How far is Ruston, LA from Thibodaux, LA?
The driving distance from Ruston, LA to Thibodaux, LA is about 279.3 miles (449.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 216.9 miles (349 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 04m 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 05h 32m.
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.
Town in Evangeline Parish, 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 Thibodaux.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruston and Thibodaux.
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1
Start on East California Avenue
541 ft · 23 sec · East California Avenue
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2
Turn left onto South Trenton Street
1859 ft · 45 sec · South Trenton Street
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3
Merge slight left onto South Vienna Street
2.7 mi · 4 min · South Vienna Street
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4
Continue on Quitman Highway
15.9 mi · 19 min · Quitman Highway
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5
Continue on Main Street
4 mi · 7 min · Main Street
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6
Continue on South Hudson Avenue
1.6 km · 1 min · South Hudson Avenue
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7
Continue on Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi · 28 min · Winnfield Highway
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8
Continue on East Lafayette Street
47.7 mi · 59 min · East Lafayette Street
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
1.2 km · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
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11
Continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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12
Continue on Northwest Evangeline Thruway
2.2 mi · 4 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway
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13
Continue straight
6.1 mi · 8 min
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14
Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue
1.6 mi · 3 min · North Morgan Avenue
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15
Turn left onto Ambassador Caffery Parkway
1.5 mi · 3 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway
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16
Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive
549 ft · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive
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17
Turn left onto St Etienne Road
1 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road
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18
At the end of the road, turn left onto Young Street
3032 ft · 52 sec · Young Street
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
2434 ft · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
995 ft · 13 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
885 ft · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
1151 ft · 15 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Expressway
1.2 km · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway
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24
Keep slight right
74.5 mi · 1 hr 21 min
-
25
Take the exit slight right
2882 ft · 1 min
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26
Turn right
9.8 mi · 17 min
-
27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Jackson Street
55 m · 4 sec · Jackson Street
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28
Exit the roundabout onto Jackson Street
2944 ft · 1 min · Jackson Street
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29
Turn left onto Saint Mary Street
35 m · 2 sec · Saint Mary Street
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Saint Mary Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ruston and Thibodaux.
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.
Sunny leaving Ruston and Sunny near Thibodaux.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ruston to Thibodaux?
The road trip is about 279.3 miles (449.5 km) and usually takes 05h 32m 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?
Ville Platte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.7 miles from Ruston and 139.6 miles from Thibodaux.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 216.9 miles (349 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.4 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 5:56 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.57 one way or $77.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ruston and Sunny near Thibodaux.
Stop Ideas Near Ville Platte
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ville Platte.
Lafayette
New Iberia
Lake Charles
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ruston and Thibodaux. Straight-line distance: 216.85 mi (348.99 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 Thibodaux
City in and the parish seat of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States
| Population | 14,411 |
| Coordinates | 29.7957600, -90.8228700 |
| Altitude | 4 |
| Country | United States |
End: Thibodaux (-90.82287, 29.79576)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 450 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 18m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 35m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 29m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.91 | $38.57 | $77.14 |
| Mid-grade | $4.38 | $43.15 | $86.29 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $47.14 | $94.28 |
| Diesel | $5.82 | $57.41 | $114.83 |
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