Arcadia, LA to Metairie Terrace, LA is 307.9 miles and takes about 5h 58m via Seargent Prentiss Drive and I 10, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, starting in the Southeast region and ending in the same region. Given the roughly 6-hour drive time, it’s a manageable one-day excursion. The route mixes highway speeds with surface road cruising, so expect a varied driving pace. Plan for a single stop to break up the drive. This is a straightforward path for anyone looking to cover ground efficiently within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
153.9 miles from Arcadia, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Arcadia, LA and Metairie Terrace, LA.
1
Start on this road
50 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 80 Truck; LA 151
1.0 mi·2 min·Hazel Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
4
Merge onto I 20
68 mi·1 hr 14 min·Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
6
Turn right onto US 425
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 425
7
Keep slight right at fork
526 ft·14 sec
8
Merge onto US 61
79 mi·1 hr 34 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
10
Continue on I 110
2.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110
0.5 mi·35 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 226Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long BridgeUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto LA 3152
1.0 mi·2 min·Clearview Parkway
17
Turn right onto West Metairie Avenue
253 ft·6 sec·West Metairie Avenue
18
Continue on West Metairie Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·West Metairie Avenue
19
Turn right onto Division Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Division Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·Mayflower Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Mayflower Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 58m drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid the bulk of traffic, especially as you approach Metairie Terrace. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 307.9 miles, you can comfortably complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $48, and gas stations might be less frequent on the surface road portions. The longest stretch on Seargent Prentiss Drive is over 79 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment.
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 153.9 miles from Arcadia, LA, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 68 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.9 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie Terrace, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arcadia, 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 Arcadia, LA
This is one driving day of about 307.9 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Arcadia, 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 Seargent Prentiss Drive for about 79.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.2 and 305.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
6
233.7 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
234.3 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
305.1 mi into trip|~5h 52m in
Take the exit toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
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 226
Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
8
305.2 mi into trip|~5h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridg...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.74 one way
$85.48 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$47.82
$95.64
premium
$4.29
$51.99
$103.98
diesel
$4.80
$58.14
$116.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.4
1
$32.33
$14.78
Efficient EV
77
0
$26.94
$12.32
EV Truck/SUV
123.2
1
$43.11
$19.71
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Arcadia, LA
Late night
in Arcadia on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Metairie Terrace, LA
Late night
in Metairie Terrace on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 58m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 307.9
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 74.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 51% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll experience significant stretches of faster travel. The longest continuous section on surface roads is 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. You'll notice the transition from potentially faster highway speeds to more localized traffic as you move between these road types. Be prepared for merging traffic when you re-enter the interstate system.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on Seargent Prentiss Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 307.9 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 69.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.7 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
383 ft1 ft
Total Climb
269 ft
Total Descent
651 ft
Highest Point
383 ft
Elevation Range
382 ft
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 Arcadia, LA to Metairie Terrace, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
Arcadia is a town of 2,700 people (2019) in North Louisiana and the parish seat of Bienville Parish. At 384 feet above sea level, Arcadia has the highest elevation of any town in the state of Louisiana. About 15 miles south lies Driskill Mountain, the highest point in Louisiana. For U.S. highpointers, Arcadia is usually a stopping point before or after taking the drive down to Driskill, as it is the closest town.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 307.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Terrace, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 69.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.7 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 234.3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Metairie Terrace, LA before the return drive.
