Shreveport to Port Allen is 246 miles and takes about 4h 32m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and US 190, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With most of the route on surface roads, expect a more local feel than a pure interstate trip. It's a straightforward drive, making it a solid option for a single-day transit.
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
123 miles from Shreveport, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m 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
LA 415 Spur
3.3 mi
4m
Court Street
2.1 mi
3m
North Common Street
1.4 mi
2m
Allen Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
River Parkway
0.5 mi
1m
Caddo Street
0.3 mi
<1m
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 Port Allen, 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
3.3 mi·4 min·LA 415 Spur
14
Turn left onto LA 76
2.1 mi·3 min·Court Street
15
Turn right onto South Alexander Avenue
43 ft·1 sec·South Alexander Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
South Alexander Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4h 32m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight, especially since it's designed for a single day. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the 246 miles. Given the significant portion of the drive on surface roads, pay attention to posted speed limits, as they can change frequently. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $36, local stations can vary in price, and it's wise to refuel before hitting longer stretches without services.
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 123 miles from Shreveport, LA, or about 2h 10m 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 54 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123 miles or 2h 10m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Allen, 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 246 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 191.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Airport Drive
Turn left onto Airport Drive
Navigation decision point
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.81 one way
$75.62 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$41.82
$83.64
premium
$4.65
$45.01
$90.01
diesel
$5.35
$51.81
$103.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.8
0
$25.83
$11.81
Efficient EV
61.5
0
$21.53
$9.84
EV Truck/SUV
98.4
1
$34.44
$15.74
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Shreveport, LA
Afternoon
in Shreveport on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:42PM CDT until June 3 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:35PM CDT until June 1 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Port Allen, LA
Afternoon
in Port Allen on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:42PM CDT until June 3 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:35PM CDT until June 1 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 32m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 84.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 22% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 186.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect frequent intersections and local traffic as you navigate through towns and rural areas.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Airport Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 246 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Airport Drive): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
183 ft23 ft
Total Climb
61 ft
Total Descent
218 ft
Highest Point
183 ft
~17.6 mi in
Elevation Range
160 ft
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 Port Allen, 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.
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
Port Allen is a town in the River Parishes region of Louisiana that sits directly across the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge and is the seat of West Baton Rouge Parish. It takes on a rather gritty and highly industrial character but has a few attractions.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 246 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
Yes — we found about 10 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: at 0.7 miles (Airport Drive): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Port Allen, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
