The drive from Bossier City, LA to French Settlement, LA covers 277 miles and takes about 5h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, US 190, I 10 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 186.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
138.5 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186.4 mi
3h 10m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
I 10
14.9 mi
17m
LA 42
8.3 mi
14m
LA 16
5.5 mi
8m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Airline Highway
3.2 mi
3m
Highland Road
1.6 mi
2m
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 French Settlement, 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
15 mi·17 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·25 sec
Exit 166Toward LA 42: Highland RoadUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto LA 42
1.6 mi·2 min·Highland Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 61; LA 42
3.2 mi·3 min·Airline Highway
Use the right lane.
16
Take the exit
334 ft·9 sec
17
Continue on LA 42
2.3 mi·3 min·LA 42
18
Continue on LA 42
6.0 mi·10 min·LA 42
19
Enter roundabout onto LA 42
117 ft·4 sec·Oak Grove-Port Vincent Highway
20
Continue on LA 42
0.3 mi·46 sec·Oak Grove-Port Vincent Highway
21
At end of road, turn right onto LA 16; LA 42
5.5 mi·8 min·LA 16; LA 42
22
Turn left onto LA 444
9 ft·0 sec·LA 444
23
Arrive at destination
LA 444
Trip Plan
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 138.5 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 23m 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 61 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.5 miles or 2h 23m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near French Settlement, 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 277 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 257.8 — 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
5
189.5 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
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.
7
257.8 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward LA 42: Highland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 166
Toward LA 42: Highland Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.83 one way
$83.67 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$45.92
$91.85
premium
$4.56
$49.72
$99.44
diesel
$5.61
$61.16
$122.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
26 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Bossier City, LA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Hammond Aire Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Baton Rouge, LA
Tesla
11 DCFC
Mall St. Vincent - Tesla Supercharger
Shreveport, LA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Shop-A-Lott - Tesla Supercharger
Natchitoches, LA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Holiday Inn Alexandria Downtown - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.1
1
$29.08
$13.30
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.24
$11.08
EV Truck/SUV
110.8
1
$38.78
$17.73
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Afternoon
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
French Settlement, LA
Afternoon
in French Settlement on Sunday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Broussard, LA
139 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
4 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 13m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 76.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
277 mi in 5h 13m — 30% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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?
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 17 significant decision points across 277 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 189.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 French Settlement, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 277 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 French Settlement, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 189.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at French Settlement, LA before the return drive.
