Trip from Mandeville, LA to Ruston, LA

Drive Time

5h 22m

Distance

281.4 mi

453 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

18 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 9m ★

6 AM

5h 23m

8 AM

5h 50m

10 AM

5h 32m

12 PM

5h 29m

3 PM

5h 33m

5 PM

5h 48m

8 PM

5h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Mandeville, LA

Abhishek Navlakha

Ruston, LA

Oleksandr Plakhota

Trip Overview

The drive from Mandeville, LA to Ruston, LA covers 281.4 miles and takes about 5h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway, I 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.2 miles on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.02 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

140.7 miles from Mandeville, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Mandeville, LA to Ruston, LA covers 281.4 miles and takes about 5h 22m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

E. E. Wallace Boulevard North is the longest continuous segment at about 63.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 281.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5.2 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 12: Hammond, Slidell

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 12: Hammond, Slidell

5.4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 12 West: Hammond

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 12 West: Hammond

6.4 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway

Merge onto I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

30.5 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward I 55: Jackson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 38B Toward I 55: Jackson

30.9 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

Merge onto I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North	63.2 mi	1h 12m
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway	56.4 mi	1h
I 20	50.5 mi	55m
US 84	47.3 mi	55m
US 98	30.1 mi	34m
West Florida Republic Parkway	24.1 mi	25m
US 190	2 mi	2m
Highway 190	1.8 mi	2m

Longest stretch: E. E. Wallace Boulevard North — 63.2 mi, about 1h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mandeville, LA and Ruston, LA.

Start on LA 1087

160 ft · 9 sec · Monroe Street

Turn left onto LA 1087

0.4 mi · 1 min · Girod Street

Turn left onto US 190

1.0 mi · 1 min · Florida Street

Continue on US 190

1.8 mi · 2 min · Highway 190

Take the ramp onto US 190

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 190

Toward US 190: North Causeway Boulevard

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 12: Hammond, Slidell Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward I 12 West: Hammond Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 12

24 mi · 25 min · West Florida Republic Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Exit 38B Toward I 55: Jackson Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 55

56 mi · 1 hr · Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 98

29 mi · 33 min · US 98

At end of road, turn left onto US 98; MS 184

0.8 mi · 53 sec · US 98; MS 184

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Merge onto US 84

28 mi · 32 min · US 84

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

6.0 mi · 7 min · US 84

Take the exit onto US 84

13 mi · 15 min · US 84

Continue on US 425; LA 15

63 mi · 1 hr 12 min · E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

Turn left

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Merge onto I 20

51 mi · 55 min · I 20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Keep slight left at fork

193 ft · 7 sec

Turn left onto LA 33

0.7 mi · 1 min · Farmerville Highway

Continue on US 80

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Georgia Avenue

Turn left onto North Farmerville Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Farmerville Street

Turn right onto LA 146

0.4 mi · 54 sec · East California Avenue

Arrive at destination

LA 146

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 140.7 miles from Mandeville, LA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.2 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 140.7 miles or 2h 39m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruston, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Mandeville, 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 Mandeville, LA

This is one driving day of about 281.4 miles and 5h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mandeville, 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 E. E. Wallace Boulevard North for about 63.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 140.7 mi from Mandeville, LA · 2h 39m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Maryland, LA

141 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

Central, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Maryland, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 140.7 miles from Mandeville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before E. E. Wallace Boulevard North if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.2 miles.

Arriving in Ruston, LA

The final approach into Ruston, 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 Ruston, LA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Poverty Point National Monument

National Monument

Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 232.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.02 one way

$86.04 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 99 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$47.18	$94.37
premium	$4.61	$51.07	$102.15
diesel	$5.64	$62.52	$125.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 98.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

18 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Covington, LA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Southwest Mall - Tesla Supercharger

McComb, MS

Tesla

8 DCFC

TownePlace Suites Monroe - Tesla Supercharger

Monroe, LA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Eagle Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

Ruston, LA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target T1469 (Monroe, LA)

Monroe, LA

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Banner Ford

Mandeville, LA

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Target T2531 (Hammond, LA)

Hammond, LA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Bill Hood Ford

Hammond, LA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 4 Tesla: 4 EV Connect: 3 FORD_CHARGE: 2 Electrify America: 2 Blink Network: 1 Non-Networked: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	84.4	1	$29.55	$13.51
Efficient EV	70.4	0	$24.62	$11.26
EV Truck/SUV	112.6	1	$39.40	$18.01

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Mandeville, LA

Morning in Mandeville on Monday

Local time

9:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ruston, LA

Morning in Ruston on Monday

Local time

9:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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

5h 22m 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 Mandeville, LA to Ruston, LA covers 281.4 miles and takes about 5h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway, I 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 140.7 miles from Mandeville, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.02 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.

The route from Mandeville, LA to Ruston, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Mandeville, LA to Ruston, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Ruston, LA

National Parks Near This Route

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Poverty Point National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Mandeville, LA

Ruston, LA

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 22m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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