Origin
Leonville, LA
Morning in Leonville on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leonville, LA to Shreveport, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
199 mi
320 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leonville, LA
Vika Glitter
Shreveport, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 199-mile drive from Leonville to Shreveport, Louisiana, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 3 hours and 33 minutes. You'll primarily travel on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 31, with a smaller portion on Caddo Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Southeast region of Louisiana. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
99.5 miles from Leonville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway | 187.4 mi | 3h 11m |
| State Route 31 | 7.7 mi | 13m |
| Caddo Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Pete Harris Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Cresswell Lane | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Creswell Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 187.4 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leonville, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on LA 3254
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Oscar Rivette Street
2
Continue on LA 31
7.0 mi
·
12 min
·
State Route 31
3
Continue on LA 31
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 31
4
Continue on LA 31
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Cresswell Lane
5
Continue on LA 31
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Creswell Lane
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
7
Merge onto I 49; US 167
187 mi
·
3 hr 11 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
9
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pete Harris Drive
10
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Caddo Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
12
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft
·
1 sec
·
River Parkway
13
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 33 minute estimated duration, departing Leonville in the morning is ideal for a single-day trip to Shreveport. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan this break to coincide with roughly the halfway point of your 199-mile journey. With a fuel cost around $30, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is advisable, especially during the longest stretch of 187.4 miles on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This route's turn-heavy nature means staying focused on navigation is key to a smooth arrival.
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 99.5 miles from Leonville, LA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.4 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.5 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shreveport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leonville, 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 Leonville, LA
This is one driving day of about 199 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Leonville, 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 187.4 miles.
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.5 miles from Leonville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 187.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 8.4 and 198.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
3
8.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
Merge onto I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
196 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
4
197.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
|
LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
3
198.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.05 one way
$60.11 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $32.99 | $65.98 |
| premium | $4.56 | $35.72 | $71.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.94 | $87.87 |
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: 69.6 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 | $20.89 | $9.55 |
| Efficient EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.41 | $7.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.86 | $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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Morning in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph
11% chance
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
28 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 33m 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 116.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only a 4% highway share. The majority of your travel, a substantial 187.4 miles, will be on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This means you'll experience a more engaging driving experience with frequent changes in direction and potentially slower speeds as you navigate local roads. It’s less of a high-speed interstate cruise and more of an exploration of Louisiana's landscape.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 187.4 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Leonville, LA to Shreveport, LA is easy. At 3h 33m with 4% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 196 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Shreveport, LA
Full guide →Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities. The surrounding area is also a contrast from points in southern Louisiana, in that the landscape is marked by rolling hills and pine forests, being an extension of the Texas region known as the Piney Woods.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 199 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 187.4 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 8.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 196 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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