thruway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
— 89 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Providence, LA and Lafayette, LA.
1
Start on US 65
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Street
2
Turn left onto LA 134
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Tensas Bayou Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto LA 134
24 mi
·
41 min
·
Tensas Bayou Road
4
Turn left onto LA 17
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 17
5
Continue on LA 17
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
State Route 17
6
Continue on Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Continue on LA 17
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
9
Merge onto I 20
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 20
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 165 South: Columbia
11
Merge onto US 165
89 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
12
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
13
Merge onto US 167
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Pineville Expressway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
15
Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP
76 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
16
Continue on I 49; US 167
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
17
Continue on I 49; LA 182
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
18
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
19
Continue on Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Rue Jefferson
20
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
Rue Vermilion Ouest
21
Arrive at destination
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Trip Plan
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 126.9 miles from Lake Providence, LA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89 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 56 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.9 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Providence, 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 Lake Providence, LA
This is one driving day of about 253.8 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Lake Providence, 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 Martin Luther King Jr Drive for about 89 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.9 mi from Lake Providence, LA · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.9 miles from Lake Providence, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Martin Luther King Jr Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89 miles.
Arriving in Lafayette, LA
The final approach into Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, 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
$38.33 one way
$76.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $42.08 | $84.15 |
| premium | $4.56 | $45.55 | $91.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.04 | $112.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
(1.9 mi)
$0.13
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
$38
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.65 | $12.18 |
| Efficient EV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.21 | $10.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.5 | 1 | $35.53 | $16.24 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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
Lafayette, LA
Afternoon in Lafayette on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 15 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
77°F
Jonesboro, LA
127 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
26 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
5h 4m 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 Lake Providence, LA to Lafayette, LA covers 253.8 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, I 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.9 miles from Lake Providence, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.33 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 253.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (LA 134 / Tensas Bayou Road): Navigation decision point; at 72.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Lake Providence, LA to Lafayette, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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