Origin
Natchitoches, LA
Late night in Natchitoches on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Natchitoches, 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
1h 25m
Distance
76.2 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Natchitoches, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Shreveport, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 76.2-mile drive from Natchitoches, LA to Shreveport, LA takes approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical choice for a single-day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, making it a quick and efficient journey. You'll be spending about 95% of your time on major roads, with the longest stretch covering 67.7 miles on I-49. This trip is ideal for a day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Traveling within the Southeast region of Louisiana, this drive offers a simple transition between two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 67.7 mi | 1h 10m |
| University Parkway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Caddo Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Pete Harris Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Rue Front | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 67.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Natchitoches, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on LA 6 Bus
492 ft
·
8 sec
·
Rue Front
2
Continue on LA 6 Bus
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Jefferson Street
3
Turn right onto LA 6 Bus
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
University Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 49 North: Shreveport
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 49
68 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 49
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
7
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pete Harris Drive
8
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Caddo Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
10
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft
·
1 sec
·
River Parkway
11
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from Natchitoches, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 49 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.7 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 74.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
LA 6 Bus / University Parkway
Turn right onto LA 6 Bus / University Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 49 North: Shreveport
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 49 North: Shreveport
3
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 49
Merge onto I 49
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
74.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.51 one way
$23.02 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.63 | $25.27 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.68 | $27.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.82 | $33.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 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 | 22.9 | 0 | $8.00 | $3.66 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.67 | $3.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.67 | $4.88 |
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.
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Late night in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Mansfield, LA
38 mi in
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 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 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for the majority of this 76.2-mile trip, with 95% of the journey on major roads. The primary thoroughfare is I-49, which you'll navigate for a significant 67.7-mile stretch without interruption. This focus on high-speed travel means the drive is generally direct and efficient. While the road is predominantly interstate, you'll utilize University Parkway and Caddo Street as you approach Shreveport. The character remains consistently geared towards quick transit rather than scenic exploration.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.7 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and University Parkway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near LA 6 Bus / University Parkway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Natchitoches, LA to Shreveport, LA is easy. At 1h 25m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (LA 6 Bus / University Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 49): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 1h 25m. Total distance: 76.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.7 miles on I 49. 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: at 0.7 miles (LA 6 Bus / University Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles (I 49): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shreveport, LA before heading back.
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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