Lacombe to Bossier City is 328.2 miles and takes about 6 hours 1 minute via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a single-day trip that balances highway time with some time on surface roads, making it a manageable stretch. You'll find it’s a straightforward route that can be completed with minimal planning.
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
164.1 miles from Lacombe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
West Florida Republic Parkway
74.1 mi
1h 20m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
I 10
7.5 mi
9m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
LA 434
2.8 mi
4m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.5 mi
2m
US 190
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Traffic on I-12
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,009 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~214 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 23 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lacombe, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on US 190
0.7 mi·1 min·US 190
2
Enter roundabout
227 ft·3 sec
3
Continue
55 ft·0 sec
4
Continue on LA 434
2.8 mi·4 min·LA 434
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·51 sec
6
Merge onto I 12
74 mi·1 hr 20 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
14
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
17
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Traffic Street
19
Continue on Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·36 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Monroe Street
78 ft·2 sec·Monroe Street
21
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, leaving Lacombe in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Bossier City with plenty of daylight. The route has only one recommended stop, but you'll want to be mindful of fuel, especially during the 186.3-mile stretch on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Look for fuel opportunities before entering this longer segment. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility; you could potentially break it up with an overnight stay if you prefer a more relaxed pace, but it’s designed to be done in one go.
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 164.1 miles from Lacombe, LA, or about 3h 11m 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 72 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.1 miles or 3h 11m 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 58m
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 Lacombe, 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 Lacombe, LA
This is one driving day of about 328.2 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Lacombe, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 325.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
81.6 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
85.5 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
85.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
6
325.2 mi into trip|~5h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.09 one way
$102.18 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$56.32
$112.65
premium
$4.71
$60.87
$121.74
diesel
$6.18
$79.84
$159.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.5
1
$34.46
$15.75
Efficient EV
82.1
0
$28.72
$13.13
EV Truck/SUV
131.3
1
$45.95
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Lacombe, LA
Late night
in Lacombe on Saturday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 4:48AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 4:46AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Late night
in Bossier City on Saturday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 4:48AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 4:46AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
90°F
Alexandria, LA
164 mi in
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
3 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...
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?
About 41% of this 328.2-mile drive is on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 186.3 miles on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway before transitioning. The remaining portion of the drive uses State Route 1 and West Florida Republic Parkway, offering a mixed highway and surface road experience. Expect a pattern of cruising followed by more local road driving.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 0.7 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 328.2 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 0.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 81.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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: 328.2 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 15 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 81.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 12.0 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.
