Traveling from Port Barre to Shreveport covers 196.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is well within the limits of a single day, you can easily complete it in one trip without needing an overnight stay. You will traverse the Southeast region of Louisiana, relying on local roads like Saizan Avenue and Frisco Street to navigate your way north. Budgeting approximately $30 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since you will be making one planned stop, the pace remains manageable for most drivers looking for a direct route between these two points.
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
98.4 miles from Port Barre, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
Frisco Street
6.1 mi
7m
Saizan Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi
<1m
River Parkway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Barre, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on LA 103
1.1 mi·1 min·Saizan Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 190; LA 103
6.1 mi·7 min·Frisco Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
4
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
6
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
7
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
9
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
10
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 26-minute duration, plan to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours in Shreveport. Since this is a turn-heavy route without the benefit of interstate highways, keep a close watch on your navigation to ensure you stay on track through the various local road transitions. You only have one stop scheduled, so pace yourself accordingly to avoid fatigue during the long 186.3-mile stretch on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Having your $30 fuel budget ready before you leave will help you maintain a smooth flow throughout the trip. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use your single stop strategically to stretch your legs and refresh before the final leg of the drive.
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 98.4 miles from Port Barre, LA, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.3 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 43 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.4 miles or 1h 42m 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 46m
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 Port Barre, 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 Port Barre, LA
This is one driving day of about 196.8 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Port Barre, 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 186.3 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 1.1 and 195.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 190; LA 103 / Frisco Street
Turn right onto US 190; LA 103 / Frisco Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.2 mi into trip|~9m 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
3
7.5 mi into trip|~9m in|I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
Merge onto I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
193.8 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
195.4 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|LA 173 / Caddo Street
Turn right onto LA 173 / Caddo Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.72 one way
$59.44 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.63
$65.25
premium
$4.56
$35.32
$70.65
diesel
$5.61
$43.45
$86.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59
0
$20.66
$9.45
Efficient EV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
EV Truck/SUV
78.7
0
$27.55
$12.60
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 12, 2026
Origin
Port Barre, LA
Night
in Port Barre on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Night
in Shreveport on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 mph4% 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
3 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 26m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend the vast majority of your time—186.3 miles to be exact—traveling along the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This stretch defines the character of your journey, requiring your full attention as you navigate through local corridors. Because the route avoids major interstates, the driving experience feels more grounded and connected to the local landscape. Be prepared for a consistent, hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed transit.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.3 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson 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 around 1.1 miles in near US 190; LA 103 / Frisco Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Port Barre, LA to Shreveport, LA is easy. At 3h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 190; LA 103 / Frisco Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles (I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
The longest stretch is about 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1.1 miles (US 190; LA 103 / Frisco Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.5 miles (I 49; US 167 / Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
