How far is Central, LA from Ruston, LA?
The driving distance from Central, LA to Ruston, LA is about 223.1 miles (359 km), with a travel time of about 03h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 165.5 miles (266.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 39m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Central and Ruston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central and Ruston.
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1
Start on Hooper Road
16 m · 5 sec · Hooper Road
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2
Turn right onto Sullivan Road
2834 ft · 1 min · Sullivan Road
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Sullivan Road
22 m · 1 sec · Sullivan Road
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4
Exit the roundabout onto Sullivan Road
1.1 km · 1 min · Sullivan Road
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Joor Road
4.2 mi · 6 min · Joor Road
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6
At the end of the road, turn left onto Greenwell Spg Pt Hudson Road
2.7 mi · 4 min · Greenwell Spg Pt Hudson Road
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7
Continue on Zachary Deerford Road
3.1 mi · 4 min · Zachary Deerford Road
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8
Turn straight onto Main Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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9
Turn straight onto High Street
792 ft · 13 sec · High Street
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10
Continue on Church Street
2 mi · 3 min · Church Street
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11
Continue on Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
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12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
16 m · 1 sec · Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
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13
Exit the roundabout onto Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
2.1 mi · 3 min · Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
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14
Turn right onto Samuels Road
71.2 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Samuels Road
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15
Turn left
566 ft · 18 sec
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16
Continue on John R Junkin Drive
2.4 mi · 3 min · John R Junkin Drive
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17
Continue on Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi · 12 min · Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
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18
Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min · E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
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19
Turn left
1459 ft · 36 sec
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20
Merge slight left
50.5 mi · 56 min
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21
Take the exit slight right
803 ft · 20 sec
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22
Keep slight left
59 m · 8 sec
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23
Turn left onto Farmerville Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Farmerville Highway
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24
Continue on East Georgia Avenue
2281 ft · 1 min · East Georgia Avenue
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25
Turn left onto North Farmerville Street
2856 ft · 2 min · North Farmerville Street
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26
Turn right onto East California Avenue
2145 ft · 54 sec · East California Avenue
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East California Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Central and Ruston.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
Samuels Road
Turn right onto Samuels Road
71.2 mi · 01h 24m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Central and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ruston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Central to Ruston?
The road trip is about 223.1 miles (359 km) and usually takes 03h 39m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Clayton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.4 miles from Central and 113.7 miles from Ruston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 165.5 miles (266.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:40 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.80 one way or $59.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Central and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ruston.
Stop Ideas Near Clayton
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clayton.
Vicksburg, MS
Brookhaven
Hazlehurst station
McComb
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Central and Ruston. Straight-line distance: 165.51 mi (266.36 km).
#1 Central
Suburb city of Baton Rouge, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States
| Population | 29,450 |
| Coordinates | 30.5543500, -91.0367700 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ruston
Small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States
| Population | 21,891 |
| Coordinates | 32.5232100, -92.6379300 |
| Altitude | 102 |
| Country | United States |
End: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 359 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 34m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 46m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $29.80 | $59.61 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $33.52 | $67.04 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $36.40 | $72.80 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $42.62 | $85.23 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Louisiana · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.