This 339.6-mile drive from Benton, Louisiana, to New Orleans, Louisiana, is a substantial journey that can be completed in about 6 hours and 22 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-10 and US 190, with a significant portion on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, it's a route that fits comfortably within a single recommended day of travel. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $51. Given its length and duration, planning for at least one stop is wise to break up the drive. This trip takes you across Louisiana, keeping you within the Southeast region.
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
169.8 miles from Benton, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186.4 mi
3h 10m
I 10
79.1 mi
1h 30m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
Benton Road
6.3 mi
9m
Highway 3
4.6 mi
6m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 186.4 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on Simpson Street
88 ft·6 sec·Simpson Street
2
Turn left onto LA 3
4.6 mi·6 min·Highway 3
3
Continue on LA 3
6.3 mi·9 min·Benton Road
4
Turn slight right
238 ft·8 sec
5
Turn straight onto Walter O. Bigby Carriageway
0.6 mi·1 min·Walter O. Bigby Carriageway
6
Enter roundabout onto Walter O Bigby Carriageway
156 ft·4 sec·Walter O Bigby Carriageway
7
Continue on Walter O Bigby Carriageway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Walter O Bigby Carriageway
8
Enter roundabout onto Hamilton Road
222 ft·5 sec·Hamilton Road
9
Continue on Hamilton Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Hamilton Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
11
Merge onto I 20; US 71
1.9 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
13
Continue on I 49
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
15
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
16
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
18
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
19
Merge onto I 10
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.5 mi·4 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business DistrictUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
24
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour and 22-minute trip, departing in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for the drive and any necessary stops. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 186.4-mile stretch on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. This route is manageable in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an early start. The $51 fuel estimate should be factored into your budget.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.8 miles from Benton, LA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 75 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.8 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Orleans, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benton, 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 Benton, LA
This is one driving day of about 339.6 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Benton, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 186.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 338.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.8 mi into trip|~18m in|Hamilton Road
Enter roundabout onto Hamilton Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
202.7 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
334.7 mi into trip|~6h 15m in|I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway toward New Orleans, Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New Orleans, Business District
6
338.2 mi into trip|~6h 20m in|I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
338.7 mi into trip|~6h 20m in
Take the exit toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 234B
Toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.29 one way
$102.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$56.30
$112.60
premium
$4.56
$60.95
$121.91
diesel
$5.61
$74.98
$149.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.9
1
$35.66
$16.30
Efficient EV
84.9
0
$29.72
$13.58
EV Truck/SUV
135.8
1
$47.54
$21.73
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Benton, LA
Evening
in Benton on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Evening
in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Alexandria, LA
170 mi in
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
8 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
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 339.6
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 93.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a mixed profile, with 41% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the longest segment covering 186.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. While much of the route involves efficient highway travel, expect transitions between these faster roads and potentially more varied local road conditions as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll encounter both open-road cruising and more urban driving.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 11.8 miles in near Hamilton Road.
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 17 significant decision points across 339.6 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 11.8 miles (Hamilton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 202.7 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 334.7 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Benton, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 22m. Total distance: 339.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 New Orleans, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles (Hamilton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 202.7 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 334.7 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Orleans, LA before the return drive.
