This 200.8-mile journey from Bossier City to Carlyss, Louisiana, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes. You'll primarily navigate Barksdale Boulevard and the Purple Heart Recipients Highway before merging onto I-49 South. With a projected fuel cost of around $30, this drive is an economical choice for a day trip. The route offers a turn-heavy local feel, making it a more engaging drive than a simple interstate cruise. Since it's a manageable distance, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
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
100.4 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
56.9 mi
59m
Highway 171
37.5 mi
43m
Fisher Road
21.4 mi
25m
LA 6
14.4 mi
16m
Main Street
12.9 mi
17m
I 10
11.7 mi
14m
Shreveport Highway
11.1 mi
13m
LA 485
10.4 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 56.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Carlyss, 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
57 mi·59 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
8
Turn slight right
202 ft·4 sec
9
Turn right onto LA 485
501 ft·10 sec·State Route 485
10
Continue on LA 485
10 mi·14 min·LA 485
11
At end of road, turn right onto LA 6
14 mi·16 min·LA 6
12
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
13
Continue on Martin Luther King Drive
47 ft·8 sec·Martin Luther King Drive
14
Turn left onto Fisher Road
0.5 mi·52 sec·Fisher Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 171
21 mi·24 min·Fisher Road
16
Continue on US 171
11 mi·13 min·Shreveport Highway
17
Continue on US 171
239 ft·3 sec·Shreveport Highway
18
Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8
135 ft·1 sec·North 6th Street
19
Continue on US 171; LA 8
2.0 mi·2 min·North 6th Street
20
Merge onto US 171
0.9 mi·1 min·South 5th Street
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 171
0.3 mi·32 sec·South 5th Street
22
Continue on US 171
13 mi·17 min·Main Street
23
Continue on US 171
3.7 mi·4 min·Johnny B Hall Memorial Highway
24
Continue on US 171
2.5 mi·3 min·North Pine Street
25
Turn left onto US 171; US 190
2.5 mi·2 min·West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on US 171; US 190
38 mi·43 min·Highway 171
27
Continue on US 171
4.5 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Highway
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
29
Merge onto I 10
12 mi·14 min·I 10
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 20Toward LA 1256: Sulphur, Cameron
31
Keep slight left at fork
172 ft·6 sec
32
Turn left onto Ruth Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Ruth Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Continue on LA 1256
127 ft·2 sec·LA 1256
34
Continue on LA 1256
1.9 mi·3 min·LA 1256
Use the straight lane.
35
Continue on LA 27; LA 108
1.0 mi·1 min·Louisiana Highway 27
Use the left lane.
36
Arrive at destination
LA 27; LA 108
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration and local road nature of this 200.8-mile trip, starting earlier in the day will give you ample time to reach Carlyss without feeling rushed. While the fuel cost is estimated at a reasonable $30, be mindful of the numerous turns, which can consume fuel more quickly than steady highway driving. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and refuel if necessary, especially since there's no significant highway stretch to rely on for consistent speed. Keep an eye out for local traffic patterns, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests you'll be sharing the road with a variety of vehicles in populated areas.
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 100.4 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 44 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.4 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carlyss, 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 200.8 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 56.9 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 0 and 197.5 — 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|Barksdale Boulevard
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street
Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
140.3 mi into trip|~2h 47m in|US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Turn left onto US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
197 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward LA 1256: Sulphur, Cameron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20
Toward LA 1256: Sulphur, Cameron
5
197.5 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|Ruth Street
Turn left onto Ruth Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.33 one way
$60.65 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.29
$66.58
premium
$4.56
$36.04
$72.08
diesel
$5.61
$44.33
$88.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.08
$9.64
Efficient EV
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
EV Truck/SUV
80.3
1
$28.11
$12.85
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Bossier City, LA
Late night
in Bossier City on Tuesday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carlyss, LA
Late night
in Carlyss on Tuesday
Local time
3:53 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
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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 69.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a driving experience characterized by frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. With 0% highway share, this route emphasizes local roads and city streets for its entirety. The profile is distinctly 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating through towns and along less direct paths for the full 200.8 miles. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving to note, as the nature of the route is a continuous series of directional changes and intersections. This drive will likely feel more like exploring backroads than a high-speed transit.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.9 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 200.8 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 118.1 miles (US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 140.3 miles (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 4h 3m. Total distance: 200.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.9 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Carlyss, 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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 118.1 miles (US 171; LA 8 / North 6th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 140.3 miles (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Carlyss, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
