How far is Morgan City, LA from Ruston, LA?

The driving distance from Morgan City, LA to Ruston, LA is about 248.4 miles (399.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.7 miles (342.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 03m 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
248.37 mi
04h 01m
Flight
212.68 mi
342.27 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Morgan City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
212.68 mi
Kilometers
342.27 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
248.37 mi
Kilometers
399.72 km
Drive Time
04h 01m

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 04h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 7:23 PM CDT
Return by in Morgan City
Thu, Oct 15, 11:24 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Morgan City
2026-10-15T15:21
Arrive Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 7:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Morgan City
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
Cheneyville
LA

Town in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Morgan City
124.5 mi
02h 00m
To Ruston
123.9 mi
02h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
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 Morgan City and Ruston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Morgan City and Ruston.

  1. 1

    Start on Brashear Avenue

    33 m · 2 sec · Brashear Avenue

  2. 2

    Keep slight left

    19 m · 3 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Federal Avenue

    30 m · 4 sec · Federal Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1026 ft · 25 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    55 mi · 1 hr

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1083 ft · 14 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1888 ft · 24 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    2246 ft · 29 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1189 ft · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1056 ft · 14 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward Young Street

    771 ft · 21 sec · Young Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Young Street

    1807 ft · 38 sec · Young Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto St Etienne Road

    1 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

    609 ft · 22 sec · East Fairfield Drive

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South Morgan Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Morgan Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Southwest Evangeline Thruway

    1065 ft · 14 sec · Southwest Evangeline Thruway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    48 m · 8 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Southwest Evangeline Thruway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Southwest Evangeline Thruway

  20. 20

    Continue on Southeast Evangeline Thruway

    6 mi · 10 min · Southeast Evangeline Thruway

  21. 21

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  22. 22

    Continue on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

    76.1 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 167 North, LA 28 East, LA 1: Pineville Expressway, Casson Street

    1212 ft · 30 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expressway

    93.7 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  25. 25

    Turn right onto East California Avenue

    51 m · 4 sec · East California Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East California Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 167 North
93.9 mi · 38%
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
76.1 mi · 31%
Federal Avenue
55.2 mi · 22%
Veterans Memorial Expressway
10.2 mi · 4%
Southeast Evangeline Thruway
5.97 mi · 2%
Southwest Evangeline Thruway
2.68 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 167 North

Keep slight left to continue on US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expressway

93.7 mi · 01h 59m

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
04h 01m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.7 mi
212.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cheneyville
02h 00m from Morgan City
Leave By
8:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Morgan City and Sunny near Ruston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Morgan City to Ruston?

The road trip is about 248.4 miles (399.7 km) and usually takes 04h 01m 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?

Cheneyville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 124.5 miles from Morgan City and 123.9 miles from Ruston.

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

The direct path is about 212.7 miles (342.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.7 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 8:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.31 one way or $68.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Morgan City and Sunny near Ruston.

Stop Ideas Near Cheneyville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cheneyville, 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 Cheneyville.

RAIL

Lafayette

91 mi away
133 East Grant St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Morgan City and Ruston. Straight-line distance: 212.68 mi (342.27 km).

Morgan City

#1 Morgan City

City in Louisiana, United States

Population10,742
Coordinates29.6993700, -91.2067700
Altitude2
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: Brashear Avenue (-91.206908, 29.699631)
End: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 400 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.77 gal
33.18 L · about $34.31
Round trip
$68.62
17.54 gal · 66.36 L
Estimated CO2
77.9 kg one way
Round trip: 155.9 kg / 344 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.91 $34.31 $68.62
Mid-grade $4.38 $38.38 $76.76
Premium $4.78 $41.93 $83.86
Diesel $5.82 $51.07 $102.14

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 Morgan City and Ruston. The current time is 15:21:13.

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.