Bossier City to Elton is 195.4 miles and takes about 3h 39m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's primarily a surface road trip, offering a more local feel than a highway cruise. With only one recommended stop and a quick travel time, this route is ideal for a straightforward, single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
97.7 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
119.2 mi
2h 2m
Masonic Drive
60 mi
1h 15m
3rd Avenue
9.2 mi
10m
Macarthur Drive
3.6 mi
5m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Monroe Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 119.2 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Elton, 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
119 mi·2 hr 2 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 71, US 165: MacArthur Drive
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward US 71 South, US 165 South: MacArthur Drive
9
Merge onto US 71; US 165; LA 28
3.6 mi·5 min·Macarthur Drive
10
Enter roundabout onto US 165
0.1 mi·14 sec·Masonic Drive
11
Continue on US 165
60 mi·1 hr 14 min·Masonic Drive
12
Turn left onto US 190
9.2 mi·10 min·3rd Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
US 190
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 3h 39m duration, you can easily complete this 195.4-mile trip in a single day. Leaving Bossier City in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Elton. With a fuel cost estimated around $30, plan your refueling stops accordingly, though the drive is short enough that you might not need to fill up. Since there's only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed without feeling rushed.
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 97.7 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.2 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 43 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.7 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elton, 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 195.4 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 119.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 126.1 — 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
4
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
5
121.9 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 71, US 165: MacArthur Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71, US 165: MacArthur Drive
6
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 71 South, US 165 South: MacArthur Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 South, US 165 South: MacArthur Dri...
4
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 165 / Masonic Drive
Enter roundabout onto US 165 / Masonic Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.03 one way
$60.07 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$33.22
$66.44
premium
$4.65
$35.75
$71.50
diesel
$5.35
$41.16
$82.31
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: 68.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Efficient EV
48.9
0
$17.10
$7.82
EV Truck/SUV
78.2
0
$27.36
$12.51
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 May 23, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Afternoon
in Bossier City on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 0 to 5 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 23 at 9:04AM CDT until May 24 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 23 at 9:02AM CDT until May 23 at 9:15AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Elton, LA
Afternoon
in Elton on Wednesday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 0 to 5 mph74% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 23 at 9:04AM CDT until May 24 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 23 at 9:02AM CDT until May 23 at 9:15AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
89°F
Colfax, LA
98 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 80.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway driving. You'll spend most of your time navigating local routes, including Masonic Drive and 3rd Avenue. The longest continuous stretch on a named road is 119.2 miles along the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a consistent pace on surface streets for the majority of the 195.4-mile drive.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.2 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 121.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.2 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 121.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Elton, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
