How far is Zachary, LA from Ruston, LA?

The driving distance from Zachary, LA to Ruston, LA is about 207.2 miles (333.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.2 miles (251.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 05m 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
207.21 mi
03h 32m
Flight
156.14 mi
251.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Zachary.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.14 mi
Kilometers
251.28 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
207.21 mi
Kilometers
333.47 km
Drive Time
03h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 6:53 PM CDT
Return by in Zachary
Thu, Oct 15, 10:25 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Zachary
2026-10-15T15:20
Arrive Ruston
Thu, Oct 15, 6:53 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:54 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Zachary
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
Sicily Island
LA

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

From Zachary
103.1 mi
01h 46m
To Ruston
104 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
92°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    117 m · 6 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto High Street

    792 ft · 13 sec · High Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Church Street

    2 mi · 3 min · Church Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Mount Pleasant Zachary Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Mount Pleasant Zachary Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Mount Pleasant Zachary Road

    16 m · 1 sec · Mount Pleasant Zachary Road

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Mount Pleasant Zachary Road

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Mount Pleasant Zachary Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Samuels Road

    71.2 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Samuels Road

  8. 8

    Turn left

    566 ft · 18 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on John R Junkin Drive

    2.4 mi · 3 min · John R Junkin Drive

  10. 10

    Continue on Natchez-Vidalia Bridge

    10.6 mi · 12 min · Natchez-Vidalia Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min · E. E. Wallace Boulevard North

  12. 12

    Turn left

    1459 ft · 36 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    50.5 mi · 56 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    803 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    59 m · 8 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Farmerville Highway

    1.1 km · 2 min · Farmerville Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on East Georgia Avenue

    2281 ft · 1 min · East Georgia Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Farmerville Street

    2856 ft · 2 min · North Farmerville Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East California Avenue

    2145 ft · 54 sec · East California Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East California Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
114 mi · 55%
Samuels Road
71.2 mi · 34%
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi · 5%
Mount Pleasant Zachary Road
3.32 mi · 2%
John R Junkin Drive
2.42 mi · 1%
Church Street
2.04 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Samuels Road

Turn right onto Samuels Road

71.2 mi · 01h 24m

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
03h 32m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51 mi
156.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sicily Island
01h 46m from Zachary
Leave By
9:54 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Zachary and Sunny near Ruston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 207.2 miles (333.5 km) and usually takes 03h 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?

Sicily Island is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.1 miles from Zachary and 104 miles from Ruston.

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

The direct path is about 156.2 miles (251.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 51 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 9:54 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.60 one way or $57.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Zachary and Sunny near Ruston.

Stop Ideas Near Sicily Island

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

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

BUS

Vicksburg, MS

90 mi away
1295 South Frontage Road
RAIL

Hazlehurst station

119 mi away
North Ragsdale Ave and East Conway St.
RAIL

Brookhaven

119 mi away
East Monticello St. and South Railroad Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Zachary and Ruston. Straight-line distance: 156.14 mi (251.28 km).

Zachary

#1 Zachary

City in Louisiana, United States

Population18,417
Coordinates30.6485200, -91.1565000
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Ruston

#2 Ruston

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

Population21,891
Coordinates32.5232100, -92.6379300
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-91.156505, 30.648487)
End: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 333 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.31 gal
27.68 L · about $28.60
Round trip
$57.19
14.62 gal · 55.36 L
Estimated CO2
65 kg one way
Round trip: 129.9 kg / 286 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.91 $28.60 $57.19
Mid-grade $4.38 $31.99 $63.98
Premium $4.78 $34.95 $69.90
Diesel $5.82 $42.57 $85.13

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 Zachary and Ruston. The current time is 15:20:26.

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.