This 221.7-mile drive from DeRidder, Louisiana to Laplace, Louisiana is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, with an estimated duration of 4 hours and 12 minutes. You'll spend 95% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing I-10 and Highway 171. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $33. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, it's well-suited for a one-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical or cultural divides.
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
110.9 miles from DeRidder, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
172.4 mi
3h 10m
Highway 171
37.5 mi
43m
Martin Luther King Highway
4.8 mi
7m
West 1st Street
2.5 mi
2m
Belle Terre Boulevard
2.2 mi
3m
West Airline Highway
1.3 mi
2m
South Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 172.4 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between DeRidder, LA and Laplace, 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
172 mi·3 hr 10 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 206Toward LA 3188 South: LaPlace
9
Continue on LA 3188
2.2 mi·3 min·Belle Terre Boulevard
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto US 61
1.3 mi·2 min·West Airline Highway
11
Turn right
41 ft·3 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 4 hours and 12 minutes, this trip is perfect for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and arrive with ample time to settle in. The longest stretch without a major road change is 172.4 miles on I-10, so plan your primary stop for fuel or a break before or after this segment. With only one recommended stop and a reasonable fuel cost of $33, you have a lot of flexibility. Keep an eye on I-10 for potential traffic, especially as you approach more populated areas closer to Laplace.
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 110.9 miles from DeRidder, LA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.4 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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.9 miles or 2h 7m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laplace, 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 221.7 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from DeRidder, 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 I 10 for about 172.4 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 0 and 220.5 — 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
45.6 mi into trip|~55m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
217.9 mi into trip|~4h 5m in
Take the exit toward LA 3188 South: LaPlace
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 206
Toward LA 3188 South: LaPlace
4
220.5 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|US 61 / West Airline Highway
Turn left onto US 61 / West Airline Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.48 one way
$66.96 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$36.76
$73.51
premium
$4.56
$39.79
$79.59
diesel
$5.61
$48.95
$97.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.5
0
$23.28
$10.64
Efficient EV
55.4
0
$19.40
$8.87
EV Truck/SUV
88.7
1
$31.04
$14.19
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
DeRidder, LA
Late night
in DeRidder on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laplace, LA
Late night
in Laplace on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Crowley, LA
111 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
3 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
4h 12m 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.
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 221.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 221.7-mile journey. With 95% of the route on main roads like I-10, Highway 171, and Martin Luther King Highway, you'll experience consistent travel speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 172.4 miles on I-10, offering a period of steady progress. While primarily highway, the inclusion of other main roads suggests potential for minor changes in the driving environment as you transition between them, though the overall character remains efficient and direct.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 172.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 12m 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: near the start (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 221.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 172.4 miles on I 10. 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: near the start (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Laplace, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
