Origin
Ruston, LA
Afternoon in Ruston on Sunday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA
Drive Time
2h
Distance
93.9 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ruston, LA
Oleksandr Plakhota
Alexandria, LA
Maive & Nahuel Fotografía
Trip Overview
The drive from Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 93.9 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Lafayette Street, Winnfield Highway, Quitman Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.4 miles on East Lafayette Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.35 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Ruston, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h drive with frequent turns across 93.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Lafayette Street is the longest continuous segment at about 47.4 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 167 / South Trenton Street.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 2h 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 167 / South Trenton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 167 / South Vienna Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 93.2 miles (US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 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 167 / South Trenton Street
Turn left onto US 167 / South Trenton Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 167 / South Vienna Street
Merge onto US 167 / South Vienna Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
93.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandri...
5
93.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
93.7 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
Murray Street
Turn right onto Murray Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Lafayette Street | 47.4 mi | 58m |
| Winnfield Highway | 21.7 mi | 27m |
| Quitman Highway | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Main Street | 4 mi | 6m |
| South Vienna Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| South Hudson Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Trenton Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East Lafayette Street
— 47.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruston, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on LA 146
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East California Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 167
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Trenton Street
3
Merge onto US 167
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
South Vienna Street
4
Continue on US 167
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Quitman Highway
5
Continue on US 167; LA 147
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Main Street
6
Continue on US 167
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hudson Avenue
7
Continue on US 167
22 mi
·
27 min
·
Winnfield Highway
8
Continue on US 84; US 167; LA 34
47 mi
·
58 min
·
East Lafayette Street
9
Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria
10
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
11
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Murray Street
12
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
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 46.9 miles from Ruston, LA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.4 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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 1h 1m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ruston, 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 Ruston, LA
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ruston, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East Lafayette Street for about 47.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.9 mi from Ruston, LA · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Ruston, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alexandria, LA
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, 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
$14.35 one way
$28.71 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $15.74 | $31.49 |
| premium | $4.61 | $17.04 | $34.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $20.86 | $41.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
| Efficient EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.15 | $6.01 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Alexandria, LA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
2:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Garland, TX
47 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
24 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
2h 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 Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 93.9 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Lafayette Street, Winnfield Highway, Quitman Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.9 miles from Ruston, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.35 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 Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 2h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 167 / South Trenton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 167 / South Vienna Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 93.2 miles (US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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