How far is Ruston, LA from Alexandria, LA?

The driving distance from Ruston, LA to Alexandria, LA is about 94.1 miles (151.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 84.5 miles (136 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
94.14 mi
01h 38m
Flight
84.49 mi
135.98 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ruston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
84.49 mi
Kilometers
135.98 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
94.14 mi
Kilometers
151.51 km
Drive Time
01h 38m

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 01h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alexandria
Mon, May 4, 11:45 PM CDT
Return by in Ruston
Tue, May 5, 1:24 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ruston
2026-05-04T22:07
Arrive Alexandria
Mon, May 4, 11:45 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ruston
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Winnfield
LA

Small city in and the Parish Seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana

From Ruston
47 mi
00h 49m
To Alexandria
47.1 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 4 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East California Avenue

    541 ft · 23 sec · East California Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Trenton Street

    1859 ft · 45 sec · South Trenton Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto South Vienna Street

    2.7 mi · 4 min · South Vienna Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Quitman Highway

    15.9 mi · 19 min · Quitman Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Main Street

    4 mi · 7 min · Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on South Hudson Avenue

    1.6 km · 1 min · South Hudson Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Winnfield Highway

    21.7 mi · 28 min · Winnfield Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on East Lafayette Street

    47.4 mi · 58 min · East Lafayette Street

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 1, LA 28 Business: Downtown Alexandria

    1347 ft · 35 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto 6th Street

    1618 ft · 1 min · 6th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Murray Street

    703 ft · 32 sec · Murray Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Murray Street

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Lafayette Street
47.4 mi · 50%
Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi · 23%
Quitman Highway
15.9 mi · 17%
Main Street
3.95 mi · 4%
South Vienna Street
2.75 mi · 3%
South Hudson Avenue
0.98 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East Lafayette Street

Continue on East Lafayette Street

47.4 mi · 00h 58m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 38m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.6 mi
84.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Winnfield
00h 49m from Ruston
Leave By
3:14 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ruston and Sunny near Alexandria.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 94.1 miles (151.5 km) and usually takes 01h 38m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Winnfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 47 miles from Ruston and 47.1 miles from Alexandria.

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

The direct path is about 84.5 miles (136 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.57 one way or $25.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 29.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ruston and Sunny near Alexandria.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ruston and Alexandria. Straight-line distance: 84.49 mi (135.98 km).

Ruston

#1 Ruston

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

Population21,891
Coordinates32.5232100, -92.6379300
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Alexandria

#2 Alexandria

The capital of Louisiana.

Population45,573
Coordinates31.3112900, -92.4451400
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Start: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)
End: Murray Street (-92.444972, 31.311153)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 152 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.32 gal
12.58 L · about $12.57
Round trip
$25.15
6.64 gal · 25.16 L
Estimated CO2
29.5 kg one way
Round trip: 59 kg / 130 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $12.57 $25.15
Mid-grade $4.26 $14.14 $28.28
Premium $4.63 $15.35 $30.71
Diesel $5.42 $17.98 $35.96

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 · May 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Ruston and Alexandria. The current time is 22:07:25.

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.