Traveling from Addis to Alexandria covers 128.3 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. This journey stays entirely within Southeast Louisiana, making it a straightforward trek that fits perfectly into a single day of travel. You can expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel for the trip, so budgeting is simple. Since the route doesn't require an overnight stay, you have the flexibility to head out whenever it suits your schedule. It is a practical, efficient way to move between these two points without the need for extensive planning or multiple stopovers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64 miles from Addis, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
64.9 mi
1h 5m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
Highway 1 South
6.1 mi
9m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
I 10
1.6 mi
1m
1st Street
0.8 mi
2m
Murray Street
0.3 mi
1m
10th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Addis, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on 1st Street
0.8 mi·2 min·1st Street
2
Turn left onto LA 1
6.1 mi·9 min·Highway 1 South
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 10 West: Lafayette
4
Merge onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·I 10
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
10
Merge onto I 49; US 167
65 mi·1 hr 5 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
12
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·10th Street
13
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Murray Street
14
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time based on your personal preference. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert, especially when navigating the local segments of the drive. With 128.3 miles ahead, there is no pressure to force stops, but checking your fuel levels before you leave will help you stay within your $17 budget. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your map navigation handy, as the reliance on local roads like LA 415 means you will need to watch for turn signals more frequently than you would on a standard interstate journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64 miles from Addis, LA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
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 Addis, 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 Addis, LA
This is one driving day of about 127.9 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Addis, 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 Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 64.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.9 and 61.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.9 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
9.2 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
5
9.3 mi into trip|~14m in|LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway
Merge onto LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
12.9 mi into trip|~19m in|US 190; LA 1 / State Route 1
Merge onto US 190; LA 1 / State Route 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
61.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.32 one way
$38.63 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.20
$42.41
premium
$4.56
$22.96
$45.91
diesel
$5.61
$28.24
$56.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
EV Truck/SUV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 20, 2026
Origin
Addis, LA
Late night
in Addis on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Late night
in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°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
2h 31m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway driving. You will navigate using a combination of LA 415, I-10 West, and Highway 1 South to reach your destination. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—Highway 1 South specifically offers 0 miles of straight-line driving—you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by these constant adjustments, requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads. It is an engaging change of pace for drivers who prefer active navigation over cruise control.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.9 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 8.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 127.9 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 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Arna Wendell Bontemps House — historic house in Louisiana, United States
•Bolton High School — high school in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 127.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.9 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Alexandria, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alexandria, LA before heading back.
