Traveling from Oakdale to Bossier City covers 161.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 59 minutes to complete. Because this journey fits comfortably into a single day, you can easily make the trip without needing an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $25 on fuel for the trek. The route primarily utilizes Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway, US 165, and Macarthur Drive to navigate between these two Southeast Louisiana locations. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, this straightforward trip offers a manageable pace for any driver.
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
80.9 miles from Oakdale, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
119.6 mi
2h 2m
US 165
34.4 mi
42m
Macarthur Drive
4.2 mi
7m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.5 mi
2m
East 6th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Monroe Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
— 119.6 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakdale, LA and Bossier City, LA.
1
Start on East 6th Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·East 6th Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 165
34 mi·42 min·US 165
3
Turn slight left onto Macarthur Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Macarthur Drive
4
Turn right
104 ft·6 sec
5
Turn left onto US 71; US 165
3.6 mi·5 min·Macarthur Drive
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 49 North: Shreveport
7
Merge onto I 49
120 mi·2 hr 2 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20: Dallas, Monroe
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
10
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Traffic Street
12
Continue on Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·36 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Monroe Street
78 ft·2 sec·Monroe Street
14
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. While you only need to account for one planned stop to keep your trip efficient, don't hesitate to take breaks whenever you feel the need. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on local roads means your travel time might fluctuate based on local traffic patterns, so check your GPS before you head out. A smart strategy is to fuel up before leaving Oakdale to ensure you have a comfortable buffer for the $25 estimated cost. Prioritize staying alert during the extensive 119.6-mile stretch on Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway to maintain a smooth pace.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.9 miles from Oakdale, LA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.6 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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.9 miles or 1h 33m 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 26m
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 Oakdale, 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 Oakdale, LA
This is one driving day of about 161.8 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Oakdale, 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 Martin Luther King, Jr Highway for about 119.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.2 and 161.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
35.2 mi into trip|~44m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
38.8 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Shreveport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 North: Shreveport
6
158.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
159 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
5
161.8 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|Monroe Street
Turn left onto Monroe Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.44 one way
$48.87 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.82
$53.65
premium
$4.56
$29.04
$58.08
diesel
$5.61
$35.72
$71.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.5
0
$16.99
$7.77
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.16
$6.47
EV Truck/SUV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.36
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 13, 2026
Origin
Oakdale, LA
Late night
in Oakdale on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
0 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bossier City, LA
Late night
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph37% chanceLive 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
2 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
2h 59m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 21% of this 161.8-mile journey consists of major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway, which spans 119.6 miles of the total distance. The transition between different road types creates a varied experience that feels quite different from a monotonous interstate cruise. Be prepared to adjust your speed frequently as the road conditions shift throughout the drive.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.6 mi on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in.
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 161.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 35.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 158.8 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 161.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.6 miles on Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 35.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 158.8 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.
