Oakdale to Houma is 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 40m via US 90, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a straightforward trip that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll cover a good portion of the distance on a single main road, simplifying navigation. This route is a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
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
86 miles from Oakdale, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 90
87.8 mi
1h 37m
West Main Street
25.1 mi
38m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
14.6 mi
15m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10.6 mi
11m
Oakdale Road
9.8 mi
14m
Vidrine Road
7.1 mi
10m
Oakdale Highway
4.4 mi
6m
State Route 10
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 90
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakdale, LA and Houma, LA.
1
Start on East 6th Avenue
133 ft·11 sec·East 6th Avenue
2
Continue on East 6th Avenue
0.2 mi·46 sec·East 6th Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 13th Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·South 13th Street
4
Continue on East 5th Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·East 5th Avenue
5
Turn left onto LA 10
3.6 mi·4 min·State Route 10
6
Continue on LA 10
2.9 mi·4 min·Oakdale Road
7
Continue on LA 10
3.6 mi·5 min·Oakdale Highway
8
Turn straight onto LA 10
3.2 mi·4 min·Oakdale Road
9
Continue on LA 10
0.7 mi·1 min·Oakdale Highway
10
Continue on LA 10
0.5 mi·48 sec·State Route 10
11
Continue on LA 10
3.6 mi·5 min·Oakdale Road
12
Continue on LA 10
7.1 mi·10 min·Vidrine Road
13
Continue on US 167; LA 10
0.1 mi·10 sec·Chemin Vidrine
14
Continue on US 167; LA 10
18 mi·27 min·West Main Street
15
Take the ramp onto US 167
0.4 mi·46 sec·US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
16
Merge onto I 49; US 167
15 mi·15 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
17
Continue on I 49; US 167
8.8 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Expressway
18
Continue on I 49; LA 182
2.2 mi·3 min·Northwest Evangeline Thruway
19
Continue on US 90; LA 182
6.1 mi·8 min·US 90; LA 182
20
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·North Morgan Avenue
21
Turn left onto LA 3073
1.5 mi·2 min·Ambassador Caffery Parkway
22
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Fairfield Drive
23
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1.0 mi·4 min·St Etienne Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1
0.6 mi·52 sec·Young Street
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1
0.5 mi·31 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·12 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·11 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.2 mi·14 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
0.8 mi·53 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 90
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
32
Keep slight right at fork
394 ft·9 sec
33
Turn straight onto LA 24
7.0 mi·11 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
34
Turn right onto LA 312
198 ft·10 sec·Lafayette Street
35
Turn left onto School Street
0.3 mi·1 min·School Street
36
Arrive at destination
School Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of under 4 hours, this is a very manageable one-day trip. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive in Houma with plenty of daylight to spare. Given the relatively short distance, you only need one stop. Plan to refuel before you leave Oakdale or around the halfway point, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 87.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on US 90, to ensure you don't need to search for a station in a less populated area.
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 86 miles from Oakdale, LA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 38 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houma, 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 172.1 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 US 90 for about 87.8 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South 13th Street
At end of road, turn right onto South 13th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 10 / State Route 10
Turn left onto LA 10 / State Route 10
Navigation decision point
5
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|LA 92-1 / Young Street
At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1 / Young Street
Navigation decision point
5
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 / Veterans Memorial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.99 one way
$51.98 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.53
$57.06
premium
$4.56
$30.89
$61.78
diesel
$5.61
$38.00
$76.00
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
Northwest Evangeline Thruway
(2.2 mi)$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.6
0
$18.07
$8.26
Efficient EV
43
0
$15.06
$6.88
EV Truck/SUV
68.8
0
$24.09
$11.01
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Oakdale, LA
Morning
in Oakdale on Sunday
Local time
11:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houma, LA
Morning
in Houma on Sunday
Local time
11:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
20 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 40m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 61% of the 172.1 miles on faster roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 87.8 miles on US 90 before transitioning to surface streets. The majority of your time will be spent cruising on this main highway. Be prepared for the change in pace as you move from highway speeds to navigating through towns on West Main Street and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.8 mi on US 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 90 and West Main Street. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 13th 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 172.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (LA 10 / State Route 10): Navigation decision point; at 80.2 miles (LA 92-1 / Young Street): Navigation decision point.
Houma is a small city (about 33,000 people in 2019, not including suburbs) in south central Louisiana. It is the seat and largest city in Terrebonne Parish, and the center of the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region in total is home to a little over 200,000.
Bayou Terrebonne runs through the town roughly east to west between Main Street and Park Avenue, with the Intracostal Waterway running north to south.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 172.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on US 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.15 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Evangeline Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Houma, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 13th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (LA 10 / State Route 10): Navigation decision point; at 80.2 miles (LA 92-1 / Young Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Houma, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
