If you are planning a trip from Springhill to Alexandria, prepare for a 161.3-mile journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes to complete. This route is best suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to manage without an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $25 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Louisiana towns. Because the path relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you will experience a more rural, direct connection across the state. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes local access, making it a practical choice for those who prefer avoiding heavy traffic corridors.
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
85 miles from Springhill, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
120.3 mi
2h 3m
Highway 3
18.9 mi
26m
Highway 157
14.5 mi
19m
Benton Road
6.3 mi
9m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Plain Dealing Road
1.5 mi
2m
Hamilton Road
1 mi
2m
Hickory Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 120.3 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springhill, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on this road
212 ft·17 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right
68 ft·7 sec
3
Turn right onto LA 157
0.3 mi·42 sec·Butler Street
4
Continue on LA 157
1.5 mi·2 min·Plain Dealing Road
5
Continue on LA 157
15 mi·19 min·Highway 157
6
Continue on LA 157
0.8 mi·1 min·Hickory Drive
7
Turn slight left onto LA 157
381 ft·11 sec·North Magnolia Street
8
Turn right onto LA 2
0.5 mi·40 sec·East Mary Lee Street
9
Turn left
162 ft·9 sec
10
At end of road, turn left onto LA 3
0.6 mi·1 min·South Louisiana Street
11
Continue on LA 3
19 mi·26 min·Highway 3
12
Continue on LA 3
6.3 mi·9 min·Benton Road
13
Turn slight right
238 ft·8 sec
14
Turn straight onto Walter O. Bigby Carriageway
0.6 mi·1 min·Walter O. Bigby Carriageway
15
Enter roundabout onto Walter O Bigby Carriageway
156 ft·4 sec·Walter O Bigby Carriageway
16
Continue on Walter O Bigby Carriageway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Walter O Bigby Carriageway
17
Enter roundabout onto Hamilton Road
222 ft·5 sec·Hamilton Road
18
Continue on Hamilton Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Hamilton Road
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
20
Merge onto I 20; US 71
1.9 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
21
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
22
Continue on I 49
120 mi·2 hr 3 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward Elliott Street, Downtown Alexandria
24
Continue on Thorn Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·Thorn Road
25
Turn left onto US 165 BUS
0.4 mi·1 min·Jackson Street
26
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·4th Street
27
Turn left onto Murray Street
159 ft·6 sec·Murray Street
28
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly three-hour drive. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy, as it provides maximum flexibility to navigate the turn-heavy local roads during daylight hours. Since you are relying exclusively on local routes like Highway 157, be prepared for varying speed limits and local traffic patterns that you wouldn't encounter on a major thoroughfare. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, ensuring your $25 budget is ready for a quick pit stop along the way. Using these local roads allows for a more authentic, unhurried pace, so take advantage of the flexibility by building in extra time for your single planned stop.
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 85 miles from Springhill, LA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.3 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 37 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 49m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springhill, 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 Springhill, LA
This is one driving day of about 170 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Springhill, 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 120.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 169.9 — 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
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 157 / Butler Street
Turn right onto LA 157 / Butler Street
Navigation decision point
6
44.5 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|Hamilton Road
Enter roundabout onto Hamilton Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
168.8 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward Elliott Street, Downtown Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Elliott Street, Downtown Alexandria
5
169.9 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|Murray Street
Turn left onto Murray Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.67 one way
$51.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.18
$56.37
premium
$4.56
$30.51
$61.03
diesel
$5.61
$37.53
$75.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.80
$10.88
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Springhill, LA
Night
in Springhill on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Night
in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route consists of 0% highway driving, relying instead on Butler Street, Plain Dealing Road, and Highway 157. The lack of high-speed lanes means you will be navigating shifting landscapes at a more moderate, steady pace. Since the profile is defined by its winding, local nature, you should anticipate constant adjustments and a more hands-on driving experience. This is not a route for cruise control; it is a trek that requires you to stay engaged with the road's changing direction.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.3 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Springhill, LA to Alexandria, LA is easy. At 3h 18m with 20% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (LA 157 / Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (Hamilton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
The longest stretch is about 120.3 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.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (LA 157 / Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (Hamilton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Alexandria, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
