Bossier City, LA to Elmwood, LA is 321.5 miles and takes about 5h 59m via Barksdale Boulevard, Purple Heart Recipients Highway, and I 49 South, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within Louisiana, offering a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration and surface road focus, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. Plan for a steady pace as you navigate through varied terrain, keeping in mind the estimated fuel cost for your journey.
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
160.7 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m 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
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Clearview Parkway
1.5 mi
3m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.4 mi
2m
South Clearview Parkway
1.4 mi
3m
Mounes Street
0.4 mi
<1m
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 Elmwood, 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
1.4 mi·3 min·South Clearview Parkway
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Mounes Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·Mounes Street
18
Turn right onto Distributors Row
75 ft·8 sec·Distributors Row
19
Turn left
48 ft·3 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 321.5-mile drive, consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight, especially since it's a single-day trip taking under 6 hours. With only one suggested stop and a fuel cost around $51, you can be flexible with your timing. Pay attention to speed limits, as the route is entirely on surface roads with potential for varied posted speeds. Since you'll be on Barksdale Boulevard and Purple Heart Recipients Highway for the majority of the trip, keep an eye out for local traffic patterns as you pass through communities.
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 160.7 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 46m 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 71 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.7 miles or 2h 46m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmwood, 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 321.5 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 317.8 — 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
189 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.41 one way
$98.83 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$54.66
$109.31
premium
$4.65
$58.82
$117.64
diesel
$5.35
$67.72
$135.44
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: 112.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.5
1
$33.76
$15.43
Efficient EV
80.4
0
$28.13
$12.86
EV Truck/SUV
128.6
1
$45.01
$20.58
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
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
2:07 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
Elmwood, LA
Afternoon
in Elmwood on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph4% 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
5h 59m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 77.6
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 321.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 100% of your time on surface roads, with no highway driving included. The entire 321.5-mile route consists of local streets and highways. Expect a consistent pace as you travel primarily on Barksdale Boulevard and Purple Heart Recipients Highway, transitioning through towns and rural areas. The absence of interstate driving means you'll encounter more traffic signals and varying speed limits throughout the 5h 59m trip.
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: 186.4 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 early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.
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 16 significant decision points across 321.5 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: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
173 ft4 ft
Total Climb
14 ft
Total Descent
184 ft
Highest Point
173 ft
Elevation Range
169 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bossier City, LA to Elmwood, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
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
Jefferson is an unincorporated area in Louisiana's Jefferson Parish along the East Bank the Mississippi River, just upriver from New Orleans. Jefferson has few attractions, but is close to New Orleans, Louisiana's largest city and main visitor attraction.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 59m. Total distance: 321.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 12 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 Elmwood, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Elmwood, LA before the return drive.
