Shenandoah to Shreveport is 258.8 miles and takes about 4h 50m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, taking you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a route with numerous turns, so keep your attention on the road. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily complete this trip and have time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.4 miles from Shenandoah, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
I 10
7.5 mi
9m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Coursey Boulevard
3.4 mi
6m
West Florida Republic Parkway
3 mi
3m
Caddo Street
0.9 mi
2m
Pete Harris Drive
0.8 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 Shenandoah, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Antioch Boulevard
0.2 mi·40 sec·Antioch Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Chadsford Avenue
497 ft·17 sec·Chadsford Avenue
3
Turn right onto Kennesaw Drive
0.3 mi·52 sec·Kennesaw Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto George O'Neal Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·George O'Neal Road
5
Continue on George Oneal Road
0.6 mi·1 min·George Oneal Road
6
Continue on Coursey Boulevard
3.4 mi·6 min·Coursey Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on this road
174 ft·7 sec·this road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn right onto US 61
0.6 mi·59 sec·Airline Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·52 sec
Toward I 12 West: Baton Rouge
10
Merge onto I 12
3.0 mi·3 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
11
Merge onto I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
15
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
18
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
20
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
21
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
23
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
24
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
For this 258.8-mile drive, starting earlier in the day is recommended to maximize daylight, especially with the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. While you can complete this in one day, the 4h 50m duration allows for a relaxed pace. Plan for at least one stop to break up the journey and refuel, considering the $39 fuel cost estimate. Keep an eye out for State Route 1, as it will be a significant part of your navigation. The longest stretch on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway might be a good time for a longer driving segment before more frequent turns.
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 129.4 miles from Shenandoah, LA, or about 2h 35m 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 57 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.4 miles or 2h 35m 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 59m
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 Shenandoah, 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 Shenandoah, LA
This is one driving day of about 258.8 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Shenandoah, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 16.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|George O'Neal Road
At end of road, turn left onto George O'Neal Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
4.8 mi into trip|~10m in|US 61 / Airline Highway
Turn right onto US 61 / Airline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
12.3 mi into trip|~20m in|I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
16.2 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
16.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.08 one way
$78.17 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$42.91
$85.81
premium
$4.56
$46.45
$92.90
diesel
$5.61
$57.14
$114.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.6
0
$27.17
$12.42
Efficient EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.35
EV Truck/SUV
103.5
1
$36.23
$16.56
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Shenandoah, LA
Morning
in Shenandoah on Sunday
Local time
11:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Morning
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
11:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Broussard, LA
129 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
27 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
4h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 178.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a fair number of changes in direction. Only 23% of the journey is on highways, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, offering a segment of more consistent travel before you get back to navigating local roads. Expect a dynamic drive with varied road conditions.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near George O'Neal Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 258.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (George O'Neal Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.8 miles (US 61 / Airline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 258.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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 Shreveport, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (George O'Neal Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.8 miles (US 61 / Airline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Shreveport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
