This 187-mile drive from Kinder, Louisiana, to Shreveport, Louisiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes. You'll primarily be on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway and US 165, with a portion on Macarthur Drive. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $28. Given its relatively short duration and mixed driving profile, it’s a straightforward trip across the Southeast region of Louisiana. This route offers a practical way to travel between these two points without the need for an overnight stay.
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
93.5 miles from Kinder, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
119.6 mi
2h 2m
US 165
59.7 mi
1h 14m
Macarthur Drive
4.2 mi
7m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
3rd Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
River Parkway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
— 119.6 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kinder, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on US 190
434 ft·13 sec·3rd Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 165
60 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 165
3
Turn slight left onto Macarthur Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Macarthur Drive
4
Turn right
104 ft·6 sec
5
Turn left onto US 71; US 165
3.6 mi·5 min·Macarthur Drive
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 49 North: Shreveport
7
Merge onto I 49
120 mi·2 hr 2 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
9
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
10
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
12
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
13
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
With a total duration under four hours, this trip offers flexibility. Leaving Kinder in the morning allows ample time to reach Shreveport without feeling rushed. There's one recommended stop, which you can strategically place during the longer stretch on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway to break up the driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the $28 fuel cost is an estimate and local prices can vary. Being in Louisiana, be aware of potential for humidity and heat, making early morning departures generally more comfortable.
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 93.5 miles from Kinder, LA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.6 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 41 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.5 miles or 1h 52m 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 53m
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 Kinder, 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 Kinder, LA
This is one driving day of about 187 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Kinder, 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 119.6 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 0.1 and 185.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 165
Turn left onto US 165
Navigation decision point
4
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
64 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Shreveport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 North: Shreveport
6
184 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
4
185.6 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.24 one way
$56.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.00
$62.00
premium
$4.56
$33.56
$67.13
diesel
$5.61
$41.29
$82.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.1
0
$19.63
$8.98
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.36
$7.48
EV Truck/SUV
74.8
0
$26.18
$11.97
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 20, 2026
Origin
Kinder, LA
Morning
in Kinder on Tuesday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Morning
in Shreveport on Tuesday
Local time
6:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 31m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 103.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a mixed profile, with 32% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter a substantial longest stretch of 119.6 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, offering a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road will transition, incorporating US 165 and Macarthur Drive, suggesting a blend of faster sections and potentially more local road segments. This variability means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate loop but will experience different driving conditions.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.6 mi on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 165.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kinder, LA to Shreveport, LA is easy. At 3h 31m with 32% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 165): Navigation decision point; at 60.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.6 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (US 165): Navigation decision point; at 60.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
