DeRidder, LA to Lafayette, LA is 116.6 miles and takes about 2h 14m via I 10 and Highway 171, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traveling entirely within Louisiana. Expect a drive that's primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day travel time, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart when you're ready and arrive without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.3 miles from DeRidder, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
68.3 mi
1h 13m
Highway 171
37.5 mi
43m
Martin Luther King Highway
4.8 mi
7m
West 1st Street
2.5 mi
2m
North University Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Versailles Boulevard
0.3 mi
1m
Rue Vermilion Ouest
0.2 mi
<1m
Saint John Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 68.3 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between DeRidder, LA and Lafayette, LA.
1
Start on LA 27
155 ft·6 sec·South Pine Street
2
Turn right onto US 171; US 190
2.5 mi·2 min·West 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 171; US 190
38 mi·43 min·Highway 171
4
Continue on US 171
4.8 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
68 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 10
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward LA 182
9
Keep slight right at fork
306 ft·7 sec
10
Turn slight right onto North University Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·North University Avenue
11
Turn left onto Versailles Boulevard
0.3 mi·1 min·Versailles Boulevard
12
At end of road, turn right onto Saint John Street
235 ft·11 sec·Saint John Street
13
Turn left onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
0.2 mi·43 sec·Rue Vermilion Ouest
14
Arrive at destination
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 14m, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for departure time. You can easily make this a same-day trip, leaving mid-morning and arriving in Lafayette with time to spare. The longest continuous stretch on I 10 is 68.3 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical drive, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially on the interstate portions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.3 miles from DeRidder, LA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.3 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 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.3 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving DeRidder, 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 DeRidder, LA
This is one driving day of about 116.6 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from DeRidder, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 68.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Turn right onto US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
45.3 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
116.3 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|Saint John Street
At end of road, turn right onto Saint John Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|Rue Vermilion Ouest
Turn left onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.61 one way
$35.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.33
$38.66
premium
$4.56
$20.93
$41.86
diesel
$5.61
$25.74
$51.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.24
$5.60
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.20
$4.66
EV Truck/SUV
46.6
0
$16.32
$7.46
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
DeRidder, LA
Late night
in DeRidder on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lafayette, LA
Late night
in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°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
2h 14m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the travel occurring on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 68.3 miles on I 10, which offers a consistent, faster pace. The initial part of your journey on Highway 171 and Martin Luther King Highway provides a transition before merging onto the interstate. Overall, the character is one of efficient travel, minimizing slower local road navigation.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Highway 171. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 114.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Lafayette is a city in Louisiana. It's the unofficial capital of Acadiana or Cajun Country. This flourishing moderate sized city is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Music and dancing is an integral part of community life. Several restaurants and dance halls thrive in the area and the city hosts several musical festivals throughout the year.
The longest stretch is about 68.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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: near the start (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 114.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, LA before heading back.
