Lafayette, LA to Eastwood, LA is 222.4 miles and takes about 3h 57m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, traversing the Southeast region. Given its relatively short duration and mostly surface road profile, it's a straightforward drive. Plan for a single stop, making it ideal for a day trip where you can take your time without feeling rushed.
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
111.2 miles from Lafayette, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
197.8 mi
3h 22m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi
9m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
5.3 mi
7m
Highway 80
3.4 mi
5m
East Texas Street
3.1 mi
4m
Northeast Evangeline Thruway
1.9 mi
3m
Industrial Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 197.8 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, LA and Eastwood, LA.
1
Start on Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft·22 sec·Rue Vermilion Ouest
2
Turn left onto Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi·51 sec·Rue Jefferson
3
Continue on Jefferson Boulevard
0.3 mi·46 sec·Jefferson Boulevard
4
Turn left onto US 90; LA 182
1.9 mi·3 min·Northeast Evangeline Thruway
5
Continue on I 49; LA 182
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
6
Continue on I 49; US 167
198 mi·3 hr 22 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
9
Merge onto I 20
5.3 mi·7 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB
11
Keep slight left at fork
139 ft·7 sec
12
Turn left onto LA 782-2
0.3 mi·40 sec·Industrial Drive
13
Continue on Industrial Drive
0.2 mi·24 sec·Industrial Drive
14
Turn straight onto US 79; US 80
3.1 mi·4 min·East Texas Street
15
Continue on US 79; US 80
3.4 mi·5 min·Highway 80
16
Continue on US 79; US 80
104 ft·10 sec·Highway 80
17
Arrive at destination
US 79; US 80
Trip Plan
This 3-hour, 57-minute drive is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave mid-morning after a relaxed breakfast. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility in pacing. The estimated fuel cost is around $33, so ensure your tank is full before departing Lafayette. Pay attention as you transition from the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway to other roads, as this is where the driving environment will change most significantly.
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 111.2 miles from Lafayette, LA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.8 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 49 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 1h 56m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eastwood, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, LA
This is one driving day of about 222.4 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Lafayette, 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 197.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 215.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Rue Jefferson
Turn left onto Rue Jefferson
Navigation decision point
6
209.1 mi into trip|~3h 37m 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
5
209.3 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
5
215.2 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Industrial Drive, Barksdale AFB
5
215.4 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.87 one way
$61.75 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$34.54
$69.08
premium
$4.29
$37.55
$75.11
diesel
$4.80
$41.99
$83.99
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Northeast 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
$31
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.7
0
$23.35
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.46
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.14
$14.23
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Lafayette, LA
Late night
in Lafayette on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:11AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Eastwood, LA
Late night
in Eastwood on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:11AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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
2 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
3h 57m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 130.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with only about 5% of the route utilizing highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 197.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Expect a less intense driving experience as you transition from highway segments to more local thoroughfares. Keep an eye out for frequent intersections as you navigate through populated areas.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.8 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Rue Jefferson.
Driving Effort5/10
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 222.4 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles (Rue Jefferson): Navigation decision point; at 209.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
238 ft37 ft
Total Climb
271 ft
Total Descent
70 ft
Highest Point
238 ft
~222.4 mi in
Elevation Range
202 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 Lafayette, LA to Eastwood, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Lafayette is a city in Louisiana. It's the unofficial capital of Acadiana or Cajun Country. This flourishing moderate sized city is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Music and dancing is an integral part of community life. Several restaurants and dance halls thrive in the area and the city hosts several musical festivals throughout the year.
Top landmarks
•First United Methodist Church — historic church in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
•Sterling Grove Historic District — historic district in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
•Evangeline Hotel — historic building in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 222.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 197.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.13 in tolls one way, starting with Northeast 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.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 (Rue Jefferson): Navigation decision point; at 209.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 209.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Eastwood, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
