Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Avondale, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Avondale to New Orleans is a quick 16-mile journey that typically takes about 23 minutes. This highway-focused route utilizes the Westbank Expressway, the Pontchartrain Expressway, and US 90 to bridge the two Southeast Louisiana locations. Because the trip is so efficient, it is best suited for a single-day outing rather than an overnight stay. Budgeting just $2 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical commute between the suburbs and the city. Whether you are heading into the heart of New Orleans for business or leisure, you will find this transition straightforward and predictable. Expect a seamless drive that keeps you within the same region for the duration of your trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westbank Expressway | 11.3 mi | 15m |
| Pontchartrain Expressway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| US 90 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Crescent City Connection | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| South Claiborne Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Tulane Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jamie Boulevard | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Valentine Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Avondale, LA and New Orleans, LA.
Start on Valentine Drive
Turn right onto Jamie Boulevard
Turn left onto US 90
Take the exit onto US 90 BUS
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS
Continue on US 90 BUS
Continue on US 90 BUS
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto US 90
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 15.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Jamie Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 90
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway toward US 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway toward US 90 Business East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 90 East: Claiborne Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$2.42 one way
$4.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.65 | $5.31 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.40 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Avondale on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a direct, highway-heavy experience, as 88% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Westbank Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.3 miles. The drive maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into a rhythm quickly without the need for technical maneuvering or complex navigation. While the road is primarily designed for utility, it serves as a reliable artery connecting Avondale directly to the New Orleans metropolitan area. You won't find many local road distractions here, as the infrastructure prioritizes speed and efficiency over scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westbank Expressway and Pontchartrain Expressway. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Jamie Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 16 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Jamie Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 90): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
15 ft
Total Descent
18 ft
Highest Point
5 ft
~1.3 mi in
Elevation Range
9 ft
Way down yonder in New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans), you'll find the roots of jazz and a blossoming culture that is unlike anything else on Earth. Here, the laid-back atmosphere of the riverfront South has mixed with French sophistication, Spanish style, and African-American energy to create something greater than the sum of its parts. "NOLA" is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the top tourist destinations in the United States. "Laissez les bons temps rouler" is what they say here in the Big Easy, and you too can "let the good times roll" with a cool stroll down Bourbon Street, a hot Dixieland band, and even hotter Creole cuisine. Mardi Gras may be the city's calling card, but that's just one day out of the hot and muggy year in New Orleans. Go ahead, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, munch on some beignets, and watch the Saints go marchin' in.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 16 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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