Traveling from Central to DeRidder covers 160.7 miles across the Southeast region of Louisiana. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 26 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Budget about $22 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because this journey relies on local roads like Plank Road, Airline Highway, and 8th Street rather than major interstates, you will stay within the same regional landscape for the duration. It is a straightforward route that doesn't require an overnight stay, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
80.3 miles from Central, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 190
98.7 mi
2h
Highway 171
22.5 mi
25m
US Highway 190
22.4 mi
33m
Hooper Road
7 mi
11m
Airline Highway
5.3 mi
7m
East 1st Street
1.5 mi
1m
Mahlon Street
0.9 mi
1m
Plank Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 190
— 98.7 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, LA and DeRidder, LA.
1
Start on LA 408
7.0 mi·11 min·Hooper Road
2
Turn left onto LA 67
0.7 mi·1 min·Plank Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto US 61; US 190
5.3 mi·7 min·Airline Highway
5
Continue on US 190; LA 1
98 mi·1 hr 58 min·US 190; LA 1
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto US 190
0.4 mi·43 sec·8th Street
7
Turn left onto US 190
0.5 mi·42 sec·6th Avenue
8
Continue on US 190
22 mi·33 min·US Highway 190
9
Take the ramp onto US 190
0.6 mi·1 min·US 190
10
Merge onto US 171; US 190
22 mi·25 min·Highway 171
11
Continue on US 171; US 190
1.5 mi·1 min·East 1st Street
12
Continue on US 171; US 190
0.9 mi·1 min·Mahlon Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 171; US 190
0.2 mi·23 sec·Shirley Street
14
Turn left onto US 171
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Pine Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
LA 27
Trip Plan
Since the trip is manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop, try to plan your break around the midway point to keep your energy up during the turn-heavy segments. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on local roads like 8th Street means you will be making frequent turns rather than following a single highway corridor. Setting aside the $22 for fuel before you head out will ensure you aren't scrambling for supplies along the way. If you prefer a smoother experience, monitor local traffic patterns on Airline Highway to avoid potential congestion during peak hours.
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 80.3 miles from Central, LA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 35 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.3 miles or 1h 43m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near DeRidder, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Central, 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 Central, LA
This is one driving day of about 160.7 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Central, 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 US 190 for about 98.7 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 7 and 160.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
7 mi into trip|~11m in|LA 67 / Plank Road
Turn left onto LA 67 / Plank Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
8.3 mi into trip|~14m in|US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge onto US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 190 / 8th Street
Turn right onto US 190 / 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
112.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 190 / 6th Avenue
Turn left onto US 190 / 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
160.6 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|US 171 / North Pine Street
Turn left onto US 171 / North Pine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.27 one way
$48.54 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.64
$53.28
premium
$4.56
$28.84
$57.69
diesel
$5.61
$35.48
$70.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.2
0
$16.87
$7.71
Efficient EV
40.2
0
$14.06
$6.43
EV Truck/SUV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.28
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Central, LA
Late night
in Central on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
DeRidder, LA
Late night
in DeRidder on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 26m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate surface streets and local corridors for the entire 160.7 miles. There is no long-distance high-speed cruising, as the longest stretch is 0 miles on Plank Road. This profile creates a more technical driving experience where you will constantly transition between various segments of Plank Road, Airline Highway, and 8th Street. Be prepared for a steady, hands-on pace that reflects the character of local Louisiana travel.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.7 mi on US 190.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 190 and Highway 171. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near LA 67 / Plank Road.
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 26m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (LA 67 / Plank Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 111.7 miles (US 190 / 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 98.7 miles on US 190. 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 7 miles (LA 67 / Plank Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 111.7 miles (US 190 / 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at DeRidder, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
