Origin
Zachary, LA
Late night in Zachary on Monday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zachary, LA to Ruston, LA
Drive Time
4h 2m
Distance
206.3 mi
332 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 50m
★
6 AM
4h 3m
8 AM
4h 29m
10 AM
4h 12m
12 PM
4h 9m
3 PM
4h 13m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ruston, LA
Oleksandr Plakhota
Trip Overview
The drive from Zachary, LA to Ruston, LA covers 206.3 miles and takes about 4h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Samuels Road, E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, I 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.2 miles on Samuels Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.54 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
103.1 miles from Zachary, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 2m drive with frequent turns across 206.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Samuels Road is the longest continuous segment at about 71.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near Mount Pleasant Zachary Road.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (Mount Pleasant Zachary Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.6 miles (US 61 / Samuels Road): Navigation decision point; at 76.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
Enter roundabout onto Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 61 / Samuels Road
Turn right onto US 61 / Samuels Road
Navigation decision point
4
76.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
204.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
205.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
|
LA 146 / East California Avenue
Turn right onto LA 146 / East California Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Samuels Road | 71.2 mi | 1h 23m |
| E. E. Wallace Boulevard North | 63.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| I 20 | 50.5 mi | 55m |
| Natchez-Vidalia Bridge | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Mount Pleasant Zachary Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| John R Junkin Drive | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Farmerville Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Samuels Road
— 71.2 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zachary, LA and Ruston, LA.
1
Start on Main Street
384 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn straight onto High Street
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
High Street
3
Continue on Church Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Church Street
4
Continue on Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
6
Exit the roundabout onto Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
7
Turn right onto Samuels Road
71 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Samuels Road
8
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
9
Continue on John R Junkin Drive
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
John R Junkin Drive
10
Continue on Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
11
Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
12
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
13
Merge slight left
51 mi
·
55 min
14
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
15
Keep slight left
194 ft
·
8 sec
16
Turn left onto Farmerville Highway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Farmerville Highway
17
Continue on East Georgia Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Georgia Avenue
18
Turn left onto North Farmerville Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Farmerville Street
19
Turn right onto East California Avenue
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
East California Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
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 103.1 miles from Zachary, LA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.2 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.1 miles or 2h 3m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruston, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Zachary, 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 Zachary, LA
This is one driving day of about 206.3 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Zachary, 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 Samuels Road for about 71.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.1 mi from Zachary, LA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 103.1 miles from Zachary, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Samuels Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.2 miles.
Arriving in Ruston, LA
The final approach into Ruston, 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 Ruston, 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
$31.54 one way
$63.08 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $34.59 | $69.18 |
| premium | $4.61 | $37.44 | $74.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.83 | $91.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.66 | $9.90 |
| Efficient EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.05 | $8.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.5 | 1 | $28.88 | $13.20 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Ruston, LA
Late night in Ruston on Monday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
89°F
Alexandria, LA
103 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
2 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
4h 2m 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 Zachary, LA to Ruston, LA covers 206.3 miles and takes about 4h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Samuels Road, E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, I 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.1 miles from Zachary, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.54 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 is a straightforward 4h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (Mount Pleasant Zachary Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.6 miles (US 61 / Samuels Road): Navigation decision point; at 76.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Zachary, LA to Ruston, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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