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Trip from Ruston, LA to Franklin, LA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 32m

Distance

228.1 mi

367 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 19m ★
6 AM
4h 32m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 41m
12 PM
4h 39m
3 PM
4h 43m
5 PM
4h 57m
8 PM
4h 24m

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

Downtown Franklin, LA, LA

Franklin, LA

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Ruston, LA to Franklin, LA covers 228.1 miles and takes about 4h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, East Lafayette Street, US 90 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.45 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

114.1 miles from Ruston, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 228.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

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

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 32m drive with frequent turns across 228.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 76 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 18 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 6/10

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 228.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 93.5 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.4 miles (LA 92-1 / Young Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 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

6
93.5 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
5
191.4 mi into trip | ~3h 48m in | LA 92-1 / Young Street

At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1 / Young Street

Navigation decision point

5
192.6 mi into trip | ~3h 50m in | US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
192.8 mi into trip | ~3h 50m in | US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway 76 mi 1h 17m
East Lafayette Street 47.7 mi 58m
US 90 37.6 mi 42m
Winnfield Highway 21.7 mi 27m
Quitman Highway 15.9 mi 18m
Veterans Memorial Expressway 10.6 mi 11m
Main Street 4 mi 6m
South Vienna Street 2.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Martin Luther King, Jr Highway — 76 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

48 mi · 58 min · East Lafayette Street
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
10

Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP

76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
11

Continue on I 49; US 167

8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway
12

Continue on I 49; LA 182

2.2 mi · 3 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway
13

Continue on US 90; LA 182

6.1 mi · 8 min · US 90; LA 182
14

Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Morgan Avenue
15

Turn left onto LA 3073

1.5 mi · 2 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway
16

Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive
17

Turn left onto St Etienne Road

1.0 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road
18

At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Young Street
19

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1

0.5 mi · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
20

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
21

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
22

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
23

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.8 mi · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
24

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

32 mi · 34 min · US 90
25

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward LA 3211: Franklin
26

Turn left onto LA 3211

0.7 mi · 1 min · Northwest Boulevard
27

Turn right onto Chatsworth Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Chatsworth Road
28

Turn left onto Iberia Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · Iberia Street
29

Arrive at destination

Iberia Street

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 114.1 miles from Ruston, LA, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76 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 50 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 114.1 miles or 2h 20m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, 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 228.1 miles and 4h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 Martin Luther King, Jr Highway for about 76 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 114.1 mi from Ruston, LA · 2h 20m into the drive

largest city and parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alexandria, LA

114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alexandria, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.1 miles from Ruston, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Martin Luther King, Jr Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76 miles.

Arriving in Franklin, LA

The final approach into Franklin, 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 Franklin, 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 62.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.45 one way

$68.90 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $37.82 $75.63
premium $4.56 $40.94 $81.88
diesel $5.61 $50.36 $100.72

Estimated Tolls: $0.15

Northwest Evangeline Thruway (2.2 mi) $0.15

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68.4 0 $23.95 $10.95
Efficient EV 57 0 $19.96 $9.12
EV Truck/SUV 91.2 1 $31.93 $14.60

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Afternoon in Ruston on Thursday

Local time

2:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Franklin, LA

Afternoon in Franklin on Thursday

Local time

2:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

58°F

Alexandria, LA

114 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

4 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 32m 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 Ruston, LA to Franklin, LA covers 228.1 miles and takes about 4h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, East Lafayette Street, US 90. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.1 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 $34.45 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 228.1 miles you will encounter 18 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 93.5 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.4 miles (LA 92-1 / Young Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Ruston, LA to Franklin, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

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