Origin
Opelousas, LA
Evening in Opelousas on Thursday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Opelousas, LA to Shreveport, LA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
190.9 mi
307 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 7m
★
6 AM
3h 19m
8 AM
3h 43m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 25m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 42m
8 PM
3h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Opelousas, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Shreveport, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 190.9-mile drive from Opelousas, Louisiana, to Shreveport, Louisiana, is estimated to take about 3 hours and 19 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and East Vine Street, with no significant highway driving. The estimated fuel cost is around $29. Given the relatively short duration and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, this route is best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility. You'll stay within the Southeast region throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.5 miles from Opelousas, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 190.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 190.9-mile journey, as there's a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This means you'll be experiencing a more engaged driving style, with frequent turns and changes in scenery typical of local routes, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The road will likely feel more intimate, with more opportunities to observe the immediate surroundings.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 186.3 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 190 / East Vine Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Opelousas, LA to Shreveport, LA is easy. At 3h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 190 / East Vine Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 190 / East Vine Street
Turn left onto US 190 / East Vine Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
3
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
Merge onto I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
187.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
4
189.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway | 186.3 mi | 3h 10m |
| East Vine Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Caddo Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Pete Harris Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Opelousas, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on LA 182
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 190
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Vine Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
4
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi
·
3 hr 10 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
6
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pete Harris Drive
7
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Caddo Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
9
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft
·
1 sec
·
River Parkway
10
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 3 hours, this drive from Opelousas to Shreveport is perfect for a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You'll encounter one recommended stop along the way, and the total fuel cost is estimated at $29. Given the local road nature, plan for the possibility of slightly slower speeds than on a highway. A key tip for this route is to be mindful of the numerous turns indicated, so keeping your navigation device updated and readily accessible will be crucial for a smooth journey.
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 95.5 miles from Opelousas, LA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.3 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 42 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.5 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, 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 190.9 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Opelousas, 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 Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 186.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.5 mi from Opelousas, LA · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.5 miles from Opelousas, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.3 miles.
Arriving in Shreveport, LA
The final approach into Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.83 one way
$57.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $31.65 | $63.30 |
| premium | $4.56 | $34.26 | $68.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.15 | $84.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.04 | $9.16 |
| Efficient EV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.70 | $7.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.4 | 0 | $26.73 | $12.22 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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
Shreveport, LA
Evening in Shreveport on Thursday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Alexandria, LA
95 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
23 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
3h 19m 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 Shreveport, LA covers 190.9 miles and takes about 3h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, East Vine Street, Caddo Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.5 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 $28.83 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Opelousas, LA to Shreveport, LA is easy. At 3h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 190 / East Vine Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles (I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Opelousas, LA to Shreveport, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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