Origin
Opelousas, LA
Late night in Opelousas on Thursday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
126.7 mi
204 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Opelousas, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Houma, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA covers 126.7 miles and takes about 2h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Vine Street, I 49 South, Charles I for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.13 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.
Midpoint
63.4 miles from Opelousas, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 126.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 10m drive with frequent turns across 126.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Vine Street 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA is easy. At 2h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Vine Street | — | — |
| I 49 South | — | — |
| Charles I | — | — |
| Veterans Memorial Expressway | — | — |
| Northwest Evangeline Thruway | — | — |
| North Morgan Avenue | — | — |
| Ambassador Caffery Parkway | — | — |
| East Fairfield Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Vine Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Opelousas, LA and Houma, LA.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Vine Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Vine Street
3
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Lafayette
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 49 South, US 167 South: Lafayette
4
Merge slight left onto Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
5
Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
6
Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
7
Continue straight
6.1 mi
·
8 min
8
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Morgan Avenue
9
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Ambassador Caffery Parkway
10
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Fairfield Drive
11
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
St Etienne Road
12
At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Young Street
13
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
16
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Expressway
18
Keep slight right
82 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
19
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
20
Keep slight right
394 ft
·
10 sec
21
Turn straight onto West Main Street
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
22
Turn right onto Lafayette Street
197 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lafayette Street
23
Turn left onto School Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
School Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 63.4 miles from Opelousas, LA, or about 1h 5m 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 28 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.4 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
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 Opelousas, 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 Opelousas, LA
This is one driving day of about 126.7 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Opelousas, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.4 mi from Opelousas, LA · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.4 miles from Opelousas, 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
$19.13 one way
$38.27 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $21.01 | $42.01 |
| premium | $4.56 | $22.74 | $45.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.97 | $55.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38 | 0 | $13.30 | $6.08 |
| Efficient EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.09 | $5.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.74 | $8.11 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Houma, LA
Late night in Houma on Thursday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Franklin, LA
63 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
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
2h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA covers 126.7 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Vine Street, I 49 South, Charles I. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.4 miles from Opelousas, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA is easy. At 2h 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Opelousas, LA to Houma, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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