Shreveport to West Ferriday is 185.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m via Purple Heart Recipients Highway and US 425, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you make your way east. This is a manageable one-day trip, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward drive across the state.
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
92.9 miles from Shreveport, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Shreveport, LA and West Ferriday, LA.
1
Start on River Parkway
0.5 mi·1 min·River Parkway
2
Continue on River Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·River Parkway
3
Turn straight onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
4
Turn right onto Milam Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Milam Street
5
Turn left onto US 71; LA 1
381 ft·15 sec·Market Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71; LA 1
0.2 mi·36 sec·Market Street
7
Take the ramp onto US 71
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 71
8
Merge onto I 20; US 71
118 mi·2 hr 9 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
10
Turn right onto US 425
63 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 425
11
Turn right onto LA 903
0.4 mi·59 sec·Kentucky Avenue
12
Continue on LA 903
0.9 mi·2 min·Doty Road
13
Turn right onto Abraham Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Abraham Road
14
Arrive at destination
Abraham Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 33m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this route in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for a leisurely pace and any unforeseen delays. With only one stop recommended, you'll want to make sure you're fueled up before you leave Shreveport, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 118.3 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 100-mile mark on Purple Heart Recipients Highway, and consider topping off before heading onto US 425.
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 92.9 miles from Shreveport, LA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.3 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 41 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.9 miles or 1h 45m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Ferriday, 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 185.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 Purple Heart Recipients Highway for about 118.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 184.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|US 71; LA 1 / Market Street
Turn left onto US 71; LA 1 / Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in|US 71; LA 1 / Market Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71; LA 1 / Market Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
121 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
4
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 425
Turn right onto US 425
Navigation decision point
4
184.5 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|LA 903 / Kentucky Avenue
Turn right onto LA 903 / Kentucky Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.57 one way
$57.15 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$31.60
$63.21
premium
$4.65
$34.01
$68.02
diesel
$5.35
$39.16
$78.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.8
0
$19.52
$8.92
Efficient EV
46.5
0
$16.27
$7.44
EV Truck/SUV
74.4
0
$26.03
$11.90
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Shreveport, LA
Afternoon
in Shreveport on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 27 at 5:02AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 27 at 2:28AM CDT until May 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
West Ferriday, LA
Afternoon
in West Ferriday on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Delhi, LA
93 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
19 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 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 121.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 35% of this 185.9-mile trip is on the highway. You'll experience the longest continuous stretch at 118.3 miles on Purple Heart Recipients Highway before transitioning to surface roads. Be prepared for a change in pace as you move from highway speeds to more local traffic. This route offers a mixed driving profile, so plan for varying speeds and road conditions.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.3 mi on Purple Heart Recipients Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near US 71; LA 1 / Market Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 33m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 71; LA 1 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 71; LA 1 / Market Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 121 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
366 ft55 ft
Total Climb
228 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
366 ft
~53.1 mi in
Elevation Range
311 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 West Ferriday, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald 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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.3 miles on Purple Heart Recipients Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 2.1 miles (US 71; LA 1 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (US 71; LA 1 / Market Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 121 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at West Ferriday, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
