This 292.4-mile drive from Shreveport, LA to Paulina, LA is a solid day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 27 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and US 190 before merging onto I-10. With a fuel cost estimated at $44, this journey through Louisiana's Southeast region offers a mixed driving experience. It's well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop, but be prepared for a substantial amount of time on the road.
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
146.2 miles from Shreveport, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186.4 mi
3h 10m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
I 10
35.2 mi
39m
Airline Highway
7.8 mi
9m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
North Airline Avenue
2.6 mi
5m
LA 44
1.9 mi
2m
North Common Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 186.4 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shreveport, LA and Paulina, LA.
1
Start on River Parkway
0.5 mi·1 min·River Parkway
2
Turn left onto Jack Wells Boulevard
0.1 mi·31 sec·Jack Wells Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Airport Drive
0.3 mi·39 sec·Airport Drive
4
Turn right onto North Common Street
1.4 mi·2 min·North Common Street
5
Turn right onto LA 173
0.3 mi·36 sec·Caddo Street
6
Continue on LA 173
0.1 mi·23 sec·Ford Street
7
Turn left onto Allen Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Allen Avenue
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
9
Continue on I 49
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
11
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
12
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
14
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
15
Merge onto I 10
35 mi·39 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 187Toward US 61 South: GramercyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 61
7.8 mi·9 min·Airline Highway
18
Turn right onto LA 3274
2.6 mi·5 min·North Airline Avenue
19
At end of road, turn right onto LA 44
1.9 mi·2 min·LA 44
20
Arrive at destination
LA 44
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 27-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Shreveport to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With one main stop suggested, you can comfortably break up the 292.4 miles. The Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway constitutes the longest stretch at 186.4 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before you get too far into that segment. Given the estimated $44 fuel cost, keep an eye on your gauge, especially as you transition between the different road types on this Southeast Louisiana 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 146.2 miles from Shreveport, LA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 64 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paulina, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA
This is one driving day of about 292.4 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Shreveport, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 186.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 279.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
5
190.6 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
5
191.1 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
6
191.1 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
279.7 mi into trip|~5h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 61 South: Gramercy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward US 61 South: Gramercy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.16 one way
$88.32 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$48.48
$96.95
premium
$4.56
$52.48
$104.96
diesel
$5.61
$64.56
$129.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.7
1
$30.70
$14.04
Efficient EV
73.1
0
$25.58
$11.70
EV Truck/SUV
117
1
$40.94
$18.71
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Shreveport, LA
Morning
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 15 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Paulina, LA
Morning
in Paulina on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
85°F
Alexandria, LA
146 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
12 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
5h 27m 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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 80.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience on this 292.4-mile route. While 31% of your journey will be on highways, you'll also encounter stretches of US 190, offering a different feel. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 186.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, meaning you'll have significant time on this particular road. The profile is best described as a mixed drive, transitioning between faster highway sections and potentially more local road segments as you progress toward Paulina.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 292.4 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 190.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Shreveport, LA to Paulina, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
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 5h 27m. Total distance: 292.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial 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 Paulina, 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 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 190.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paulina, LA before the return drive.
