Traveling from Avondale to Shreveport covers 327 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. This route moves you from the Southeast corner of Louisiana up toward the northwest, making it a manageable journey to complete in a single day. You should budget approximately $50 for fuel to cover the trip comfortably. While the drive is straightforward enough to tackle in one go, staying aware of the transition between regional landscapes helps you pace yourself. It is a practical, direct route that serves as a functional link between these two Louisiana hubs, perfect for travelers looking for a reliable, no-nonsense path across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
163.5 miles from Avondale, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
I 10
74.7 mi
1h 24m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
US 90
4.8 mi
7m
LA 3152
3.8 mi
7m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Avondale, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Valentine Drive
0.1 mi·30 sec·Valentine Drive
2
Turn right onto Jamie Boulevard
0.2 mi·1 min·Jamie Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 90
4.8 mi·7 min·US 90
4
Continue on LA 3152
3.8 mi·7 min·LA 3152
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
14
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
16
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
17
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
19
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
20
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
To keep your 6-hour and 9-minute journey comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the longest stretch is over 186 miles, you should prioritize taking your break once you finish that portion of the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway to stay refreshed. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you arrive in Shreveport well before dark. Given the $50 fuel estimate, check your vehicle's range before departing to ensure you can handle the long highway legs without stress. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the single-day timeframe allows you to adjust your departure time to suit your personal schedule.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 163.5 miles from Avondale, LA, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.3 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 72 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163.5 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
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 Avondale, 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 Avondale, LA
This is one driving day of about 327 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Avondale, 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 186.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 324 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Jamie Boulevard
Turn right onto Jamie Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
6
324 mi into trip|~6h 2m 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
$49.38 one way
$98.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$54.21
$108.42
premium
$4.56
$58.69
$117.39
diesel
$5.61
$72.20
$144.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.1
1
$34.33
$15.70
Efficient EV
81.8
0
$28.61
$13.08
EV Truck/SUV
130.8
1
$45.78
$20.93
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Avondale, LA
Evening
in Avondale on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Evening
in Shreveport on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Broussard, LA
164 mi in
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
9 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 248.1
Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, alternating between fast-paced highway segments and slower, more localized stretches. You will spend roughly 41% of your time on highways, with your primary navigation relying on I-10, State Route 1, and the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Be prepared for a significant haul early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 186.3 miles along the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The road character shifts as you navigate these different road types, requiring you to stay alert during the transition from high-speed interstate travel to the varied conditions of state routes.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.3 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.1 miles in near Jamie Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 327 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 0.1 miles (Jamie Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 80.5 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 327 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.3 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.
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 Shreveport, 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 0.1 miles (Jamie Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 80.5 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shreveport, LA before the return drive.
