Drive or Fly: Mathews, LA to Shreveport, LA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MSY–SHV. At 322 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 51m

Distance

322.4 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

130 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 25m

33m in the air

Air Distance

273 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mathews, LA → MSY 41m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SHV → Shreveport, LA 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Mathews, LA MSY — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

Shreveport, LA SHV — Shreveport Regional Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSY and SHV. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 26m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 5m

8h 40m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mathews, LA → Raceland (Shell) (REC6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 520m

Arrival 10m

Shreveport Bus Station (SHR6) → Shreveport, LA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From REC6 — Raceland (Shell) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SHR6 — Shreveport Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 51m	3h 25m	10h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$186	$30
Carbon footprint	130 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Mathews, LA to Shreveport, LA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.