If you are planning a trip from Waggaman to Alexandria, you are looking at a straightforward 203.4-mile journey across Southeast Louisiana. Expect to spend about 4 hours behind the wheel, making this a very manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-10, the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, and State Route 1. With fuel costs estimated at around $31, the drive is budget-friendly for a solo traveler or a small group. Since the entire route stays within the state, you can anticipate a consistent travel experience as you move from the Southeast region toward your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you where you need to be efficiently.
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
101.7 miles from Waggaman, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
74.7 mi
1h 24m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
64.9 mi
1h 5m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
LA 3152
3.8 mi
7m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
LA 18
2.6 mi
3m
River Road
2.3 mi
4m
Murray Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waggaman, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on Gambino Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Gambino Road
2
Turn left onto Avondale Garden Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Avondale Garden Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto LA 18
2.3 mi·4 min·River Road
4
Take the ramp onto LA 18
2.6 mi·3 min·LA 18
5
Continue on LA 3152
3.8 mi·7 min·LA 3152
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
8
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
15
Merge onto I 49; US 167
65 mi·1 hr 5 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
17
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·10th Street
18
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Murray Street
19
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive stress-free, aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the interstate segments. Since the trip takes 4 hours, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the data suggests this is a comfortable pace for a single-day excursion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 74.7-mile stretch on I-10, as service intervals can vary. Because this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preferences without worrying about an exhausting itinerary. Always double-check your route map before merging onto State Route 1 to ensure you stay on the most direct path to Alexandria.
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 101.7 miles from Waggaman, LA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 45 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.7 miles or 2h 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 3h 22m
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 Waggaman, 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 Waggaman, LA
This is one driving day of about 203.4 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Waggaman, 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 I 10 for about 74.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.7 and 84.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.7 mi into trip|~18m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
5
84.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway
Merge onto LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.72 one way
$61.44 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.72
$67.44
premium
$4.56
$36.51
$73.02
diesel
$5.61
$44.91
$89.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61
0
$21.36
$9.76
Efficient EV
50.9
0
$17.80
$8.14
EV Truck/SUV
81.4
1
$28.48
$13.02
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Waggaman, LA
Morning
in Waggaman on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Morning
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
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
4 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
4h 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.
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 64% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 74.7 miles while on I-10, which provides a steady, high-speed pace for the first leg of your journey. As you transition onto the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 1, the character of the road shifts, offering a mix of interstate transit and local highway driving. You won't find yourself constantly stopping, as the route is designed for efficiency rather than frequent detours. Overall, the road surface and flow remain predictable, allowing you to settle into a comfortable rhythm for the duration of the 4-hour trek.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort10/10
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 14 significant decision points across 203.4 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: at 9.7 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.5 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 203.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on I 10. 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.
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 Alexandria, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.7 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.5 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Alexandria, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
