If you are planning to head north from Abbeville to Alexandria, you are looking at a 110.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 3 minutes. This route stays entirely within Louisiana, connecting the southeast region as you transition between these two cities. Budgeting around $17 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trip. Because of the manageable distance, this drive works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Expect a mix of local roads and highway driving as you navigate the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.1 miles from Abbeville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
76.3 mi
1h 17m
Park Avenue
9.5 mi
11m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.5 mi
9m
Johnston Street
5.2 mi
6m
Ambassador Caffery Parkway
5 mi
8m
West Summers Drive
0.5 mi
<1m
Murray Street
0.3 mi
1m
North Saint Charles Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 76.3 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abbeville, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on LA 82
0.3 mi·22 sec·North Saint Charles Street
2
Continue on LA 82
403 ft·6 sec·North Saint Charles Street
3
Turn straight onto LA 82
0.3 mi·32 sec·North State Street
4
Turn left onto LA 14
0.5 mi·57 sec·West Summers Drive
5
Turn right onto US 167
9.5 mi·11 min·Park Avenue
6
Continue on US 167
5.2 mi·6 min·Johnston Street
7
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
5.0 mi·8 min·Ambassador Caffery Parkway
8
Take the ramp
3.3 mi·3 min
9
Take the exit onto US 167
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 167
Toward I 49 North: Opelousas
10
Merge onto I 49; LA 182
8.5 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
11
Continue on I 49; US 167
76 mi·1 hr 17 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
13
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·10th Street
14
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Murray Street
15
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. You won't need to plan for any major stops along the way, as the 2-hour duration is easy to manage in one go. Keep in mind that the road character is technical, so stay alert for changes in speed limits and road conditions as you transition between local streets and the highway. Before you leave, double-check your fuel levels to ensure you stay within your estimated $17 budget. A helpful tip for this route is to account for extra time if you are driving during peak local traffic hours, as the reliance on local roads can make your arrival time less predictable.
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 55.1 miles from Abbeville, LA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.3 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 24 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.1 miles or 1h 5m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Abbeville, 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 Abbeville, LA
This is one driving day of about 110.1 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Abbeville, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 76.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 109.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 14 / West Summers Drive
Turn left onto LA 14 / West Summers Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 167 / Park Avenue
Turn right onto US 167 / Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
15.8 mi into trip|~20m in|Ambassador Caffery Parkway
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
Navigation decision point
4
24.2 mi into trip|~33m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 49 North: Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 North: Opelousas
5
109.3 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.63 one way
$33.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.25
$36.51
premium
$4.56
$19.76
$39.52
diesel
$5.61
$24.31
$48.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.56
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.41
$7.05
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Abbeville, LA
Morning
in Abbeville on Sunday
Local time
6:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Morning
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
6:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
6 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
2h 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention behind the wheel. You will spend only about 13% of your time on highways, meaning the majority of your trip involves navigating local roads like Park Avenue and Veterans Memorial Expressway. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 76.3-mile stretch on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route keeps you engaged with its varying road types and technical turns. You will find that the personality of the road shifts significantly as you move away from Abbeville and head toward Alexandria.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.3 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near LA 14 / West Summers Drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Abbeville, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 2h 3m with 13% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (LA 14 / West Summers Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 167 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (Ambassador Caffery Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
The longest stretch is about 76.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (LA 14 / West Summers Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 167 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (Ambassador Caffery Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alexandria, LA before heading back.
