Houma to Winnsboro is 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 42m via Samuels Road and I 10, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region to itself. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a straightforward drive for getting from point A to point B within the state.
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
113.6 miles from Houma, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Samuels Road
75.7 mi
1h 28m
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
42 mi
48m
I 10
31.5 mi
34m
Park Avenue
14.6 mi
24m
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi
12m
West Airline Highway
8.9 mi
10m
Louisiana 20
8.1 mi
11m
LA 3213
6.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Samuels Road
— 75.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houma, LA and Winnsboro, LA.
1
Start on School Street
47 ft·7 sec·School Street
2
Turn left onto LA 182
0.2 mi·46 sec·Barrow Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto LA 24
15 mi·24 min·Park Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on LA 20
0.8 mi·1 min·Canal Boulevard
5
Enter roundabout onto LA 20
182 ft·4 sec·Jackson Street
6
Continue on LA 20
0.7 mi·1 min·Jackson Street
7
Continue on LA 20
397 ft·8 sec·Saint Patrick Bridge
8
Turn straight onto Saint Patrick Street
2.6 mi·3 min·Saint Patrick Street
9
Turn left
195 ft·7 sec
10
Turn straight onto LA 20
417 ft·6 sec·North Canal Boulevard
11
Continue on LA 20
8.1 mi·11 min·Louisiana 20
12
Keep slight left at fork onto LA 20
6.2 mi·9 min·LA 20
13
Turn right onto LA 3127
2.3 mi·3 min·LA 3127
14
Turn left onto LA 3213
6.8 mi·9 min·LA 3213
15
Turn left onto US 61
8.9 mi·10 min·West Airline Highway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·58 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
17
Merge onto I 10
31 mi·34 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110
6.2 mi·8 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 110
2.6 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 8CToward US 61 North: NatchezUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on US 61
3.8 mi·5 min·Scenic Highway
22
Continue on US 61
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·Samuels Road
23
Turn left
0.1 mi·17 sec
24
Continue on US 84; US 425
2.4 mi·2 min·John R Junkin Drive
25
Continue on US 84; US 425
11 mi·12 min·Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
26
Continue on US 425; LA 15
42 mi·48 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
27
Turn left onto LA 4
237 ft·4 sec·Prairie Road
28
Arrive at destination
LA 4
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 42m drive time, starting in the morning is ideal to allow for a relaxed pace and potential impromptu stops. With only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. The fuel cost estimate is around $33, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Houma, especially since the profile is mostly surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Winnsboro, as services might be more spaced out on the latter half of the journey. This is a drive that can easily be completed in a single day, offering a straightforward transit within Louisiana.
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 113.6 miles from Houma, LA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.7 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 50 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 29m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winnsboro, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Houma, 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 Houma, LA
This is one driving day of about 227.1 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Houma, 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 Samuels Road for about 75.7 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 and 92.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 182 / Barrow Street
Turn left onto LA 182 / Barrow Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 24 / Park Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto LA 24 / Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
15.6 mi into trip|~27m in|LA 20 / Jackson Street
Enter roundabout onto LA 20 / Jackson Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
92.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.35 one way
$70.70 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.97
$77.95
premium
$4.71
$42.12
$84.24
diesel
$6.18
$55.25
$110.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.85
$10.90
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Houma, LA
Morning
in Houma on Monday
Local time
7:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Winnsboro, LA
Morning
in Winnsboro on Monday
Local time
7:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
12 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
4h 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 24%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads covers 75.7 miles on Samuels Road. You'll transition from interstate driving to more local roads, so anticipate areas with more frequent intersections and varied speed limits as you move away from I 10. The profile is mostly surface roads, indicating a less uniform driving experience than a full interstate trip.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.7 mi on Samuels Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near LA 182 / Barrow Street.
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 227.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 (LA 182 / Barrow Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (LA 24 / Park Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (LA 20 / Jackson Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
316 ft6 ft
Total Climb
328 ft
Total Descent
265 ft
Highest Point
316 ft
~129.8 mi in
Elevation Range
310 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Houma, LA to Winnsboro, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Houma is a small city (about 33,000 people in 2019, not including suburbs) in south central Louisiana. It is the seat and largest city in Terrebonne Parish, and the center of the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region in total is home to a little over 200,000.
Bayou Terrebonne runs through the town roughly east to west between Main Street and Park Avenue, with the Intracostal Waterway running north to south.
Top landmarks
•Clifford Percival Smith House — house in Houma, Louisiana
Winnsboro is the largest city and parish seat of Franklin Parish in Northern Louisiana. Home to the Franklin Parish Catfish Festival, considered the largest one-day festival in all of Louisiana. It had 4,900 residents in 2020.
Top landmarks
•Winnsboro Commercial Historic District — historic downtown in Winnsboro, Louisiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 227.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.7 miles on Samuels Road. 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.
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 Winnsboro, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (LA 182 / Barrow Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (LA 24 / Park Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (LA 20 / Jackson Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Winnsboro, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
