Estherwood, LA to Shreveport, LA is 212 miles and takes about 4h 10m via I 49 and Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Northwest. It's a straightforward trip primarily on the interstate, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll find it to be a practical choice for getting between these two points without much fuss.
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
106 miles from Estherwood, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
144.6 mi
2h 28m
Veterans Memorial Highway
31.5 mi
46m
Crowley Eunice Highway
15.2 mi
22m
State Route 13
4.6 mi
6m
I 10
4.1 mi
4m
Estherwood Highway
2.6 mi
4m
Aymond Street
2 mi
3m
South C C Duson Street
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 144.6 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Estherwood, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on US 90
0.1 mi·15 sec·Front Avenue
2
Turn right onto LA 91
1.0 mi·1 min·North Canal Street
3
Continue on LA 91
2.6 mi·4 min·Estherwood Highway
4
Turn right
467 ft·9 sec
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 10
4.1 mi·4 min·I 10
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward LA 13: Eunice, Crowley
8
Turn left onto LA 13
0.1 mi·23 sec·North Parkerson Avenue
9
Continue on LA 13
0.3 mi·24 sec·Crowley Eunice Highway
10
Continue on LA 13
0.4 mi·34 sec·State Route 13
11
Turn straight onto LA 13
15 mi·22 min·Crowley Eunice Highway
12
Continue on LA 13
2.0 mi·3 min·Aymond Street
13
Turn left onto LA 13
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Maple Avenue
14
Turn right onto LA 13
1.3 mi·1 min·South C C Duson Street
15
Continue on LA 13
2.4 mi·3 min·State Route 13
16
Continue on LA 13
6.4 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
17
Continue on LA 13
1.8 mi·2 min·State Route 13
18
Continue on LA 13
25 mi·37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
19
Continue on US 167
0.7 mi·1 min·US 167
20
Turn left
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 49 North: Alexandria
21
Merge onto I 49
145 mi·2 hr 28 min·I 49
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
23
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
24
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
26
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
27
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour drive, consider leaving in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight for the entire trip. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have flexibility with your timing and can afford to take your time. The longest stretch without a major road change is 144.6 miles on I 49, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or during that segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel as you get closer to Shreveport, as services can be more spread out in some rural stretches before you reach the city.
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 106 miles from Estherwood, LA, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.6 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 47 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 2h 18m 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 28m
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 Estherwood, 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 Estherwood, LA
This is one driving day of about 212 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Estherwood, 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 49 for about 144.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 210.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 91 / North Canal Street
Turn right onto LA 91 / North Canal Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward LA 13: Eunice, Crowley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward LA 13: Eunice, Crowley
4
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Turn left toward I 49 North: Alexandria
Navigation decision point
Toward I 49 North: Alexandria
6
209 mi into trip|~4h 4m 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
210.6 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.43 one way
$58.86 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.93
$65.85
premium
$4.29
$35.80
$71.60
diesel
$4.80
$40.03
$80.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.26
$10.18
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.55
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.68
$13.57
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Estherwood, LA
Evening
in Estherwood on Monday
Local time
7:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:11AM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Evening
in Shreveport on Monday
Local time
7:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:11AM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
76°F
Alexandria, LA
106 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
2 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 10m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 131.6
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 highway, with 73% of the drive on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 49, including one stretch of 144.6 miles. After the interstate, you'll transition to Veterans Memorial Highway and Crowley Eunice Highway, which will feel more like surface road cruising. Expect to notice a more rural feel as you leave the interstate sections behind.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.6 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and Veterans Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near LA 91 / North Canal 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 4h 10m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (LA 91 / North Canal Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
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
The longest stretch is about 144.6 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 0.1 miles (LA 91 / North Canal Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Cane River Creole 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 Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
