Connecting Bossier City to Reserve, this 297.2-mile journey takes you across the heart of Louisiana in approximately 5 hours and 29 minutes. Because the drive is manageable within a single day, you can easily complete it without an overnight stay, though you should budget about $45 for fuel. You will transition through the southeast region, utilizing a combination of the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, US 190, and I-10. Since both your starting point and destination are within Louisiana, the trip offers a consistent regional feel. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route serves as a straightforward link between two distinct parts of the state.
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
148.6 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m 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
17 mi
20m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Central Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 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 Reserve, 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
17 mi·20 min·Airline Highway
15
Turn right onto LA 53
1.6 mi·2 min·Central Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
LA 53
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 29-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the trip covers 297.2 miles, departing early in the morning helps you avoid mid-day congestion on busier stretches of the interstate. Keep your $45 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you hit the longest 186.4-mile stretch of the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway to ensure you aren't searching for a station in a remote area. Because this is a single-day trip, maintaining a steady pace allows you the flexibility to arrive in Reserve at a comfortable hour. Always verify your navigation before merging onto I-10, as the route requires transitioning between several different highway systems.
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 148.6 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 33m 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 65 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 2h 33m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reserve, 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 297.2 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 13
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
$44.88 one way
$89.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$49.27
$98.54
premium
$4.56
$53.34
$106.69
diesel
$5.61
$65.62
$131.24
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: 104 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.2
1
$31.21
$14.27
Efficient EV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
EV Truck/SUV
118.9
1
$41.61
$19.02
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Late night
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Reserve, LA
Late night
in Reserve on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Broussard, LA
149 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
6 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 29m 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...
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...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 297.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed highway travel with more localized road segments. With a highway share of 30%, the character of the road shifts as you transition between major thoroughfares and secondary routes. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 186.4 miles. This configuration requires you to stay alert as you move from the open stretches of the memorial highway into the varying traffic patterns of the I-10 corridor. It is a functional drive that requires steady focus, especially when navigating the transition between different road types.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 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 13 significant decision points across 297.2 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
173 ft8 ft
Total Climb
40 ft
Total Descent
199 ft
Highest Point
173 ft
~21.2 mi in
Elevation Range
165 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 Reserve, 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 29m. Total distance: 297.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m 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 Reserve, 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.
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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Reserve, LA before the return drive.
