Dulac to Bossier City is 331.4 miles and takes about 6h 14m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll primarily be on surface roads for this trip, so expect a more local feel rather than interstate cruising. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a manageable trip if you're looking to cover ground without an overnight stay.
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
165.7 miles from Dulac, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
197.8 mi
3h 22m
Raceland-M C Express
82.2 mi
1h 29m
Grand Caillou Road
15.2 mi
24m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10.2 mi
11m
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
6 mi
9m
West Park Avenue
3.4 mi
6m
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
2.7 mi
3m
Martin Luther King Boulevard
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 197.8 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dulac, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on LA 57
15 mi·24 min·Grand Caillou Road
2
Turn left onto LA 3040
0.9 mi·2 min·East Tunnel Boulevard
Use the left / straight / slight left / right lanes.
3
Continue on LA 3040
0.6 mi·1 min·Bond Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on LA 3040
1.8 mi·2 min·West Tunnel Boulevard
5
Continue on LA 3040
2.6 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto LA 24
3.4 mi·6 min·West Park Avenue
7
Turn left
358 ft·15 sec
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
9
Merge onto US 90
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·Raceland-M C Express
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·14 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.4 mi·24 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.4 mi·28 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·15 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1
0.2 mi·13 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
15
Take the exit onto LA 92-1
0.1 mi·21 sec·Young Street
16
Continue on LA 92-1
0.3 mi·38 sec·Young Street
17
Turn right onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi·3 min·St Etienne Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Fairfield Drive
19
Turn left onto LA 3073
1.5 mi·2 min·Ambassador Caffery Parkway
20
Turn right onto South Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·South Morgan Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 90; LA 182
0.2 mi·13 sec·Southwest Evangeline Thruway
22
Keep slight left at fork
158 ft·7 sec
23
Turn left onto US 90; LA 182
2.5 mi·2 min·Southwest Evangeline Thruway
24
Continue on US 90; LA 182
6.0 mi·9 min·Southeast Evangeline Thruway
25
Continue on I 49; LA 182
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
26
Continue on I 49; US 167
198 mi·3 hr 22 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
29
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
30
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Traffic Street
31
Continue on Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·36 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
32
Turn left onto Monroe Street
78 ft·2 sec·Monroe Street
33
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration and surface road profile, starting your drive in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. While the $48 fuel cost is estimated, it's wise to top off your tank before leaving Dulac, as fuel stops might be less frequent on the latter half of the route. This is a single-day trip, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up with an early lunch stop. Pay attention to local traffic patterns, especially when transitioning between the named surface roads mentioned in the route data.
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 165.7 miles from Dulac, LA, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.8 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.7 miles or 3h 21m 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 10m
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 Dulac, 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 Dulac, LA
This is one driving day of about 331.4 miles and 6h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Dulac, 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 197.8 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 108.3 and 331.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
328.4 mi into trip|~6h 8m 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
5
328.6 mi into trip|~6h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
5
331.4 mi into trip|~6h 14m in|Monroe Street
Turn left onto Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.00 one way
$92.01 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$51.47
$102.94
premium
$4.29
$55.96
$111.92
diesel
$4.80
$62.57
$125.15
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
(6 mi)$0.42
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
(2.5 mi)$0.17
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.4
1
$34.80
$15.91
Efficient EV
82.9
0
$29.00
$13.26
EV Truck/SUV
132.6
1
$46.40
$21.21
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Dulac, LA
Evening
in Dulac on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
W 0 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:11PM CDT until July 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Evening
in Bossier City on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:11PM CDT until July 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
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 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 14m 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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 251.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only a 4% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on local routes, including Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, Raceland-M C Express, and Grand Caillou Road. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 197.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Expect frequent intersections and lower speed limits for much of the drive.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.8 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 108.3 miles in near US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 331.4 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: at 108.3 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 113.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 328.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Top landmarks
•Bossier High School — high school in Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 14m. Total distance: 331.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 197.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 in tolls one way, starting with Southeast Evangeline Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 12 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.
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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 108.3 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 113.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 328.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 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.
