Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 27m
Distance
292.4 mi
471 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shreveport, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Paulina, LA
Israyosoy S.
This 292.4-mile drive from Shreveport, LA to Paulina, LA is a solid day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 27 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and US 190 before merging onto I-10. With a fuel cost estimated at $44, this journey through Louisiana's Southeast region offers a mixed driving experience. It's well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop, but be prepared for a substantial amount of time on the road.
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
146.2 miles from Shreveport, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 186.4 mi | 3h 10m |
| US 190 | 49.5 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 10 | 35.2 mi | 39m |
| Airline Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| LA 415 Spur | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| North Airline Avenue | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| LA 44 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Common Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Shreveport, LA and Paulina, LA.
Start on River Parkway
Turn left onto Jack Wells Boulevard
Turn left onto Airport Drive
Turn right onto North Common Street
Turn right onto LA 173
Continue on LA 173
Turn left onto Allen Avenue
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 49
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 190
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
Turn left
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Merge onto US 61
Turn right onto LA 3274
At end of road, turn right onto LA 44
Arrive at destination
For this 5-hour and 27-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Shreveport to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With one main stop suggested, you can comfortably break up the 292.4 miles. The Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway constitutes the longest stretch at 186.4 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before you get too far into that segment. Given the estimated $44 fuel cost, keep an eye on your gauge, especially as you transition between the different road types on this Southeast Louisiana drive.
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.
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 64 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paulina, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA
This is one driving day of about 292.4 miles and 5h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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.
A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 146.2 miles from Shreveport, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 279.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 61 South: Gramercy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$44.16 one way
$88.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $48.48 | $96.95 |
| premium | $4.56 | $52.48 | $104.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.56 | $129.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.7 | 1 | $30.70 | $14.04 |
| Efficient EV | 73.1 | 0 | $25.58 | $11.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117 | 1 | $40.94 | $18.71 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Shreveport on Saturday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Paulina on Saturday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
85°F
Alexandria, LA
146 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a varied driving experience on this 292.4-mile route. While 31% of your journey will be on highways, you'll also encounter stretches of US 190, offering a different feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 186.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, meaning you'll have significant time on this particular road. The profile is best described as a mixed drive, transitioning between faster highway sections and potentially more local road segments as you progress toward Paulina.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 292.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 190.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Shreveport, LA to Paulina, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Opelousas
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 27m. Total distance: 292.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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