This 249.9-mile journey from Brownsfield, LA, to Shreveport, LA, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and US 190, this route is recommended as a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $38, it's an affordable option for a quick excursion. The drive offers a turn-heavy local feel, making it an engaging experience rather than a simple interstate cruise. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entire trip, staying within Louisiana.
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
125 miles from Brownsfield, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
US 190
50.2 mi
1h 4m
Airline Highway
5.3 mi
7m
Plank Road
3 mi
5m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Saint Ann Avenue
0.6 mi
2m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brownsfield, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Clearview Avenue
0.2 mi·53 sec·Clearview Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Saint Ann Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·Saint Ann Avenue
3
Turn right onto Ellen Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Ellen Drive
4
Turn left onto Kleinpeter Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Kleinpeter Road
5
Turn left onto LA 67
3.0 mi·5 min·Plank Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto US 61; US 190
5.3 mi·7 min·Airline Highway
8
Continue on US 190; LA 1
50 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 190; LA 1
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
10
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
12
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
13
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
15
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
16
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 41-minute duration, this route is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, especially considering the potential for more frequent turns. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway is quite substantial at 186.3 miles. It's a good idea to top off your tank before embarking on this longer segment to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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 125 miles from Brownsfield, LA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.3 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 55 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125 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 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brownsfield, 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 Brownsfield, LA
This is one driving day of about 249.9 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Brownsfield, 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 Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 186.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 247 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Saint Ann Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Saint Ann Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~3m in|Ellen Drive
Turn right onto Ellen Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~4m in|Kleinpeter Road
Turn left onto Kleinpeter Road
Navigation decision point
5
60.3 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
6
247 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.74 one way
$75.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.43
$82.86
premium
$4.56
$44.85
$89.71
diesel
$5.61
$55.17
$110.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75
0
$26.24
$12.00
Efficient EV
62.5
0
$21.87
$10.00
EV Truck/SUV
100
1
$34.99
$15.99
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Brownsfield, LA
Late night
in Brownsfield on Sunday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Late night
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Alexandria, LA
125 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
26 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
4h 41m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 172.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive with only 20% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 186.3 miles along Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This suggests a significant portion of your time will be spent on more winding, potentially slower-paced roads. The profile indicates a dynamic driving experience, moving from more direct highway sections to a more intricate network of local routes as you progress toward Shreveport.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.3 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson 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 around 0.2 miles in near Saint Ann Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 41m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Saint Ann Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Ellen Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Kleinpeter Road): Navigation decision point.
Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities. The surrounding area is also a contrast from points in southern Louisiana, in that the landscape is marked by rolling hills and pine forests, being an extension of the Texas region known as the Piney Woods.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson 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.
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: at 0.2 miles (Saint Ann Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Ellen Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Kleinpeter Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
