Bossier City, LA to Ouachita Parish, LA is 96.6 miles and takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes via Purple Heart Recipients Highway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region from one point to another. Expect a local feel throughout, with a turn-heavy profile that means you'll be navigating a series of roads rather than a single highway. It's a straightforward trip well-suited for a single day, offering a direct connection between these two areas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Ouachita Parish, LA.
1
Start on Monroe Street
394 ft·15 sec·Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto Delhi Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·Delhi Street
3
Turn left onto Traffic Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Traffic Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
5
Merge onto I 20; US 71
94 mi·1 hr 41 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward LA 617
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward LA 617 South
8
Turn straight onto LA 617
1.2 mi·2 min·Thomas Road
9
Continue on LA 34
0.6 mi·56 sec·Jonesboro Road
10
Arrive at destination
LA 34
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 47 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, be sure to fill up before you leave Bossier City to ensure a smooth journey. The turn-heavy nature of this route means paying close attention to navigation is key; keep an eye out for road signs, especially as you transition between Purple Heart Recipients Highway, Thomas Road, and Jonesboro Road. While there are no designated stops mentioned, there are ample opportunities to pull over briefly if needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.3 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.8 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 21 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ouachita Parish, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bossier City, LA
This is one driving day of about 96.6 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bossier City, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Recipients Highway for about 93.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 94.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Delhi Street
Turn right onto Delhi Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Traffic Street
Turn left onto Traffic Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
94.3 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward LA 617
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward LA 617
6
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 617 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 617 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.59 one way
$29.18 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.02
$32.03
premium
$4.56
$17.34
$34.68
diesel
$5.61
$21.33
$42.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.45
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Afternoon
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ouachita Parish, LA
Afternoon
in Ouachita Parish on Sunday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Arcadia, LA
48 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
10 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
1h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive profile, with 0% highway share. You'll be navigating primarily on roads like Purple Heart Recipients Highway, Thomas Road, and Jonesboro Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 93.8 miles along the Purple Heart Recipients Highway, which forms the backbone of this journey. Expect a more engaged driving experience as you make your way through various local roads, rather than cruising on a high-speed interstate.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.8 mi on Purple Heart Recipients Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Delhi Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bossier City, LA to Ouachita Parish, LA is easy. At 1h 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Delhi Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Traffic Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.8 miles on Purple Heart Recipients Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Delhi Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Traffic Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ouachita Parish, LA before heading back.
