Bossier City to Paulina is 290.9 miles and takes about 5h 23m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and US 190, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, moving from Louisiana to Louisiana. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making for a varied travel experience. With only one recommended stop and a duration under six hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward path to your destination.
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
145.4 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m 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
35.2 mi
39m
Airline Highway
7.8 mi
9m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
North Airline Avenue
2.6 mi
5m
LA 44
1.9 mi
2m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.4 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 Paulina, 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
35 mi·39 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 187Toward US 61 South: GramercyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto US 61
7.8 mi·9 min·Airline Highway
15
Turn right onto LA 3274
2.6 mi·5 min·North Airline Avenue
16
At end of road, turn right onto LA 44
1.9 mi·2 min·LA 44
17
Arrive at destination
LA 44
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 23m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning from Bossier City is advisable. This allows ample time for the 290.9-mile journey and any brief stops you might need. The route has only one recommended stop, so you won't feel rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you leave the longer highway segment, as services can become more spread out on surface roads. The estimated fuel cost of $43 should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 145.4 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 30m 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 64 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.4 miles or 2h 30m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paulina, 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 290.9 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 278.1 — 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
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
278.1 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 61 South: Gramercy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward US 61 South: Gramercy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.71 one way
$89.42 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$49.45
$98.91
premium
$4.65
$53.22
$106.44
diesel
$5.35
$61.27
$122.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.3
1
$30.54
$13.96
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.64
EV Truck/SUV
116.4
1
$40.73
$18.62
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Afternoon
in Bossier City on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 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
Paulina, LA
Afternoon
in Paulina on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph3% 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 23m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 80.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 31% of this 290.9-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch, 186.4 miles, on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. After that, you'll transition to US 190 and I 10, which will likely involve more frequent exits and a different pace of driving. Be prepared for a shift from high-speed cruising to more varied road conditions.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 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?
8/10
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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 290.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
174 ft12 ft
Total Climb
83 ft
Total Descent
239 ft
Highest Point
174 ft
~20.8 mi in
Elevation Range
162 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 Paulina, 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 290.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m 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 10 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 Paulina, 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 10 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 189.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paulina, LA before the return drive.
