Traveling from Jonesboro to Lafayette covers 160.2 miles of Louisiana landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 32 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey stays under three hours, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $22 for fuel to complete the transit. Navigating via local routes like Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, and Winnfield Highway, you will experience a shift from the northern interior toward the heart of the state. It is a practical, manageable connection for those looking to traverse the region efficiently.
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
79.8 miles from Jonesboro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi
1h 17m
East Lafayette Street
47.7 mi
58m
Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi
27m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
9m
South Hudson Avenue
2 mi
3m
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
1.9 mi
3m
US 167
0.8 mi
1m
Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
— 76 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, LA and Lafayette, LA.
1
Start on Allen Avenue
109 ft·2 sec·Allen Avenue
2
Turn left onto LA 4
0.2 mi·24 sec·Chatham Highway
3
Turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·South Hudson Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 167
1.0 mi·1 min·South Hudson Avenue
5
Continue on US 167
22 mi·27 min·Winnfield Highway
6
Continue on US 84; US 167; LA 34
48 mi·58 min·East Lafayette Street
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
0.8 mi·1 min·US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
8
Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP
76 mi·1 hr 17 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
9
Continue on I 49; US 167
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
10
Continue on I 49; LA 182
1.9 mi·3 min·Northwest Evangeline Thruway
11
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
0.2 mi·33 sec·Jefferson Boulevard
12
Continue on Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi·51 sec·Rue Jefferson
13
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft·16 sec·Rue Vermilion Ouest
14
Arrive at destination
Rue Vermilion Ouest
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 32-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule. With only one recommended stop, it is wise to pace yourself early to avoid fatigue on the winding local roads. Ensure you have your $22 fuel budget ready before departing, as local stations may be spaced out along the secondary highways. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on Chatham Highway and Winnfield Highway means you will be making frequent turns rather than following a single straight path.
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 79.8 miles from Jonesboro, LA, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76 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 35 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, LA
This is one driving day of about 159.7 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Jonesboro, 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 Martin Luther King, Jr Highway for about 76 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 159.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Hudson Avenue
Turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|US 167 / South Hudson Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 167 / South Hudson Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
4
159.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|Jefferson Boulevard
Turn right onto Jefferson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
159.6 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|Rue Vermilion Ouest
Turn right onto Rue Vermilion Ouest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.12 one way
$48.24 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.48
$52.95
premium
$4.56
$28.66
$57.33
diesel
$5.61
$35.26
$70.52
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
(1.9 mi)$0.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.9
0
$16.77
$7.67
Efficient EV
39.9
0
$13.97
$6.39
EV Truck/SUV
63.9
0
$22.36
$10.22
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Jonesboro, LA
Late night
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lafayette, LA
Late night
in Lafayette on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
16 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
3h 3m 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.
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 38.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the entire 160.2-mile journey. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will not encounter any significant highway stretches. The driving experience is defined by these technical, winding segments rather than high-speed cruising. Since there are zero miles of interstate driving, you should stay alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. This is a hands-on trip that requires your full attention as you move through the local road network.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76 mi on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Hudson Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jonesboro, LA to Lafayette, LA is easy. At 3h 3m with 6% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Hudson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 167 / South Hudson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 71.7 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.13 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Evangeline Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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.
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 0.2 miles (South Hudson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 167 / South Hudson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 71.7 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Lafayette, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
