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Trip from Ruston, LA to DeRidder, LA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

3h 28m

Distance

165.6 mi

267 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 16m ★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 38m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 21m

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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small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States

Ruston, LA

Wikimedia Commons

small city and the parish seat of Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States

DeRidder, LA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ruston, LA to DeRidder, LA covers 165.6 miles and takes about 3h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Coliseum Boulevard, East Lafayette Street, Winnfield Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.4 miles on Coliseum Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.01 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

82.8 miles from Ruston, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 165.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 28m drive with frequent turns across 165.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Coliseum Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 48.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 167 / South Trenton Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 165.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 167 / South Trenton Street): Navigation decision point; at 88.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These 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

5
88.8 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in

Take the exit toward US 165: Monroe, Alexandria

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

Toward US 165: Monroe, Alexandria
6
89 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 165 South: Alexandria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 165 South: Alexandria
5
94.8 mi into trip | ~2h in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

4
143.3 mi into trip | ~2h 57m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Ruston, LA to DeRidder, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Alexandria along the way.

Alexandria

88.8 mi in | ~1h 52m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Coliseum Boulevard 48.4 mi 56m
East Lafayette Street 43.1 mi 52m
Winnfield Highway 21.7 mi 27m
Main Street 16.8 mi 24m
Quitman Highway 15.9 mi 18m
Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway 3.7 mi 4m
Monroe Highway 2.9 mi 3m
South Vienna Street 2.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Coliseum Boulevard — 48.4 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ruston, LA and DeRidder, 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

43 mi · 52 min · East Lafayette Street
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward US 165: Monroe, Alexandria
10

Keep slight right at fork

331 ft · 8 sec
Toward US 165 South: Alexandria
11

Merge onto US 165

2.9 mi · 3 min · Monroe Highway
12

Continue on US 71; US 165

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
13

Continue on US 71; US 165

2.4 mi · 3 min · Macarthur Drive
14

Take the exit

233 ft · 6 sec
15

Continue on LA 28

48 mi · 56 min · Coliseum Boulevard
16

Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8

314 ft · 3 sec · North 6th Street
17

Continue on US 171; LA 8

2.0 mi · 2 min · North 6th Street
18

Merge onto US 171

0.9 mi · 1 min · South 5th Street
19

Keep slight right at fork onto US 171

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South 5th Street
20

Continue on US 171

13 mi · 17 min · Main Street
21

Continue on US 171

3.7 mi · 4 min · Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
22

Continue on US 171

2.5 mi · 3 min · North Pine Street
Use the straight lane.
23

Arrive at destination

LA 27

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 82.8 miles from Ruston, LA, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.4 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 36 miles or 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 82.8 miles or 1h 44m 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 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near DeRidder, 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 165.6 miles and 3h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Ruston, 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 Coliseum Boulevard for about 48.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 82.8 mi from Ruston, LA · 1h 44m into the drive

suburb city of Alexandria, located in Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pineville, LA

83 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

Jonesboro, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ball, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.8 miles from Ruston, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in DeRidder, LA

The final approach into DeRidder, 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 DeRidder, 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...

26 mi from route ~64 min detour Free near mile 62.8
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.01 one way

$50.02 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $27.45 $54.91
premium $4.56 $29.72 $59.45
diesel $5.61 $36.56 $73.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.7 0 $17.39 $7.95
Efficient EV 41.4 0 $14.49 $6.62
EV Truck/SUV 66.2 0 $23.18 $10.60

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Ruston, LA

Night in Ruston on Thursday

Local time

11:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

DeRidder, LA

Night in DeRidder on Thursday

Local time

11:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°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

20 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 28m 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 DeRidder, LA covers 165.6 miles and takes about 3h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Coliseum Boulevard, East Lafayette Street, Winnfield Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.8 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 $25.01 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 165.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 167 / South Trenton Street): Navigation decision point; at 88.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Ruston, LA to DeRidder, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Alexandria along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

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