Alexandria, LA to Metairie, LA is 197.4 miles and takes about 3h 49m via I 10 and US 190, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making this a straightforward drive. With a relatively short distance and a single day recommendation, this route is ideal for a quick transfer between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.7 miles from Alexandria, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
76.5 mi
1h 27m
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
64.8 mi
1h 5m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Murray Street
0.4 mi
1m
47th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Thorn Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 76.5 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on Murray Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Murray Street
2
Turn left onto Thorn Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Thorn Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
4
Merge onto I 49; US 71 BYP
65 mi·1 hr 5 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
6
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
7
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
9
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
10
Merge onto I 10
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
14
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
15
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
16
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
17
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 49m drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day, so consider leaving in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays. The estimated fuel cost is around $30, so ensure your tank is full before departing Alexandria. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Pay attention to the transition from I 10 to US 190, as this is where the driving environment will change the most.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 98.7 miles from Alexandria, LA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 43 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.7 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, LA
This is one driving day of about 197.4 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Alexandria, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 76.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 65.6 and 196.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
65.6 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
5
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
6
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
196.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
196.2 mi into trip|~3h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.81 one way
$59.62 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.73
$65.45
premium
$4.56
$35.43
$70.86
diesel
$5.61
$43.58
$87.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
Efficient EV
49.4
0
$17.27
$7.90
EV Truck/SUV
79
0
$27.64
$12.63
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, LA
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 197.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 66% of the drive on interstates like I 10. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 76.5 miles on I 10 before transitioning to surface roads like US 190. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising, with a high concentration of exits and interchanges as you approach your destination.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 65.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 197.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.2 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alexandria, LA to Metairie, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 197.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.5 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Metairie, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.2 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Metairie, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
