Whataburger
Near the start, short detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+13188655254
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
330.9 mi
533 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bossier City, LA
Stephen Leonardi
Arabi, LA
Perry Z
Bossier City to Arabi is 330.9 miles and takes about 6h 12m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and I-10, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. It's a manageable one-day trip if you're looking for a direct route with a straightforward budget.
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
165.5 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway | 186.4 mi | 3h 10m |
| I 10 | 78.6 mi | 1h 29m |
| US 190 | 49.5 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 610 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| LA 415 Spur | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Saint Claude Avenue | 3 mi | 6m |
| Franklin Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Purple Heart Recipients Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Arabi, LA.
Start on Monroe Street
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; US 71
Take the exit
Continue on I 49
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 190
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
Turn left
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 610
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
Turn left onto LA 46
Turn right onto Aycock Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 6h 12m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire route. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a brief refueling break or a longer meal stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 186.4-mile stretch on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $52 fuel estimate should cover your needs for this single-day journey.
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.
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 73 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.5 miles or 2h 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 4h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arabi, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bossier City, 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 Bossier City, LA
This is one driving day of about 330.9 miles and 6h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 165.5 miles from Bossier City, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop
Shreveport, Louisiana
Near the start, short detour
Hours: Open 24 hours
+13188655254
Taqueria 2 Brothers
Terrytown, Louisiana
Bullfish Bistro
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Best coffee break
Shreveport, Louisiana
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+13182207373
Near the start, short detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+13188655254
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Terrytown, Louisiana
Hours: 9 am–7 pm
+15045715558
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+12254781690
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: 8 am–3 pm
+13186737775
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+13186290726
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 4–9 pm
+15045829020
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Alexandria, Louisiana
Hours: 6–9:30 am
+13184437520
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 3 pm–12 am
+15042339780
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+13182207373
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Bossier City, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Opelousas, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Opelousas, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Opelousas, Louisiana
+33172676914
Near the start, short detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
New Orleans, LA
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13183512761
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+15044906263
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm
+18559688687
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm
+15045893882
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+15045686968
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 10 am–11 pm
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+15045281944
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+15042641056
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 326.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 610 toward Slidell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Franklin Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$50.86 one way
$101.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $56.25 | $112.51 |
| premium | $4.65 | $60.54 | $121.08 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $69.70 | $139.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.3 | 1 | $34.74 | $15.88 |
| Efficient EV | 82.7 | 0 | $28.95 | $13.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.4 | 1 | $46.33 | $21.18 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Bossier City on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:42PM CDT until June 3 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:35PM CDT until June 1 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Afternoon in Arabi on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:42PM CDT until June 3 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:35PM CDT until June 1 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Historical Park
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.
This trip features 41% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway covering 186.4 miles. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for a change in driving conditions. Expect some urban merging as you approach your destination.
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 early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 330.9 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: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 321.6 miles (I 610): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
116 ft
Total Descent
288 ft
Highest Point
216 ft
~70.9 mi in
Elevation Range
216 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bossier City, LA to Arabi, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Opelousas
Founded 1907
Bossier City is the second-largest city in Northern Louisiana and the largest city in Bossier Parish. Home to Barksdale Air Force Base, which hosts several Air Force commands, as well as the backup landing site of Air Force One, Bossier City's recent history revolves largely around the U.S. military. In addition, most of the casinos in the Ark-La-Tex (the three-states region where Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas intersect) are within the corporate limits of Bossier City.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 12m. Total distance: 330.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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