This 253.4-mile journey from Central, Louisiana, to Shreveport, Louisiana, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost estimated at $38, it's a manageable trip for a single day, though you might consider an overnight if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The route primarily utilizes Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and US 190, with a portion on Hooper Road. Given that both the origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll be exploring the varied landscapes of Louisiana throughout your drive. It's a practical route that offers a good balance of distance and travel time for a day trip.
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
126.7 miles from Central, 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
Hooper Road
7 mi
11m
Airline Highway
5.3 mi
7m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Plank Road
0.7 mi
1m
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 Central, LA and Shreveport, 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
50 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 190; LA 1
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
7
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
9
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
10
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
12
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
13
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour and 43 minute drive, consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for your single recommended stop. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move away from major towns, as the longest stretch without a significant break is over 186 miles. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the US 190 corridor, as it forms a significant part of your journey and can offer various amenities if needed.
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 126.7 miles from Central, 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 56 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.7 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 53m
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 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 253.4 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 252 — 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
5
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
250.5 mi into trip|~4h 37m 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
252 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.18 one way
$70.35 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$39.36
$78.71
premium
$4.29
$42.79
$85.58
diesel
$4.80
$47.85
$95.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76
0
$26.61
$12.16
Efficient EV
63.4
0
$22.17
$10.14
EV Truck/SUV
101.4
1
$35.48
$16.22
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Central, LA
Late night
in Central on Monday
Local time
1:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Late night
in Shreveport on Monday
Local time
1:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
76°F
Alexandria, LA
127 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 43m 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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 174.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a rather turn-heavy local drive for this 253.4-mile trip, with only 20% of the route being on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 186.3 miles along the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This suggests a driving experience that will involve navigating various local roads and potentially more frequent changes in speed and direction. It's not a monotonous interstate cruise, but rather a more engaged drive that requires your attention as you transition between different road types.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 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?
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 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 4h 43m drive. You will face about 7 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 63.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Top landmarks
•Petroleum Tower — 16-story high-rise office building located at 425 Edwards Street at the corner o...
•Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium — theater and meeting hall in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
•Strand Theatre — theater in Shreveport, Louisiana
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.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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 63.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
