Laplace to Bossier City is 301.2 miles and takes about 5h 32m via West Airline Highway/Belle Terre Boulevard/I 10 West, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, making it a more local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. With just one recommended stop and a reasonable duration, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, offering a straightforward path between these two Louisiana locations.
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
150.6 miles from Laplace, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
I 10
54.2 mi
59m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Belle Terre Boulevard
2.2 mi
3m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.5 mi
2m
West Airline Highway
1.3 mi
2m
Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laplace, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on this road
41 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 61
1.3 mi·2 min·West Airline Highway
3
Turn right onto LA 3188
2.2 mi·3 min·Belle Terre Boulevard
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
5
Merge onto I 10
50 mi·55 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
12
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
15
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Traffic Street
17
Continue on Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·36 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Monroe Street
78 ft·2 sec·Monroe Street
19
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
Given the 301.2-mile distance and 5h 32m estimated drive time, this route is comfortably a single-day trip. Aim to depart Laplace in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Since the drive is mostly on surface roads, plan for the single recommended stop to be a good opportunity to stretch your legs and perhaps refuel, as the $48 fuel estimate is based on the entire trip. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transitions between West Airline Highway, Belle Terre Boulevard, and I 10 West, as these shifts can sometimes be disorienting on non-highway routes.
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 150.6 miles from Laplace, LA, or about 2h 56m 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 66 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 34m
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 Laplace, 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 Laplace, LA
This is one driving day of about 301.2 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Laplace, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 298.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|LA 3188 / Belle Terre Boulevard
Turn right onto LA 3188 / Belle Terre Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 3m 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
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
58.9 mi into trip|~1h 8m 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
298.2 mi into trip|~5h 27m 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
$46.89 one way
$93.78 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.69
$103.38
premium
$4.71
$55.86
$111.73
diesel
$6.18
$73.27
$146.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.4
1
$31.63
$14.46
Efficient EV
75.3
0
$26.36
$12.05
EV Truck/SUV
120.5
1
$42.17
$19.28
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 19, 2026
Origin
Laplace, LA
Afternoon
in Laplace on Monday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Afternoon
in Bossier City on Monday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
87°F
Alexandria, LA
151 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
6 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
5h 32m on the road
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.
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 218.1
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?
This drive is almost entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll be navigating local streets and main arteries for the full 301.2 miles. Given the profile of mostly surface roads, anticipate frequent intersections and lower average speeds compared to interstate travel. This means you'll likely notice more local traffic and a need to pay attention to traffic signals and speed limits throughout the 5h 32m duration.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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 1.3 miles in near LA 3188 / Belle Terre Boulevard.
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 15 significant decision points across 301.2 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 1.3 miles (LA 3188 / Belle Terre Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
LaPlace is an Unincorporated Community on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the historic "German Coast" section of the Acadiana region of Louisiana. It is just a short distance west of Greater New Orleans. LaPlace is the largest community in St. John the Baptist Parish.
Around Mardi Gras time, the hotels in New Orleans, Metairie, and Kenner may be booked up, so LaPlace is a good alternative, 20 minutes drive from Kenner and Metairie, about 30 or 35 minutes from New Orleans.
Until Katrina hit in 2005 this was a relatively small town with a few high schools, a Wal-mart, some strip malls, and a couple of good places to eat. LaPlace has grown significantly in the 2010s, but there is still not much to do 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 5h 32m. Total distance: 301.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 10 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (LA 3188 / Belle Terre Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.6 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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 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.
