How far is Gonzales, LA from Ruston, LA?

The driving distance from Gonzales, LA to Ruston, LA is about 238.7 miles (384.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 187.6 miles (301.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
238.74 mi
03h 54m
Flight
187.57 mi
301.87 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gonzales.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
187.57 mi
Kilometers
301.87 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
238.74 mi
Kilometers
384.21 km
Drive Time
03h 54m

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 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 8:16 PM CDT
Return by in Gonzales
Fri, Oct 16, 12:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gonzales
2026-10-15T16:22
Arrive Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 8:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:54 AM to 11:54 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:12 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gonzales
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Ridgecrest
LA

Small town in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Gonzales
118.2 mi
01h 57m
To Ruston
120.5 mi
01h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
92°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gonzales and Ruston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gonzales and Ruston.

  1. 1

    Start on East Ascension Street

    62 m · 10 sec · East Ascension Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Burnside Avenue

    2869 ft · 55 sec · North Burnside Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto North Airline Highway

    23.4 mi · 33 min · North Airline Highway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 110: Natchez, Baton Rouge

    1224 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 110 North: Natchez

    2031 ft · 50 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on 110 North: Natchez

    2320 ft · 57 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on US 61 North: Natchez

    1227 ft · 17 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on Scenic Highway

    3.8 mi · 6 min · Scenic Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Samuels Road

    75.7 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Samuels Road

  11. 11

    Turn left

    566 ft · 18 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on John R Junkin Drive

    2.4 mi · 3 min · John R Junkin Drive

  13. 13

    Continue on Natchez-Vidalia Bridge

    10.6 mi · 12 min · Natchez-Vidalia Bridge

  14. 14

    Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min · E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

  15. 15

    Turn left

    1459 ft · 36 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    50.5 mi · 56 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    803 ft · 20 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    59 m · 8 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Farmerville Highway

    1.1 km · 2 min · Farmerville Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on East Georgia Avenue

    2281 ft · 1 min · East Georgia Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Farmerville Street

    2856 ft · 2 min · North Farmerville Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East California Avenue

    2145 ft · 54 sec · East California Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East California Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gonzales and Ruston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
114 mi · 48%
Samuels Road
75.7 mi · 32%
North Airline Highway
23.4 mi · 10%
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi · 4%
Scenic Highway
3.82 mi · 2%
John R Junkin Drive
2.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Samuels Road

Continue on Samuels Road

75.7 mi · 01h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 54m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.1 mi
187.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ridgecrest
01h 57m from Gonzales
Leave By
9:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gonzales and Sunny near Ruston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gonzales to Ruston?

The road trip is about 238.7 miles (384.2 km) and usually takes 03h 54m 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?

Ridgecrest is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.2 miles from Gonzales and 120.5 miles from Ruston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 187.6 miles (301.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.1 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 9:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.94 one way or $65.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gonzales and Sunny near Ruston.

Stop Ideas Near Ridgecrest

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ridgecrest, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ridgecrest.

BUS

Vicksburg, MS

100 mi away
1295 South Frontage Road
RAIL

Brookhaven

103 mi away
East Monticello St. and South Railroad Ave.
RAIL

McComb

109 mi away
114 Northeast Railroad Ave.
RAIL

Hazlehurst station

111 mi away
North Ragsdale Ave and East Conway St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gonzales and Ruston. Straight-line distance: 187.57 mi (301.87 km).

Gonzales

#1 Gonzales

City in Louisiana, United States

Population11,245
Coordinates30.2385300, -90.9201000
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Ruston

#2 Ruston

Small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population21,891
Coordinates32.5232100, -92.6379300
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Start: East Ascension Street (-90.920101, 30.238288)
End: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 384 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.42 gal
31.89 L · about $32.94
Round trip
$65.88
16.84 gal · 63.78 L
Estimated CO2
74.8 kg one way
Round trip: 149.7 kg / 330 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.91 $32.94 $65.88
Mid-grade $4.38 $36.85 $73.69
Premium $4.78 $40.26 $80.51
Diesel $5.82 $49.03 $98.06

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Gonzales and Ruston. The current time is 16:22:22.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.