If you are planning a trip from Maryland to Ville Platte, you can expect a manageable 77.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 44 minutes. This route is best suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion, allowing you to easily complete the drive in a single day. You will traverse through the Southeast region of Louisiana, staying strictly on local roads like Scotland Avenue, Scenic Highway, and Airline Highway. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the round trip. Since this is a straightforward drive with no mandatory stops, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Maryland, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Airline Highway
54.5 mi
1h 10m
US 167
16.2 mi
24m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
3.2 mi
3m
Scotland Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
Scenic Highway
1.1 mi
1m
North Chataignier Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Airline Highway
— 54.5 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryland, LA and Ville Platte, LA.
1
Start on this road
86 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto LA 19
1.6 mi·3 min·Scotland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 61
1.1 mi·1 min·Scenic Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
5
Merge onto US 190
54 mi·1 hr 10 min·Airline Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
7
Merge onto I 49; US 167
3.2 mi·3 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
8
Take the exit onto US 167
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 167
Toward US 167 North, LA 744: Ville Platte
9
Turn left onto US 167
16 mi·23 min·US 167
10
Turn left onto LA 29 Spur
460 ft·9 sec·North Chataignier Street
11
Arrive at destination
LA 29 Spur
Trip Plan
Since the 1 hour and 44-minute duration is relatively short, you don't need to worry about complex pacing or multiple rest stops. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain a steady pace on these local roads. Because you are navigating turn-heavy surface streets, pay close attention to your navigation prompts as you transition between Scotland Avenue, Scenic Highway, and Airline Highway. With no formal stops planned, keep a water bottle and snacks in the car to stay comfortable throughout the drive. A concrete tip for this trip is to double-check your fuel levels before leaving, as sticking to local roads means you won't have the convenience of frequent highway service plazas.
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 38.5 miles from Maryland, LA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 51m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ville Platte, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Maryland, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maryland, LA
This is one driving day of about 77.1 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Maryland, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Airline Highway for about 54.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 19 / Scotland Avenue
Turn left onto LA 19 / Scotland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge onto US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
57.4 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
5
60.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 North, LA 744: Ville Platte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 North, LA 744: Ville Platte
4
77 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|LA 29 Spur / North Chataignier Street
Turn left onto LA 29 Spur / North Chataignier Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.64 one way
$23.29 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.78
$25.56
premium
$4.56
$13.84
$27.68
diesel
$5.61
$17.02
$34.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.10
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.75
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.79
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Maryland, LA
Morning
in Maryland on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ville Platte, LA
Morning
in Ville Platte on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
24 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
1h 44m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Because this route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface streets and local thoroughfares for the entire 77.1 miles. The path relies on a combination of Scotland Avenue, Scenic Highway, and Airline Highway, which requires you to stay alert through various turns and intersections. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches of open road, the driving experience is characterized by constant movement through the regional landscape. It is a practical, no-frills route that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed travel.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Airline 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 early in the drive near LA 19 / Scotland Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Maryland, LA to Ville Platte, LA is easy. At 1h 44m with 21% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (LA 19 / Scotland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 77.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Airline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (LA 19 / Scotland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ville Platte, LA before heading back.
