Connecting Ruston and Alexandria, this 93.9-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the heart of Louisiana. You should plan for about 2 hours behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting around $14 for fuel will cover your transit across the state’s interior. Navigating via East Lafayette Street, Winnfield Highway, and Quitman Highway keeps you on local roads rather than interstates. Since both cities reside within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic landscape throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Ruston, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Lafayette Street
47.4 mi
58m
Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi
27m
Quitman Highway
15.9 mi
18m
Main Street
4 mi
6m
South Vienna Street
2.7 mi
4m
South Hudson Avenue
1 mi
1m
South Trenton Street
0.4 mi
<1m
6th Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
East Lafayette Street
— 47.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruston, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on LA 146
0.1 mi·22 sec·East California Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 167
0.4 mi·45 sec·South Trenton Street
3
Merge onto US 167
2.7 mi·4 min·South Vienna Street
4
Continue on US 167
16 mi·18 min·Quitman Highway
5
Continue on US 167; LA 147
4.0 mi·6 min·Main Street
6
Continue on US 167
1.0 mi·1 min·South Hudson Avenue
7
Continue on US 167
22 mi·27 min·Winnfield Highway
8
Continue on US 84; US 167; LA 34
47 mi·58 min·East Lafayette Street
9
Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria
10
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·6th Street
11
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·Murray Street
12
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. While the drive is short enough to complete in one push, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, as the $14 estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Since you are sticking to local routes like Winnfield Highway, be prepared for varying speed limits and frequent turns compared to a standard highway haul. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your departure to avoid local rush hour traffic. Prioritize staying alert, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads requires consistent focus throughout the 93.9-mile stretch.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.9 miles from Ruston, LA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.4 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ruston, 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 Ruston, LA
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ruston, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Lafayette Street for about 47.4 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 93.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 167 / South Trenton Street
Turn left onto US 167 / South Trenton Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 167 / South Vienna Street
Merge onto US 167 / South Vienna Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus
Take the exit onto US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandri...
5
93.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
93.7 mi into trip|~2h in|Murray Street
Turn right onto Murray Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.18 one way
$28.36 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.57
$31.13
premium
$4.56
$16.85
$33.71
diesel
$5.61
$20.73
$41.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.86
$4.51
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Ruston, LA
Afternoon
in Ruston on Sunday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Afternoon
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
8 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 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.
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...
25 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 64.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a passive interstate cruise. Because this route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface roads for the entirety of the 93.9-mile distance. Your longest uninterrupted segment spans 47.4 miles along East Lafayette Street, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, requiring you to navigate various transitions between major thoroughfares. It is a practical, no-frills route that favors smaller, winding paths over high-speed transit.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.4 mi on East Lafayette Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 0.1 miles in near US 167 / South Trenton Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 2h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 167 / South Trenton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 167 / South Vienna Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 93.2 miles (US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.4 miles on East Lafayette Street. 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 0.1 miles (US 167 / South Trenton Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 167 / South Vienna Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 93.2 miles (US 167 Bus; LA 28 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Alexandria, LA before heading back.
