Harahan, LA to Bossier City, LA is 321.3 miles and takes about 6h 1m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the state of Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads on this route. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under seven hours, this is a straightforward option for a single-day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
160.7 miles from Harahan, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
I 10
71.3 mi
1h 20m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Jefferson Highway
3.4 mi
6m
Williams Boulevard
2.1 mi
4m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.5 mi
2m
Filmore Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harahan, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on Kenmore Drive
0.1 mi·30 sec·Kenmore Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Stratford Drive
252 ft·12 sec·Stratford Drive
3
Turn right onto Wilson Street
149 ft·11 sec·Wilson Street
4
Turn left onto Colonial Club Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Colonial Club Drive
5
Turn right onto LA 48
3.4 mi·6 min·Jefferson Highway
6
Turn right onto Filmore Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Filmore Street
7
Turn left onto US 61
0.4 mi·55 sec·Airline Drive
8
Take the exit
241 ft·7 sec
9
At end of road, turn right onto LA 49
2.1 mi·4 min·Williams Boulevard
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
11
Merge onto I 10
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
15
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
18
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
21
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Traffic Street
23
Continue on Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·36 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
24
Turn left onto Monroe Street
78 ft·2 sec·Monroe Street
25
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Harahan to maximize daylight for the 6-hour drive. Since this route is manageable in a single day, you have flexibility with your timing. The longest continuous stretch is over 186 miles, so plan your single stop strategically around the halfway point or when you need a break from the highway. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially as you move from highway to surface roads, as stations might be less frequent. Your estimated fuel cost is around $51 for this 321.3-mile trip.
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 160.7 miles from Harahan, LA, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.3 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 71 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.7 miles or 3h 14m 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 59m
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 Harahan, 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 Harahan, LA
This is one driving day of about 321.3 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Harahan, 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 186.3 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 79 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Stratford Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Stratford Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
4.9 mi into trip|~10m in|LA 49 / Williams Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto LA 49 / Williams Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
78.7 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
79 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.60 one way
$89.21 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$49.90
$99.81
premium
$4.29
$54.25
$108.51
diesel
$4.80
$60.67
$121.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.4
1
$33.74
$15.42
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.11
$12.85
EV Truck/SUV
128.5
1
$44.98
$20.56
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Harahan, LA
Late night
in Harahan on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Late night
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
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
6h 1m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 243.8
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 37% highway driving, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway before transitioning. Be prepared for a significant amount of surface road cruising, which will likely mean more frequent speed changes and intersections compared to pure interstate travel.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.3 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Stratford Drive.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 321.3 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 0.1 miles (Stratford Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.9 miles (LA 49 / Williams Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.8 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
175 ft6 ft
Total Climb
184 ft
Total Descent
17 ft
Highest Point
175 ft
~298.8 mi in
Elevation Range
169 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 1m. Total distance: 321.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Stratford Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.9 miles (LA 49 / Williams Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 74.8 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 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.
