Traveling from Slidell to Shreveport covers 337.4 miles across the state of Louisiana. Expect a driving time of approximately 4 hours and 58 minutes, making this a manageable journey to complete in a single day. You will navigate through the Southeast region, transitioning from the Slidell area toward the northwestern part of the state. Budgeting about $46 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive is under five hours, you can comfortably tackle it in one go, though planning for at least one stop will help keep you refreshed for the full distance.
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
167.9 miles from Slidell, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
West Florida Republic Parkway
80.3 mi
1h 26m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
I 10
7.5 mi
9m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Gause Boulevard West
3 mi
4m
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
Traffic on I-12
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 2 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,067 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~225 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 18 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Slidell, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Bouscaren Street
220 ft·15 sec·Bouscaren Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·3rd Street
3
Turn left onto US 190 Business
0.1 mi·21 sec·Fremaux Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Front Street
5
Turn left onto US 190
3.0 mi·4 min·Gause Boulevard West
6
Turn right onto Northshore Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Northshore Boulevard
7
Continue on Airport Road
0.3 mi·28 sec·Airport Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
9
Merge onto I 12
80 mi·1 hr 26 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10
3.6 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
17
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
19
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
20
Turn right onto LA 173
0.9 mi·2 min·Caddo Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.5 mi·56 sec·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
22
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
23
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this nearly five-hour trek, prioritize leaving early in the day to avoid fatigue on these technical local roads. Since your route relies entirely on local streets rather than highways, keep a close eye on your navigation to stay on track through the various turns. Incorporating at least one planned stop is essential to maintain your focus, especially given the constant steering required by the road's profile. Use the $46 fuel estimate as a baseline for your budget, but consider keeping a little extra set aside for local fluctuations. Because the route is turn-heavy, double-check your vehicle's tire pressure before departing to ensure optimal handling on the local streets.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 167.9 miles from Slidell, LA, or about 3h 16m 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 74 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.9 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
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 Slidell, 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 Slidell, LA
This is one driving day of about 335.7 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Slidell, 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 and 332.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
6
332.8 mi into trip|~6h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.60 one way
$93.20 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$52.14
$104.28
premium
$4.29
$56.69
$113.37
diesel
$4.80
$63.39
$126.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.7
1
$35.25
$16.11
Efficient EV
83.9
0
$29.37
$13.43
EV Truck/SUV
134.3
1
$47.00
$21.48
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Slidell, LA
Night
in Slidell on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Mostly Sunny
W 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:11PM CDT until July 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Night
in Shreveport on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:11PM CDT until July 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles 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
4 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
6h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 254.7
Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique experience behind the wheel, as this route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a standard highway cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending your time on monotonous interstates; instead, you'll be navigating local thoroughfares like 3rd Street, Fremaux Avenue, and Front Street. Be prepared for constant adjustments, as the longest stretch without a turn is 0 miles on 3rd Street. This setup demands your full attention, offering a much more hands-on driving experience than a typical high-speed commute.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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?
9/10
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 early in the drive near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 335.7 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: near the start (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 89.2 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
194 ft6 ft
Total Climb
228 ft
Total Descent
52 ft
Highest Point
194 ft
~311.8 mi in
Elevation Range
188 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Slidell is a small city in St. Tammany Parish, one of the Florida Parishes of Louisiana.
Named after the statesman, John Slidell, this town is a growing suburb of the New Orleans area. Since Hurricane Katrina, Slidell and its surrounding areas have seen a tremendous population surge.
Top landmarks
•Slidell — Amtrak rail station in Slidell, Louisiana, United States
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 10m. Total distance: 335.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 89.2 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shreveport, LA before the return drive.
