Traveling from Leesville to Bossier City covers approximately 118.3 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of Louisiana. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a direct path between the two cities without the need for complex planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60 miles from Leesville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
56.9 mi
59m
Hammond Street
20.9 mi
24m
Natchitoches Highway
14.1 mi
16m
Shreveport Highway
11.1 mi
13m
LA 485
10.4 mi
14m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.5 mi
2m
North 5th Street
1.2 mi
1m
Martin Luther King Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 56.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leesville, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on East Texas Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·East Texas Street
2
Turn right onto US 171; LA 8
1.2 mi·1 min·North 5th Street
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 171; LA 8
412 ft·5 sec·North 5th Street
4
Enter roundabout onto US 171
182 ft·2 sec·Shreveport Highway
5
Continue on US 171
11 mi·13 min·Shreveport Highway
6
Continue on US 171
21 mi·24 min·Hammond Street
7
Continue on Fisher Road
0.4 mi·45 sec·Fisher Road
8
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
9
Turn right onto LA 6
0.3 mi·21 sec·San Antonio Avenue
10
Continue on LA 6
14 mi·16 min·Natchitoches Highway
11
Turn left onto LA 485
10 mi·14 min·LA 485
12
Continue on LA 485
0.3 mi·37 sec·State Route 485
13
Turn left
0.4 mi·54 sec
14
Merge onto I 49
57 mi·59 min·I 49
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
Since this is a two-hour trip without any mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to plan your departure time based purely on your personal preference. Keep in mind that because you are traveling on local roads rather than major interstates, traffic patterns can shift, so check your navigation app before pulling out of Leesville. Budgeting about $16 for gas should keep you covered for the entire 118.3-mile distance. If you prefer a smoother ride, try to avoid peak local traffic hours to minimize stop-and-go driving on the Shreveport Highway. Since the drive is under two hours, you can easily complete it in one go without needing to schedule formal breaks along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60 miles from Leesville, LA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
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 Leesville, 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 Leesville, LA
This is one driving day of about 120 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Leesville, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 56.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 120 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 171; LA 8 / North 5th Street
Turn right onto US 171; LA 8 / North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|US 171 / Shreveport Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 171 / Shreveport Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
117 mi into trip|~2h 13m 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
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
5
120 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|Monroe Street
Turn left onto Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.12 one way
$36.25 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.89
$39.79
premium
$4.56
$21.54
$43.08
diesel
$5.61
$26.49
$52.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.80
$7.68
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Leesville, LA
Late night
in Leesville on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Late night
in Bossier City on Tuesday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
2h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route contains no highway mileage. You will navigate primarily via North 5th Street, Shreveport Highway, and Hammond Street to reach your destination. Because the journey relies on local roads, there is no single long-distance stretch of high-speed pavement; in fact, the longest stretch on North 5th Street is 0 miles of uninterrupted highway. Stay alert, as the constant turns require more active focus than a standard freeway commute. You will find that the road maintains a consistent local feel from start to finish.
56% 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: 56.9 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 171; LA 8 / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 120 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (US 171; LA 8 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 171 / Shreveport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2h 19m. Total distance: 120 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.9 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 171; LA 8 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 171 / Shreveport Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bossier City, LA before heading back.
