Traveling from Carencro to Shreveport covers 205.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes. Because this is a relatively straightforward journey, it works perfectly as a one-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $28 on fuel to complete the trek. Navigating via Veterans Memorial Expressway, Charles I, and Pete Harris Drive, you will transition through the Southeast region of Louisiana. It is a practical route for those looking to reach their destination efficiently without the need for a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
102.6 miles from Carencro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
197.8 mi
3h 22m
North University Avenue
3.4 mi
5m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
River Parkway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 197.8 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carencro, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on LA 182
3.4 mi·5 min·North University Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
3
Merge onto I 49; US 167
0.5 mi·32 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
4
Continue on I 49; US 167
198 mi·3 hr 22 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
6
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
7
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
9
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
10
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop, you can easily pace the journey to suit your personal comfort level without feeling rushed. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between local roads like Pete Harris Drive, as the lack of continuous highway segments means you will be making more turns than usual. Factor the $28 fuel cost into your travel budget before heading out. To make the most of the drive, ensure your GPS is updated and ready to handle a route that relies entirely on local roads rather than major interstates.
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 102.6 miles from Carencro, LA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.8 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 45 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.6 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
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 Carencro, 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 Carencro, LA
This is one driving day of about 205.1 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Carencro, 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 197.8 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 204.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 49; US 167 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Merge onto I 49; US 167 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
202.2 mi into trip|~3h 28m 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
4
203.7 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
3
204.6 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.97 one way
$61.95 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$34.00
$68.01
premium
$4.56
$36.81
$73.63
diesel
$5.61
$45.28
$90.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.5
0
$21.54
$9.84
Efficient EV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
EV Truck/SUV
82
1
$28.71
$13.13
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
Carencro, LA
Late night
in Carencro on Sunday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Late night
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
3h 35m 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.
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 127.3
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will find yourself navigating smaller roads for the entirety of the 205.7-mile trip, so prepare for a more hands-on driving experience. Since there is no significant stretch of highway, the longest uninterrupted run on the Veterans Memorial Expressway is effectively zero miles. The personality of this drive is defined by its local character, requiring your full attention as you transition between the various community thoroughfares that connect these two Louisiana cities.
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: 197.8 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 3.9 miles in near I 49; US 167 / Veterans Memorial Expressway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 35m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (I 49; US 167 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 202.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.7 miles (LA 173 / Caddo Street): 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 197.8 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 3.9 miles (I 49; US 167 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 202.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.7 miles (LA 173 / Caddo Street): 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
