How far is Ruston, LA from Carencro, LA?
The driving distance from Ruston, LA to Carencro, LA is about 174.5 miles (280.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 156.3 miles (251.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 47m 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 23m.
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.
Suburb town of Alexandria, located in Rapides Parish just north of Pineville, Louisiana, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ruston and Carencro.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruston and Carencro.
-
1
Start on East California Avenue
541 ft · 23 sec · East California Avenue
-
2
Turn left onto South Trenton Street
1859 ft · 45 sec · South Trenton Street
-
3
Merge slight left onto South Vienna Street
2.7 mi · 4 min · South Vienna Street
-
4
Continue on Quitman Highway
15.9 mi · 19 min · Quitman Highway
-
5
Continue on Main Street
4 mi · 7 min · Main Street
-
6
Continue on South Hudson Avenue
1.6 km · 1 min · South Hudson Avenue
-
7
Continue on Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi · 28 min · Winnfield Highway
-
8
Continue on East Lafayette Street
47.7 mi · 59 min · East Lafayette Street
-
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
1.2 km · 1 min
-
10
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
-
11
Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
1.1 km · 44 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward LA 182
1958 ft · 48 sec
-
13
Turn slight right onto North University Avenue
3.3 mi · 5 min · North University Avenue
-
14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North University Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ruston and Carencro.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi · 01h 17m
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 Sunny leaving Ruston and Sunny near Carencro.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ruston to Carencro?
The road trip is about 174.5 miles (280.9 km) and usually takes 03h 23m 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?
Ball is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.4 miles from Ruston and 87.1 miles from Carencro.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 156.3 miles (251.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.2 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 10:12 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.33 one way or $46.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ruston and Sunny near Carencro.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ruston and Carencro. Straight-line distance: 156.33 mi (251.59 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Carencro
Suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States
| Population | 9,945 |
| Coordinates | 30.3171400, -92.0490100 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
End: Carencro (-92.04901, 30.31714)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 281 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 29m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $23.33 | $46.66 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $26.24 | $52.47 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $28.49 | $56.98 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $33.36 | $66.71 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.