Spanning 109 miles across Southeast Louisiana, this trip from Alexandria to Carlyss is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes to complete. Because the travel time is relatively short, you can easily handle this as a single-day excursion without needing to book an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $17 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable option for travelers. You will primarily navigate via Masonic Drive, I-10, and LA 1256 to reach your destination. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, this route offers a practical connection between these two Louisiana locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.5 miles from Alexandria, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Masonic Drive
79.7 mi
1h 40m
I 10
23.4 mi
27m
LA 1256
1.9 mi
3m
Louisiana Highway 27
1 mi
1m
Mason Street
0.6 mi
1m
Fulton Street
0.5 mi
1m
Ruth Street
0.3 mi
<1m
4th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Masonic Drive
— 79.7 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, LA and Carlyss, LA.
1
Start on Murray Street
159 ft·14 sec·Murray Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·4th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto LA 1
0.2 mi·18 sec·Winn Street
4
Turn left onto LA 1
261 ft·12 sec·Foisy Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 167 Bus; LA 1; LA 28 Bus
0.5 mi·1 min·Fulton Street
6
Continue on US 167 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·Mason Street
7
Turn right onto Fenner Street
303 ft·7 sec·Fenner Street
8
Continue on Masonic Drive
1.4 mi·2 min·Masonic Drive
9
Enter roundabout onto US 165
0.4 mi·35 sec·Masonic Drive
10
Continue on US 165
78 mi·1 hr 36 min·Masonic Drive
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
12
Merge onto I 10
23 mi·27 min·I 10
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 20Toward LA 1256: Sulphur, Cameron
14
Keep slight left at fork
172 ft·6 sec
15
Turn left onto Ruth Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Ruth Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on LA 1256
127 ft·2 sec·LA 1256
17
Continue on LA 1256
1.9 mi·3 min·LA 1256
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on LA 27; LA 108
1.0 mi·1 min·Louisiana Highway 27
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
LA 27; LA 108
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive of just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. Aim to hit the road when local traffic is lightest to ensure a smoother experience on the turn-heavy sections. Because there are no scheduled stops in the data, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Alexandria to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station mid-trip. Given that you'll be spending a significant portion of your time on Masonic Drive, prioritize comfort and focus during that 79.7-mile stretch. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to arrive in Carlyss feeling refreshed and ready for your next set of plans.
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 54.5 miles from Alexandria, LA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.7 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 54.5 miles or 1h 10m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carlyss, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, LA
This is one driving day of about 109 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Alexandria, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Masonic Drive for about 79.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 105.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|4th Street
Turn left onto 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 1 / Winn Street
At end of road, turn right onto LA 1 / Winn Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 1 / Foisy Avenue
Turn left onto LA 1 / Foisy Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
105.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward LA 1256: Sulphur, Cameron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20
Toward LA 1256: Sulphur, Cameron
5
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|Ruth Street
Turn left onto Ruth Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.46 one way
$32.92 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.07
$36.14
premium
$4.56
$19.56
$39.13
diesel
$5.61
$24.07
$48.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Efficient EV
27.3
0
$9.54
$4.36
EV Truck/SUV
43.6
0
$15.26
$6.98
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, LA
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny
S 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Carlyss, LA
Late night
in Carlyss on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny
S 15 to 20 mph3% chanceLive 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 mix of driving conditions on this 109-mile journey, which is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive. You will spend about 24% of your time on highways, meaning the majority of your trip involves navigating local roads rather than long stretches of interstate. The longest segment you will encounter is a 79.7-mile stretch on Masonic Drive, which will require your full attention due to the frequent turns. As you transition between these road types, the personality of the drive shifts from steady local navigation to the more rhythmic pace of highway travel. Stay alert as the road evolves, as the technical nature of the local sections contrasts with the standard interstate experience.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.7 mi on Masonic Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 early in the drive near 4th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (LA 1 / Winn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (LA 1 / Foisy Avenue): 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 79.7 miles on Masonic Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (LA 1 / Winn Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (LA 1 / Foisy Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carlyss, LA before heading back.
