How far is Ponchatoula, LA from Shreveport, LA?

The driving distance from Ponchatoula, LA to Shreveport, LA is about 293.7 miles (472.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 242.5 miles (390.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 58m 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
293.67 mi
04h 29m
Flight
242.44 mi
390.17 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ponchatoula.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
242.44 mi
Kilometers
390.17 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
293.67 mi
Kilometers
472.62 km
Drive Time
04h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shreveport
Wed, Jun 10, 8:29 PM CDT
Return by in Ponchatoula
Thu, Jun 11, 12:58 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ponchatoula
2026-06-10T16:00
Arrive Shreveport
Wed, Jun 10, 8:29 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:29 AM to 12:29 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
8:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ponchatoula
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
Lecompte
LA

Town in Louisiana, United States

From Ponchatoula
146.6 mi
02h 14m
To Shreveport
147.1 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Today

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 10 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SE
Destination
94°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 10 8:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ponchatoula and Shreveport.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ponchatoula and Shreveport.

  1. 1

    Start on Northwest Railroad Avenue

    4 m · 5 sec · Northwest Railroad Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Pine Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · West Pine Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight

    2005 ft · 49 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

    3.1 mi · 3 min · Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 12 West: Baton Rouge

    1052 ft · 26 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto West Florida Republic Parkway

    38.4 mi · 42 min · West Florida Republic Parkway

  7. 7

    Merge slight right

    3.6 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 415: Lobdell

    1842 ft · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on LA 415: Lobdell

    97 m · 8 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto North Lobdell Highway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · North Lobdell Highway

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto State Route 1

    49 mi · 1 hr 3 min · State Route 1

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria

    1494 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

    186.3 mi · 3 hr 10 min · Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street

    1.3 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Pete Harris Drive

    1.3 km · 2 min · Pete Harris Drive

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Caddo Street

    1.4 km · 3 min · Caddo Street

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway

    2522 ft · 56 sec · Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto River Parkway

    21 m · 2 sec · River Parkway

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · River Parkway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ponchatoula and Shreveport.

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
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
6 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186 mi · 63%
State Route 1
49 mi · 17%
West Florida Republic Parkway
45.9 mi · 16%
North Lobdell Highway
3.59 mi · 1%
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
3.08 mi · 1%
Pete Harris Drive
1.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

Merge slight left onto Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

186 mi · 03h 10m

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 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.2 mi
242.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lecompte
02h 14m from Ponchatoula
Leave By
8:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Sunny leaving Ponchatoula and Mostly Sunny near Shreveport.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ponchatoula to Shreveport?

The road trip is about 293.7 miles (472.6 km) and usually takes 04h 29m 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?

Lecompte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.6 miles from Ponchatoula and 147.1 miles from Shreveport.

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

The direct path is about 242.5 miles (390.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.2 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 8:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.23 one way or $78.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Sunny around Ponchatoula and Mostly Sunny near Shreveport.

Stop Ideas Near Lecompte

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

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

RAIL

Lafayette

103 mi away
133 East Grant St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ponchatoula and Shreveport. Straight-line distance: 242.44 mi (390.17 km).

Ponchatoula

#1 Ponchatoula

City in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population7,545
Coordinates30.4388000, -90.4414800
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Shreveport

#2 Shreveport

The second most populous city in Louisiana.

Population184,786
Coordinates32.5251500, -93.7501800
Altitude44
CountryUnited States
Start: West Pine Street (-90.441479, 30.438765)
End: River Parkway (-93.750913, 32.525036)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 473 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.36 gal
39.23 L · about $39.23
Round trip
$78.47
20.72 gal · 78.46 L
Estimated CO2
92.1 kg one way
Round trip: 184.1 kg / 406 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $39.23 $78.47
Mid-grade $4.26 $44.12 $88.25
Premium $4.63 $47.92 $95.83
Diesel $5.42 $56.10 $112.20

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 · Jun 10, 2026

There is no time difference between Ponchatoula and Shreveport. The current time is 16:00:04.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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