Planning a trip from Chalmette, Louisiana, to Bossier City, Louisiana? This 333-mile journey will take approximately 6 hours and 17 minutes, making it a feasible one-day drive. You'll navigate a mix of highways, including Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and I 10, with about 40% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $50. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region of Louisiana, you won't be crossing state lines, and the drive offers a mixed experience rather than a purely interstate grind. Consider this a straightforward trip across 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
166.5 miles from Chalmette, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
I 10
78.8 mi
1h 30m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
I 610
4.1 mi
5m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
West Judge Perez Drive
2.9 mi
6m
North Claiborne Avenue
2.8 mi
6m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chalmette, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on LA 39
175 ft·6 sec·West Judge Perez Drive
2
Turn right onto Montesquieu Street
169 ft·7 sec·Montesquieu Street
3
Turn right onto Oak Place
352 ft·14 sec·Oak Place
4
Turn right onto Fenelon Street
166 ft·5 sec·Fenelon Street
5
Turn left onto LA 39
2.8 mi·6 min·West Judge Perez Drive
6
Continue on LA 39
2.8 mi·6 min·North Claiborne Avenue
7
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Franklin Avenue
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Franklin Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Franklin Avenue
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Franklin Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Franklin Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
11
Continue on I 610
4.1 mi·5 min·I 610
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10
75 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
19
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
22
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Traffic Street
24
Continue on Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·36 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
25
Turn left onto Monroe Street
78 ft·2 sec·Monroe Street
26
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
For this approximately 6-hour and 17-minute drive, starting early from Chalmette is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 186.3 miles, you have flexibility. Plan your single stop around the midpoint or when you feel the need to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway segments, and remember the estimated fuel cost is around $50. A practical tip for this route is to check traffic conditions around Baton Rouge before you depart, as I 10 can experience delays in that metropolitan area.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.5 miles from Chalmette, LA, or about 3h 24m 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 73 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.5 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bossier City, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chalmette, 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 Chalmette, LA
This is one driving day of about 333 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Chalmette, 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 330 — 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|Montesquieu Street
Turn right onto Montesquieu Street
Navigation decision point
6
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
90.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
6
330 mi into trip|~6h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.29 one way
$100.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$55.21
$110.41
premium
$4.56
$59.77
$119.54
diesel
$5.61
$73.52
$147.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.9
1
$34.96
$15.98
Efficient EV
83.3
0
$29.14
$13.32
EV Truck/SUV
133.2
1
$46.62
$21.31
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Chalmette, LA
Evening
in Chalmette on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Evening
in Bossier City on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 to 15 mph81% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Broussard, LA
167 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
6h 17m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 252.6
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive experience, with 40% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and I 10, offering varying road personalities. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll face is 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, which will likely involve a more consistent pace. The overall feel is a blend of potentially faster highway segments and other road types, so be prepared for changes in speed and scenery as you progress through Louisiana.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 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?
10/10
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 Montesquieu Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 333 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 (Montesquieu Street): Navigation decision point; at 86.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Chalmette is a suburb of New Orleans in Louisiana, USA.
Chalmette is the "Parish seat" (equivalent to a county in other states) of Saint Bernard Parish, known to locals simply as "The Parish".
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 6h 17m. Total distance: 333 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
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 Bossier City, 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 (Montesquieu Street): Navigation decision point; at 86.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bossier City, LA before the return drive.
