This 344.5-mile drive from Bossier City to Barataria, Louisiana, is achievable in about 6 hours and 37 minutes, making it a solid day trip. You'll navigate primarily on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and I-10, with a portion on US 190. Given its Southeast to Southeast regional progression, the landscape will remain consistent, offering a smooth transition. With an estimated fuel cost of $52, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a single day's travel. It's a straightforward journey that allows for flexibility in your departure time, as it doesn't necessitate an overnight stop.
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
172.3 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186.4 mi
3h 10m
I 10
74.7 mi
1h 25m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
Leo Kerner/Lafitte Parkway
7.7 mi
11m
Westbank Expressway
3.7 mi
4m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Jean Lafitte Boulevard
3.6 mi
6m
Ames Boulevard
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 186.4 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Barataria, LA.
1
Start on Monroe Street
78 ft·4 sec·Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·32 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 20; US 71
1.4 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
6
Continue on I 49
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
8
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
9
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
11
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
12
Merge onto I 10
75 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 226Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long BridgeUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto LA 3152
1.5 mi·3 min·Clearview Parkway
16
Continue on LA 3152
2.1 mi·3 min·South Clearview Parkway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 90
2.6 mi·3 min·Huey P. Long Bridge
18
Turn left onto West Nine Mile Point Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·West Nine Mile Point Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto Nine Mile Point Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Nine Mile Point Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 90 BUS
28 ft·0 sec·Westbank Expressway
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·39 sec
Toward US 90 East: Huey Long Bridge, New Orleans
22
Turn left
0.1 mi·22 sec
23
Merge onto US 90 BUS
3.3 mi·4 min·Westbank Expressway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto Westbank Expressway
0.4 mi·46 sec·Westbank Expressway
Toward Ames Boulevard East, Frontage Road
25
Turn right onto Ames Boulevard
2.9 mi·5 min·Ames Boulevard
26
Turn left onto LA 45
0.3 mi·28 sec·Barataria Boulevard
27
Turn right onto LA 3134
7.7 mi·11 min·Leo Kerner/Lafitte Parkway
28
At end of road, turn left onto LA 45
3.6 mi·6 min·Jean Lafitte Boulevard
29
Turn right onto LA 302
0.3 mi·54 sec·Fisherman Boulevard
30
At end of road, turn left onto LA 3257
0.7 mi·2 min·Privateer Boulevard
31
Turn left onto Autin Street
175 ft·7 sec·Autin Street
32
Arrive at destination
Autin Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour and 37-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Bossier City to maximize daylight hours. While it's designed as a one-day trip with just one stop suggested, the 186.4-mile stretch on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway means you can cover a lot of ground before needing a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto US 190, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $52 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always have a buffer.
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 172.3 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 76 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.3 miles or 2h 58m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barataria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 344.5 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Bossier City, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 186.4 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 189.6 and 328.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
189.6 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
317.7 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Take the exit toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 226
Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
8
317.8 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridg...
7
325 mi into trip|~6h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 90 East: Huey Long Bridge, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 90 East: Huey Long Bridge, New Orlean...
6
328.7 mi into trip|~6h 9m in|Westbank Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto Westbank Expressway toward Ames Boulevard East, Frontage Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Ames Boulevard East, Frontage Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.95 one way
$105.90 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$58.57
$117.13
premium
$4.65
$63.03
$126.05
diesel
$5.35
$72.56
$145.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.4
1
$36.17
$16.54
Efficient EV
86.1
0
$30.14
$13.78
EV Truck/SUV
137.8
1
$48.23
$22.05
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Afternoon
in Bossier City on Wednesday
Local time
2:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
Barataria, LA
Afternoon
in Barataria on Wednesday
Local time
2:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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 37m 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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 83.2
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 320.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 41% of your journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 186.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, which likely provides a more continuous driving experience. The route progresses from highway segments to potentially more varied road types as you approach your destination. Expect a blend of steady cruising and possibly some localized traffic as you transition between major routes like I-10 and US 190.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 189.6 miles in near US 190.
Driving Effort9/10
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 26 significant decision points across 344.5 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 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 317.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
207 ft2 ft
Total Climb
77 ft
Total Descent
249 ft
Highest Point
207 ft
~24.6 mi in
Elevation Range
206 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bossier City, LA and Barataria, LA, road signs point toward Opelousas, Clearview Parkway South and New Orleans.
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
•Bossier High School — high school in Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 37m. Total distance: 344.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 37m 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 186.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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 Barataria, 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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 317.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Barataria, LA before the return drive.
