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Trip from Minden, LA to Sulphur, LA

Drive Time

4h 24m

Distance

202.9 mi

327 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 11m ★
6 AM
4h 24m
8 AM
4h 51m
10 AM
4h 34m
12 PM
4h 31m
3 PM
4h 35m
5 PM
4h 50m
8 PM
4h 16m

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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Downtown Minden, LA, LA

Minden, LA

Photography Maghradze PH

Downtown Sulphur, LA, LA

Sulphur, LA

Jean-Paul Wettstein

Trip Overview

The drive from Minden, LA to Sulphur, LA covers 202.9 miles and takes about 4h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 371, Highway 171, Fisher Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.4 miles on US 371. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.02 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

101.5 miles from Minden, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 24m highway drive covering 202.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 371 and Highway 171. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.4 miles on US 371.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 371 is the longest continuous segment at about 41.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 371 and Highway 171. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.7 miles in near US 371 / HWY 371.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 202.9 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 40.7 miles (US 371 / HWY 371): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.8 miles (LA 485 / State Route 485): Navigation decision point; at 123.8 miles (US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

4
40.7 mi into trip | ~59m in | US 371 / HWY 371

Keep slight left at fork onto US 371 / HWY 371

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
65.8 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | LA 485 / State Route 485

Turn right onto LA 485 / State Route 485

Navigation decision point

5
123.8 mi into trip | ~2h 41m in | US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street

Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
146.1 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street

Turn left onto US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
197 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in | US 90

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 371 41.4 mi 59m
Highway 171 37.5 mi 43m
Fisher Road 21.4 mi 25m
LA 6 14.4 mi 16m
Main Street 13.2 mi 18m
I 49 13.1 mi 13m
Shreveport Highway 11.1 mi 13m
LA 485 10.4 mi 14m
Longest stretch: US 371 — 41.4 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minden, LA and Sulphur, LA.

1

Start on US 79; US 80; LA 159

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto LA 159

1.9 mi · 2 min · Sibley Road
3

Continue on US 371

39 mi · 55 min · US 371
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 371

0.2 mi · 21 sec · HWY 371
5

Turn straight onto US 71; US 371

1.4 mi · 2 min · Ringgold Avenue
6

Turn right

131 ft · 2 sec
7

Continue on US 371

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 371
8

Turn right onto US 84; US 371

0.2 mi · 16 sec · HWY 84 EAST
9

Continue on US 84; US 371

6.6 mi · 9 min · US 84; US 371
10

Continue on US 371; LA 177

2.0 mi · 3 min · US 371; LA 177
11

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
12

Merge onto I 49

13 mi · 13 min · I 49
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
14

Turn slight right

202 ft · 4 sec
15

Turn right onto LA 485

501 ft · 10 sec · State Route 485
16

Continue on LA 485

10 mi · 14 min · LA 485
17

At end of road, turn right onto LA 6

14 mi · 16 min · LA 6
18

Turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
19

Continue on Martin Luther King Drive

47 ft · 8 sec · Martin Luther King Drive
20

Turn left onto Fisher Road

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Fisher Road
21

At end of road, turn left onto US 171

21 mi · 24 min · Fisher Road
22

Continue on US 171

11 mi · 13 min · Shreveport Highway
23

Continue on US 171

239 ft · 3 sec · Shreveport Highway
24

Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8

135 ft · 1 sec · North 6th Street
25

Continue on US 171; LA 8

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 6th Street
26

Merge onto US 171

0.9 mi · 1 min · South 5th Street
27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 171

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South 5th Street
28

Continue on US 171

13 mi · 17 min · Main Street
29

Continue on US 171

3.7 mi · 4 min · Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
30

Continue on US 171

2.5 mi · 3 min · North Pine Street
31

Turn left onto US 171; US 190

2.5 mi · 2 min · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
32

Continue on US 171; US 190

38 mi · 43 min · Highway 171
33

Continue on US 171

4.5 mi · 7 min · Martin Luther King Highway
34

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
35

Merge onto I 10

5.7 mi · 7 min · I 10
36

Take the exit onto US 90

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 90
Toward US 90 West
37

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

5.9 mi · 9 min · US 90
Use the straight lane.
38

Arrive at destination

US 90

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 101.5 miles from Minden, LA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 101.5 miles or 2h 15m 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 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Minden, 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 Minden, LA

This is one driving day of about 202.9 miles and 4h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Minden, 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 US 371 for about 41.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 101.5 mi from Minden, LA · 2h 15m into the drive

Downtown Tyler, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tyler, TX

101 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

Tyler, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

Tyler, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101.5 miles from Minden, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sulphur, LA

The final approach into Sulphur, 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 Sulphur, 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.

Cane River Creole National Historical Park

Cane River Creole National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 77
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.02 one way

$62.04 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $34.02 $68.04
premium $4.61 $36.83 $73.65
diesel $5.64 $45.08 $90.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 71 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.9 0 $21.30 $9.74
Efficient EV 50.7 0 $17.75 $8.12
EV Truck/SUV 81.2 1 $28.41 $12.99

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Minden, LA

Morning in Minden on Monday

Local time

8:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sulphur, LA

Morning in Sulphur on Monday

Local time

8:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

85°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

21 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 24m 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 Minden, LA to Sulphur, LA covers 202.9 miles and takes about 4h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 371, Highway 171, Fisher Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.5 miles from Minden, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.02 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 202.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 40.7 miles (US 371 / HWY 371): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.8 miles (LA 485 / State Route 485): Navigation decision point; at 123.8 miles (US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Minden, LA to Sulphur, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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