Larose, LA to Alexandria, LA is 214.5 miles and takes about 4h 5m via US 90 and LA 308, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With a drive time under five hours, this route is easily manageable as a single-day excursion.
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
107.3 miles from Larose, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 90
95.4 mi
1h 43m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
76.3 mi
1h 17m
LA 308
14.4 mi
20m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10.2 mi
11m
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
6 mi
9m
Highway 1
3 mi
4m
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
2.7 mi
3m
South Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 90
— 95.4 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Larose, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on East Avenue A
255 ft·20 sec·East Avenue A
2
Turn left onto LA 657
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto LA 308
14 mi·20 min·LA 308
4
Turn left onto LA 654
362 ft·1 min·LA 654
5
Turn right onto LA 1
3.0 mi·4 min·Highway 1
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward US 90 West: Morgan City
7
Merge onto US 90
95 mi·1 hr 43 min·US 90
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·14 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.4 mi·24 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.4 mi·28 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·15 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1
0.2 mi·13 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
13
Take the exit onto LA 92-1
0.1 mi·21 sec·Young Street
14
Continue on LA 92-1
0.3 mi·38 sec·Young Street
15
Turn right onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi·3 min·St Etienne Road
16
At end of road, turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Fairfield Drive
17
Turn left onto LA 3073
1.5 mi·2 min·Ambassador Caffery Parkway
18
Turn right onto South Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·South Morgan Avenue
19
Turn right onto US 90; LA 182
0.2 mi·13 sec·Southwest Evangeline Thruway
20
Keep slight left at fork
158 ft·7 sec
21
Turn left onto US 90; LA 182
2.5 mi·2 min·Southwest Evangeline Thruway
22
Continue on US 90; LA 182
6.0 mi·9 min·Southeast Evangeline Thruway
23
Continue on I 49; LA 182
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
24
Continue on I 49; US 167
76 mi·1 hr 17 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
26
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·10th Street
27
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Murray Street
28
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, you can comfortably depart in the morning and arrive in Alexandria with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 214.5 miles, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as the $33 fuel estimate is based on the entire trip. The flexibility of this shorter drive means you can depart whenever is most convenient for you.
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 107.3 miles from Larose, LA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.4 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 47 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.3 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Larose, 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 Larose, LA
This is one driving day of about 214.5 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Larose, 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 US 90 for about 95.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 213.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 657 / East Main Street
Turn left onto LA 657 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
18 mi into trip|~27m in
Turn left toward US 90 West: Morgan City
Navigation decision point
Toward US 90 West: Morgan City
5
115.1 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
120.2 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
213.7 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.78 one way
$59.55 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$33.32
$66.63
premium
$4.29
$36.22
$72.44
diesel
$4.80
$40.50
$81.00
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
(6 mi)$0.42
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
(2.5 mi)$0.17
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
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75 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
64.4
0
$22.52
$10.30
Efficient EV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
EV Truck/SUV
85.8
1
$30.03
$13.73
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Larose, LA
Late night
in Larose on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph5% 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
Alexandria, LA
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
0 mph2% 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
19 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
4h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 58% highway, meaning you'll see a good portion of faster-paced travel, but also plenty of surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on highways is 95.4 miles on US 90. You'll transition from highway speeds to more varied surface road conditions. Expect to notice a change in traffic patterns and speed limits as you move between these road types.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.4 mi on US 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near LA 657 / East Main Street.
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 214.5 miles you will encounter 21 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: near the start (LA 657 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Navigation decision point; at 115.1 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
Top landmarks
•Arna Wendell Bontemps House — historic house in Louisiana, United States
•Bolton High School — high school in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 214.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.4 miles on US 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 in tolls one way, starting with Southeast 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.
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: near the start (LA 657 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 18 miles: Navigation decision point; at 115.1 miles (US 90; LA 92-1 / Veterans Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Alexandria, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
