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

The driving distance from Ruston, LA to Morgan City, LA is about 248.8 miles (400.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.7 miles (342.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 44m 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
248.82 mi
04h 52m
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 Ruston.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
248.82 mi
Kilometers
400.44 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Morgan City
Thu, Oct 15, 6:14 PM CDT
Return by in Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 11:07 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ruston
2026-10-15T13:22
Arrive Morgan City
Thu, Oct 15, 6:14 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 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
7:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ruston
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 Ruston
124.5 mi
02h 26m
To Morgan City
124.3 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
92°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph S
Destination
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    47.7 mi · 59 min · East Lafayette Street

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

    1.2 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

    76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  12. 12

    Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    6.1 mi · 8 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Morgan Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

    549 ft · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive

  17. 17

    Turn left onto St Etienne Road

    1 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street

    3032 ft · 52 sec · Young Street

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    2434 ft · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    995 ft · 13 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    885 ft · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1151 ft · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway

    1.2 km · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

  24. 24

    Keep slight right

    54.6 mi · 1 hr

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right

    1166 ft · 31 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Freret Street

    70 m · 8 sec · Freret Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Federal Avenue

    876 ft · 26 sec · Federal Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Brashear Avenue

    33 m · 2 sec · Brashear Avenue

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Brashear Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Veterans Memorial Expressway
65.4 mi · 26%
East Lafayette Street
47.7 mi · 19%
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
38 mi · 15%
Martin Luther King
38 mi · 15%
Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi · 9%
Quitman Highway
15.9 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.1 mi
212.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cheneyville
02h 26m from Ruston
Leave By
7:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ruston and Sunny near Morgan City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 248.8 miles (400.4 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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 Ruston and 124.3 miles from Morgan City.

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 36.1 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 7:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.35 one way or $68.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Ruston and Morgan City. Straight-line distance: 212.68 mi (342.27 km).

Ruston

#1 Ruston

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

Population21,891
Coordinates32.5232100, -92.6379300
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Morgan City

#2 Morgan City

City in Louisiana, United States

Population10,742
Coordinates29.6993700, -91.2067700
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Ruston (-92.63793, 32.52321)
End: Morgan City (-91.20677, 29.69937)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 400 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.78 gal
33.24 L · about $34.35
Round trip
$68.69
17.56 gal · 66.48 L
Estimated CO2
78 kg one way
Round trip: 156.1 kg / 344 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.91 $34.35 $68.69
Mid-grade $4.38 $38.42 $76.84
Premium $4.78 $41.98 $83.95
Diesel $5.82 $51.13 $102.25

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 Ruston and Morgan City. The current time is 13:22:06.

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.