Connecting Jonesboro to Shreveport, this 78.8-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Louisiana that typically takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the one-way transit. Navigating through the Southeast region, you will primarily utilize Pershing Highway, Quitman Highway, and West California Avenue. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that serves as a direct link between these two communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.7 miles from Jonesboro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
63.7 mi
1h 9m
Quitman Highway
11.9 mi
13m
LA 818
6.6 mi
9m
Pershing Highway
2.4 mi
3m
South Barnett Springs Street
2.1 mi
3m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
Tarbutton Road
0.5 mi
1m
Allen Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 63.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Allen Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Allen Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 167; LA 147
2.4 mi·3 min·Pershing Highway
3
Continue on US 167
12 mi·13 min·Quitman Highway
4
Turn left onto LA 818
2.1 mi·2 min·LA 818
5
Continue on LA 818
4.4 mi·6 min·LA 818
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 80; LA 818
0.1 mi·13 sec·West California Avenue
7
Turn right onto LA 818
2.1 mi·3 min·South Barnett Springs Street
8
Continue on PR 106
0.5 mi·1 min·Tarbutton Road
9
Turn left
0.4 mi·48 sec
10
Merge onto I 20
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 20
11
Take the exit onto US 71
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 North, LA 1: Market Street, Spring Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
0.3 mi·46 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 North, LA 1 North: Spring Street
13
Turn right onto Crockett Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Crockett Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
15
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
16
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1 hour and 25-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule. There are no planned stops along the route, so ensure your fuel tank is ready for the roughly $11 expense before you head out. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, staying alert is more important here than on a straight highway stretch. Take advantage of the short travel time by keeping your itinerary loose and enjoying the ease of a direct, non-interstate route. If you prefer a smoother pace, consider checking local traffic patterns on Pershing Highway before you depart to ensure a seamless commute.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.7 miles from Jonesboro, LA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.7 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.7 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jonesboro, LA
This is one driving day of about 89.3 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Jonesboro, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 63.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.2 and 88.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21.2 mi into trip|~27m in|US 80; LA 818 / West California Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 80; LA 818 / West California Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward US 71 North, LA 1: Market Street, Spring Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 North, LA 1: Market Street, Spring...
7
88 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward US 71 North, LA 1 North: Spring Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 North, LA 1 North: Spring Street
5
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|Crockett Street
Turn right onto Crockett Street
Navigation decision point
5
88.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.49 one way
$26.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.80
$29.61
premium
$4.56
$16.03
$32.06
diesel
$5.61
$19.72
$39.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.8
0
$9.38
$4.29
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
EV Truck/SUV
35.7
0
$12.50
$5.72
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, LA
Late night
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Late night
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph37% 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
4 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
1h 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 cruise on this journey. Because the highway share is 0%, you will stay off high-speed freeways for the duration of the trip. Behind the wheel, this means you should prepare for a more engaged, hands-on driving experience as you navigate local roads. With the longest uninterrupted stretch on Pershing Highway sitting at 0 miles, the path requires constant attention to turns and transitions. The personality of this drive is defined by its local character, keeping you focused on the road ahead as you transition between towns.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Quitman Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 21.2 miles in near US 80; LA 818 / West California Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.2 miles (US 80; LA 818 / West California Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 87.9 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities. The surrounding area is also a contrast from points in southern Louisiana, in that the landscape is marked by rolling hills and pine forests, being an extension of the Texas region known as the Piney Woods.
The longest stretch is about 63.7 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.2 miles (US 80; LA 818 / West California Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 87.9 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shreveport, LA before heading back.
