Ossun to Shreveport is 212.1 miles and takes about 3 hours 47 minutes via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more connected-to-the-ground feel than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
106 miles from Ossun, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
197.8 mi
3h 22m
North University Avenue
4.7 mi
7m
West Gloria Switch Road
4 mi
7m
State Route 93
1.6 mi
2m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Veterans Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 197.8 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ossun, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on LA 723
19 ft·6 sec·Wyman Road
2
Turn left onto LA 93
1.6 mi·2 min·State Route 93
3
Enter roundabout onto LA 98
25 ft·0 sec·West Gloria Switch Road
4
Continue on LA 98
1.4 mi·2 min·West Gloria Switch Road
5
Keep slight left at fork onto West Gloria Switch Road
226 ft·5 sec·West Gloria Switch Road
6
Enter roundabout onto West Gloria Switch Road
135 ft·2 sec·West Gloria Switch Road
7
Continue on West Gloria Switch Road
2.5 mi·4 min·West Gloria Switch Road
8
Turn left onto LA 182
4.7 mi·7 min·North University Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
10
Merge onto I 49; US 167
0.5 mi·32 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
11
Continue on I 49; US 167
198 mi·3 hr 22 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
13
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
14
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
16
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
17
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip that takes under 4 hours, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Shreveport with daylight to spare. Plan for one stop along the 212.1-mile route to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. The fuel cost is estimated at $30, so ensure you have enough for the trip and any potential detours. Since the majority of this drive is on surface roads, pay close attention to posted speed limits and traffic signals, especially when passing through towns on North University Avenue and West Gloria Switch Road.
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 106 miles from Ossun, LA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.8 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 1h 55m 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 5m
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 Ossun, 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 Ossun, LA
This is one driving day of about 212.1 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Ossun, 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 197.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 209.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 93 / State Route 93
Turn left onto LA 93 / State Route 93
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|LA 98 / West Gloria Switch Road
Enter roundabout onto LA 98 / West Gloria Switch Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
3 mi into trip|~5m in|West Gloria Switch Road
Keep slight left at fork onto West Gloria Switch Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|West Gloria Switch Road
Enter roundabout onto West Gloria Switch Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
209.1 mi into trip|~3h 41m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.81 one way
$57.62 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$32.15
$64.30
premium
$4.15
$34.65
$69.31
diesel
$3.75
$31.31
$62.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.6
0
$22.27
$10.18
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.56
$8.48
EV Truck/SUV
84.8
1
$29.69
$13.57
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Ossun, LA
Morning
in Ossun on Sunday
Local time
8:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
NE 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Morning
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
8:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
89°F
Alexandria, LA
106 mi in
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
1 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
3h 47m 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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 131.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with 100% of the route on these types of streets. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 197.8 miles along Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. You'll primarily be navigating through North University Avenue and West Gloria Switch Road, which means you can expect frequent intersections and changes in speed limits as you pass through various communities. This isn't a high-speed, limited-access highway experience.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.8 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near LA 93 / State Route 93.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 47m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (LA 93 / State Route 93): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (LA 98 / West Gloria Switch Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3 miles (West Gloria Switch Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Top landmarks
•Petroleum Tower — 16-story high-rise office building located at 425 Edwards Street at the corner o...
•Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium — theater and meeting hall in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
•Strand Theatre — theater in Shreveport, Louisiana
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 197.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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: near the start (LA 93 / State Route 93): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (LA 98 / West Gloria Switch Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3 miles (West Gloria Switch Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
