The drive from Ruston, LA to Morehouse Parish, LA covers 71.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, United States Highway 165, Sterlington Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.5 miles on I 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.75 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
35.6 miles from Ruston, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 34m highway drive covering 71.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and United States Highway 165. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.5 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and United States Highway 165. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 71.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street
Turn right onto US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
33.8 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
5
34 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 165 North: Bastrop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 165 North: Bastrop
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 Morehouse Parish, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
Columbia
33.8 mi in|~39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
32.5 mi
35m
United States Highway 165
16.7 mi
19m
Sterlington Road
4.2 mi
5m
Grabault Road
3.9 mi
6m
Mer Rouge-Collinston Road
1.8 mi
3m
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
1.6 mi
1m
Jeannie Road
1.5 mi
5m
East Madison Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 32.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruston, LA and Morehouse Parish, LA.
1
Start on LA 146
167 ft·8 sec·East California Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 80; US 167; LA 146
1.1 mi·2 min·South Vienna Street
3
Turn right onto South Service Road West
0.1 mi·12 sec·South Service Road West
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto I 20
32 mi·35 min·I 20
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 165 North: Bastrop
8
Merge onto US 165
1.6 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Jr Drive
9
Continue on US 165
4.2 mi·5 min·Sterlington Road
10
Continue on US 165
17 mi·19 min·United States Highway 165
11
Continue on US 165; LA 2
1.2 mi·1 min·West Madison Avenue
12
Turn slight right onto US 165; LA 2
1.2 mi·1 min·West Jefferson Avenue
13
Turn straight onto US 165; US 425; LA 2
1.4 mi·2 min·East Madison Avenue
14
Continue on US 165; US 425; LA 2
0.3 mi·33 sec·Mer Rouge Road
15
Turn right onto Grabault Road
3.9 mi·6 min·Grabault Road
16
Turn left onto LA 138
1.8 mi·3 min·Mer Rouge-Collinston Road
17
Continue on LA 138
0.7 mi·1 min·South 14th Street
18
Continue on US 165
0.5 mi·46 sec·North 14th
19
Continue on US 165
1.2 mi·1 min·Wilmot Highway
20
Turn left onto Lloyd Barham Road
0.7 mi·2 min·Lloyd Barham Road
21
Turn right onto Jeannie Road
1.5 mi·5 min·Jeannie Road
22
Arrive at destination
Jeannie Road
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 35.6 miles from Ruston, LA, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.5 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.6 miles or 42m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morehouse Parish, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ruston, LA
This is one driving day of about 71.2 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Ruston, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 32.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.6 mi from Ruston, LA
· 42m into the drive
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Ruston, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Morehouse Parish, LA
The final approach into Morehouse Parish, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Warehouse No 1 Restaurant
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Monroe, Louisiana
Around the midpoint, short detour
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Moderately
mile 30.5
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 68.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.75 one way
$21.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$11.80
$23.61
premium
$4.56
$12.78
$25.56
diesel
$5.61
$15.72
$31.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.23
$2.85
EV Truck/SUV
28.5
0
$9.97
$4.56
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
10:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Morehouse Parish, LA
Night
in Morehouse Parish on Thursday
Local time
10:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
3 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
1h 34m 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 Morehouse Parish, LA covers 71.2 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, United States Highway 165, Sterlington Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.6 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 $10.75 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
On the drive from Ruston, LA to Morehouse Parish, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Poverty Point National Monument.
