Hammond to Minden is 290.7 miles and takes about 5h 30m via I 20 and E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on interstate, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. With a single recommended stop and a fuel cost under $50, this route is designed for efficiency and ease.
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
145.4 miles from Hammond, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
90.4 mi
1h 38m
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi
1h 12m
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
53.4 mi
57m
US 84
47.3 mi
55m
US 98
30.1 mi
34m
West University Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Lee Street
1.3 mi
1m
North Oak Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 90.4 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~598 veh/hr typical
· worst 874
Quietest
1 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hammond, LA and Minden, LA.
1
Start on West Charles Street
406 ft·27 sec·West Charles Street
2
Turn left onto Northwest Railroad Avenue
0.4 mi·43 sec·Northwest Railroad Avenue
3
Continue on Carter Lane
0.1 mi·17 sec·Carter Lane
4
Turn right onto North Oak Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Oak Street
5
Turn left onto LA 3234
2.1 mi·3 min·West University Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Merge onto I 55
53 mi·57 min·Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
8
Take the exit onto US 98
29 mi·33 min·US 98
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 98; MS 184
0.8 mi·53 sec·US 98; MS 184
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
11
Merge onto US 84
28 mi·32 min·US 84
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.0 mi·7 min·US 84
13
Take the exit onto US 84
13 mi·15 min·US 84
14
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
15
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
16
Merge onto I 20
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 20
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward South US 371, North LA 159: Sibley, Minden
18
Keep slight right at fork
364 ft·8 sec
Toward North LA 159: Minden
19
Turn straight onto Sibley Road
0.2 mi·14 sec·Sibley Road
20
Continue on LA 159
1.3 mi·1 min·Lee Street
21
Turn right onto US 79; US 80; LA 159
0.2 mi·50 sec·Broadway Street
22
Turn left onto US 80
177 ft·13 sec·West Union Street
23
Turn left onto US 79; US 80; LA 159
103 ft·3 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 79; US 80; LA 159
Trip Plan
For this 5h 30m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Consider taking your one recommended stop about halfway through to break up the drive. With a total distance of 290.7 miles, it's very manageable in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $46, so plan your fill-up accordingly, perhaps before you leave the more populated areas of Hammond. Be aware that the longest stretch on I 20 is over 90 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration of continuous highway driving.
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 145.4 miles from Hammond, LA, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.4 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.4 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minden, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hammond, 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 Hammond, LA
This is one driving day of about 290.7 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Hammond, 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 20 for about 90.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 290.7 — 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|Northwest Railroad Avenue
Turn left onto Northwest Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
288.7 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward South US 371, North LA 159: Sibley, Minden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward South US 371, North LA 159: Sibley, Mind...
6
288.9 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward North LA 159: Minden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward North LA 159: Minden
5
290.7 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|US 80 / West Union Street
Turn left onto US 80 / West Union Street
Navigation decision point
5
290.7 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|US 79; US 80; LA 159 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 79; US 80; LA 159 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.35 one way
$80.71 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$45.15
$90.30
premium
$4.29
$49.09
$98.17
diesel
$4.80
$54.89
$109.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.52
$13.95
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.44
$11.63
EV Truck/SUV
116.3
1
$40.70
$18.60
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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
Hammond, LA
Late night
in Hammond on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Minden, LA
Late night
in Minden on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM 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
5h 30m 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.
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 200.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 58% of this 290.7-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate, I 20, is 90.4 miles. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads at some point, as indicated by the mixed highway and surface profile. The density of exits may increase as you approach your destination.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Northwest Railroad 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 290.7 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 0.1 miles (Northwest Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 288.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 288.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Minden, the parish seat of Webster Parish and the fifth-largest city in Northern Louisiana, has a healthy dose of both city and country attributes. Driving through the downtown strip on old brick-paved roads and surrounded by the same buildings and structures that existed over 100 years ago, it is easy to get the feeling that you have taken a trip back in time. Only a mile or so away, name-brand food and motel chains can easily bring you back to the present. In addition to history of the days gone by, the town also has access to outdoor recreation at the nearby Kisatchie National Forest.
Top landmarks
•Fuller House — historic house in Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 290.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.4 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 Minden, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 288.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 288.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Minden, LA before the return drive.
