Stretching 175.6 miles across Southeast Louisiana, the trip from Franklinton to Alexandria is a manageable journey that typically takes 3 hours and 21 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through local streets like 10th Avenue, Dobson Street, and Main Street defines the experience, keeping you off the major interstates. It is a practical choice for those who prefer a steady, local pace over the intensity of high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
93.2 miles from Franklinton, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 98
48.4 mi
56m
US 84
46.9 mi
54m
LA 28
32.3 mi
42m
Louisiana Avenue
27.2 mi
33m
MS 27
9 mi
13m
State Route 25
8.6 mi
12m
Bene Street
2.5 mi
3m
Beulah Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 98
— 48.4 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklinton, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on Greenlaw Street
86 ft·4 sec·Greenlaw Street
2
Turn right onto 10th Avenue
510 ft·27 sec·10th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Dobson Street
495 ft·23 sec·Dobson Street
4
Turn right onto LA 25
0.5 mi·50 sec·Main Street
5
Turn left onto LA 25
2.5 mi·3 min·Bene Street
6
Turn straight onto LA 25
8.6 mi·12 min·State Route 25
7
Continue on MS 27
9.0 mi·13 min·MS 27
8
Turn left onto MS 48; MS 198
2.3 mi·3 min·Beulah Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 98
18 mi·22 min·US 98
10
Turn sharp right onto US 51
1.4 mi·2 min·South Broadway Street
11
Turn left onto US 51
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Georgia Avenue
12
Continue on US 51
0.4 mi·35 sec·Jackson Avenue
13
Continue on US 51
0.3 mi·29 sec·Mississippi Street
14
Continue on US 51
0.4 mi·36 sec·Northwest Street
15
Turn left onto MS 570
0.5 mi·1 min·Smithdale Road
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
17
Merge onto I 55; US 98
1.8 mi·1 min·I 55; US 98
18
Take the exit onto US 98
29 mi·33 min·US 98
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 98; MS 184
0.8 mi·53 sec·US 98; MS 184
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
21
Merge onto US 84
28 mi·32 min·US 84
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.0 mi·7 min·US 84
23
Take the exit onto US 84
13 mi·15 min·US 84
24
Turn left onto US 84; LA 15
27 mi·33 min·Louisiana Avenue
25
Turn left onto LA 28
32 mi·42 min·LA 28
26
Turn left onto LA 28
0.2 mi·33 sec·LA 28
27
Merge onto US 167; LA 28
2.0 mi·2 min·Pineville Expressway
28
Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria
29
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·6th Street
30
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·Murray Street
31
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule. With only one recommended stop along the 175.6-mile path, it is easy to pace yourself without feeling rushed to reach Alexandria. Before you head out from Franklinton, ensure your vehicle is ready for a drive dominated by local streets rather than highway driving. Since the fuel cost is estimated at $24, topping off your tank before you leave will help you avoid unnecessary stops for gas along the way. Use the lack of interstate travel to your advantage by taking your time through the local turns.
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 93.2 miles from Franklinton, LA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.4 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.2 miles or 1h 59m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franklinton, 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 Franklinton, LA
This is one driving day of about 186.4 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Franklinton, 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 US 98 for about 48.4 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 186.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|10th Avenue
Turn right onto 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Dobson Street
Turn left onto Dobson Street
Navigation decision point
5
185.7 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandri...
5
186 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
186.3 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|Murray Street
Turn right onto Murray Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.15 one way
$56.30 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.90
$61.81
premium
$4.56
$33.46
$66.91
diesel
$5.61
$41.15
$82.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.9
0
$19.57
$8.95
Efficient EV
46.6
0
$16.31
$7.46
EV Truck/SUV
74.6
0
$26.10
$11.93
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Franklinton, LA
Morning
in Franklinton on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Morning
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
29 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
3h 57m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating local roads throughout the entire 175.6-mile distance, requiring you to stay alert and engaged behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the road feels constant and deliberate. The journey maintains a consistent character from start to finish, shifting away from the typical fast-paced transit experience. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over open-road cruising.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.4 mi on US 98.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 98 and US 84. You will hit about 23 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 186.4 miles you will encounter 23 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Dobson Street): Navigation decision point; at 185.7 miles (US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 186.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.4 miles on US 98. 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 Alexandria, 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 (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Dobson Street): Navigation decision point; at 185.7 miles (US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Alexandria, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
