Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 2m
Distance
199.1 mi
320 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Providence, LA
Emilio Sánchez Hernández
Maryland, LA
Styves Exantus
Lake Providence to Maryland is 199.1 miles and takes about 4h 2m via US 61, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, traversing the Southeast region. It's a fairly direct trip primarily on a major highway, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for efficiency. With its relatively short duration and single-day possibility, this route is a good choice for a less demanding travel day.
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
99.5 miles from Lake Providence, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 | 148.1 mi | 2h 52m |
| Scarborough Street | 27.6 mi | 41m |
| I 20 | 18.9 mi | 20m |
| North Chestnut Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Bayou Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Blount Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Scotland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Providence, LA and Maryland, LA.
Start on US 65
Continue on US 65
Turn slight right onto US 65
Turn left
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Merge onto US 61
Turn left onto Blount Road
Turn left onto LA 19
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 2m estimated drive time, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach your destination comfortably within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $30, planning your fuel fill-up before you leave or at a convenient point along US 61 is advisable. Since this is a manageable single-day trip, you have flexibility in your pacing. Keep an eye on signage for US 61 as it forms the longest continuous segment of your drive.
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.
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 44 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.5 miles or 2h 5m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maryland, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lake Providence, 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 Lake Providence, LA
This is one driving day of about 199.1 miles and 4h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99.5 miles from Lake Providence, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 61 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.3 and 199 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward US 61 South: Natchez
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto US 61
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$30.07 one way
$60.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $33.01 | $66.02 |
| premium | $4.56 | $35.74 | $71.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.96 | $87.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.7 | 0 | $20.91 | $9.56 |
| Efficient EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.42 | $7.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.87 | $12.74 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lake Providence on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Maryland on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of the journey utilizing major roadways like US 61 and I 20. You'll experience a significant stretch of 148.1 miles primarily on US 61, which offers a consistent pace. The drive transitions between these main arteries, providing a blend of open highway travel. Expect a profile that leans towards efficient transit rather than winding backroads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and Scarborough Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 30.3 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 2m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 199.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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