Traveling from Alexandria to Houma is a straightforward 190.2-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 37 minutes. Because this is a relatively manageable distance, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $29 on fuel, making this an affordable transit between these two Southeast Louisiana locations. You will primarily navigate via US 90, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway, and the Veterans Memorial Expressway. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, the route offers a balanced pace that fits perfectly into a weekend itinerary. Planning for one designated stop will help keep your energy levels consistent throughout the drive.
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
95.1 miles from Alexandria, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 90
87.8 mi
1h 37m
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76.4 mi
1h 17m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10.6 mi
11m
West Main Street
7 mi
11m
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
2.2 mi
3m
North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi
2m
St Etienne Road
1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 90
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, LA and Houma, LA.
1
Start on Murray Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Murray Street
2
Turn left onto Thorn Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Thorn Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
4
Merge onto I 49; US 71 BYP
76 mi·1 hr 17 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
5
Continue on I 49; US 167
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
6
Continue on I 49; LA 182
2.2 mi·3 min·Northwest Evangeline Thruway
7
Continue on US 90; LA 182
6.1 mi·8 min·US 90; LA 182
8
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·North Morgan Avenue
9
Turn left onto LA 3073
1.5 mi·2 min·Ambassador Caffery Parkway
10
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Fairfield Drive
11
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi·4 min·St Etienne Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1
0.6 mi·52 sec·Young Street
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1
0.5 mi·31 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·11 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·14 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.8 mi·53 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 90
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
20
Keep slight right at fork
394 ft·9 sec
21
Turn straight onto LA 24
7.0 mi·11 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Turn right onto LA 312
198 ft·10 sec·Lafayette Street
23
Turn left onto School Street
0.3 mi·1 min·School Street
24
Arrive at destination
School Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 190.2-mile trek, try to plan your departure during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the highway portions of your route. Since the drive duration is under four hours, taking a single well-timed stop will provide enough of a break to reach Houma feeling refreshed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $29 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local pricing along the way. Because this route is short, you have the advantage of flexibility; you can easily adjust your departure time to suit your personal schedule. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to map out your one planned stop near the 87.8-mile stretch on US 90 to ensure you have a convenient place to pull over when you hit the halfway point.
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 95.1 miles from Alexandria, LA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 42 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.1 miles or 1h 43m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houma, 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 190.2 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Alexandria, 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 US 90 for about 87.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 94.2 and 99.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
94.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|North Morgan Avenue
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
98.4 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|LA 92-1 / Young Street
At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1 / Young Street
Navigation decision point
4
99 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
99.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
99.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.72 one way
$57.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.53
$63.07
premium
$4.56
$34.14
$68.28
diesel
$5.61
$41.99
$83.99
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
(2.2 mi)$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.1
0
$19.97
$9.13
Efficient EV
47.6
0
$16.64
$7.61
EV Truck/SUV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.17
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Alexandria, LA
Late night
in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houma, LA
Late night
in Houma on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m 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?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, with about 52% of your time spent on highways. Behind the wheel, you will experience a transition between different road types, shifting from local infrastructure to more significant thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent rhythm, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 87.8 miles while traveling on US 90. The road personality changes as you move through the Southeast region, requiring you to remain alert as you transition between the highway segments and local connectors. Expect a driving experience that combines the efficiency of major expressways with the varied pace of regional transit routes.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.8 mi on US 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 94.2 miles in near North Morgan Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 190.2 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 94.2 miles (North Morgan Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 98.4 miles (LA 92-1 / Young Street): Navigation decision point; at 99 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Houma is a small city (about 33,000 people in 2019, not including suburbs) in south central Louisiana. It is the seat and largest city in Terrebonne Parish, and the center of the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region in total is home to a little over 200,000.
Bayou Terrebonne runs through the town roughly east to west between Main Street and Park Avenue, with the Intracostal Waterway running north to south.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 190.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on US 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Evangeline Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas 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: at 94.2 miles (North Morgan Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 98.4 miles (LA 92-1 / Young Street): Navigation decision point; at 99 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Houma, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
