Arnaudville to Shreveport is 206.2 miles and takes about 3h 40m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the same region. You'll primarily be on surface roads for this drive, making it a more leisurely pace than a full interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short driving time, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
103.1 miles from Arnaudville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
194.8 mi
3h 19m
State Route 93
3.2 mi
5m
Bayou Courtableau Highway
3.1 mi
5m
East Martin Luther King Jr Drive
1.2 mi
2m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
Martin Luther King Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 194.8 mi, about 3h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arnaudville, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Front Street
132 ft·8 sec·Front Street
2
Turn right onto LA 31; LA 347
110 ft·7 sec·Fuselier Street
3
Turn left onto LA 31
365 ft·8 sec·State Route 31
4
Turn right onto LA 93
3.1 mi·5 min·Bayou Courtableau Highway
5
Continue on LA 93
3.2 mi·5 min·State Route 93
6
Continue on LA 93
0.3 mi·26 sec·Martin Luther King Drive
7
Continue on LA 93
1.2 mi·2 min·East Martin Luther King Jr Drive
8
At end of road, turn left onto LA 93
231 ft·4 sec·Charles Avenue
9
Continue on LA 93
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Martin Luther King Drive
10
Continue on LA 93
427 ft·8 sec·State Highway 93
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Opelousas
12
Merge onto I 49; US 167
195 mi·3 hr 19 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
14
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
15
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
17
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
18
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of under four hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. There's only one recommended stop, so consider packing snacks and drinks to minimize time spent off the road. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major change in direction is nearly 200 miles, and the estimated fuel cost is $30.
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 103.1 miles from Arnaudville, LA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.8 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.1 miles or 1h 51m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arnaudville, 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 Arnaudville, LA
This is one driving day of about 206.2 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Arnaudville, 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 194.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 203.2 — 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|LA 31; LA 347 / Fuselier Street
Turn right onto LA 31; LA 347 / Fuselier Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 31 / State Route 31
Turn left onto LA 31 / State Route 31
Navigation decision point
4
7.9 mi into trip|~14m in|LA 93 / Charles Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto LA 93 / Charles Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
8.2 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Opelousas
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Opelousas
6
203.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.62 one way
$57.25 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.03
$64.05
premium
$4.29
$34.82
$69.64
diesel
$4.80
$38.93
$77.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.9
0
$21.65
$9.90
Efficient EV
51.6
0
$18.04
$8.25
EV Truck/SUV
82.5
1
$28.87
$13.20
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Arnaudville, LA
Morning
in Arnaudville on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Morning
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
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
2 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
3h 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with a highway share of 2%. You'll spend the majority of your time on local routes, experiencing more frequent intersections and lower average speeds. The longest stretch on a single road is 194.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Expect to navigate through communities and enjoy a more rural driving experience.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.8 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 LA 31; LA 347 / Fuselier Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 9 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 (LA 31; LA 347 / Fuselier Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (LA 31 / State Route 31): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (LA 93 / Charles Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
194 ft25 ft
Total Climb
221 ft
Total Descent
65 ft
Highest Point
194 ft
~176.8 mi in
Elevation Range
168 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities. The surrounding area is also a contrast from points in southern Louisiana, in that the landscape is marked by rolling hills and pine forests, being an extension of the Texas region known as the Piney Woods.
Top landmarks
•Petroleum Tower — 16-story high-rise office building located at 425 Edwards Street at the corner o...
•Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium — theater and meeting hall in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
•Strand Theatre — theater in Shreveport, Louisiana
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (LA 31; LA 347 / Fuselier Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (LA 31 / State Route 31): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (LA 93 / Charles Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
