This straightforward 116-mile drive from Sterlington to Shreveport, Louisiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes. The route is almost entirely highway, with 99% of the journey on interstates and major roads, making it a quick and efficient passage through the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this drive is budget-friendly for a day excursion. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Louisiana cities without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.1 miles from Sterlington, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
99 mi
1h 48m
US 165
12.7 mi
14m
LA 2
2.1 mi
3m
Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
Old Highway 2
0.4 mi
1m
US 71
0.4 mi
<1m
Crockett Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Old Sterlington Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 99 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterlington, LA and Shreveport, LA.
1
Start on Old Sterlington Road
115 ft·10 sec·Old Sterlington Road
2
Turn left onto LA 553
0.4 mi·1 min·Old Highway 2
3
At end of road, turn right onto LA 2
2.1 mi·3 min·LA 2
4
Take the ramp
421 ft·11 sec
5
Merge onto US 165
13 mi·14 min·US 165
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
7
Merge onto I 20
99 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 20
8
Take the exit onto US 71
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 North, LA 1: Market Street, Spring Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
0.3 mi·46 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 North, LA 1 North: Spring Street
10
Turn right onto Crockett Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Crockett Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
12
Turn slight right onto River Parkway
68 ft·1 sec·River Parkway
13
Arrive at destination
River Parkway
Trip Plan
Given its short duration and highway-centric nature, this 116-mile drive from Sterlington to Shreveport offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, as it's well within the range for a single day's travel, with an estimated fuel cost of $18. While there are no specific recommended stops mentioned, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 99 miles on I-20, to ensure you don't need to detour for a gas station. Planning to leave in the morning will give you ample time to reach Shreveport and still have the day ahead of you.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.1 miles from Sterlington, LA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.1 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
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 Sterlington, 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 Sterlington, LA
This is one driving day of about 116.1 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Sterlington, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 99 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 0.5 and 115.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 2
At end of road, turn right onto LA 2
Navigation decision point
5
114.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward US 71 North, LA 1: Market Street, Spring Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 North, LA 1: Market Street, Spring...
7
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward US 71 North, LA 1 North: Spring Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 North, LA 1 North: Spring Street
5
115.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Crockett Street
Turn right onto Crockett Street
Navigation decision point
5
115.3 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.53 one way
$35.07 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.25
$38.50
premium
$4.56
$20.84
$41.68
diesel
$5.61
$25.63
$51.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.19
$5.57
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.16
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.25
$7.43
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Sterlington, LA
Late night
in Sterlington on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Late night
in Shreveport on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
55°F
Arcadia, LA
58 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
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
2h 11m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this 116-mile trip. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major roadways, including I-20 and US-165. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 99 miles on I-20, indicating a predominantly fast-paced drive. This route offers little in the way of winding backroads, instead prioritizing direct travel between your origin and destination within Louisiana.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 165. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near LA 2.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m 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 0.5 miles (LA 2): Navigation decision point; at 114.7 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.8 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 99 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (LA 2): Navigation decision point; at 114.7 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.8 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shreveport, LA before heading back.
