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Trip from Cecilia, LA to New Orleans, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 26m

Distance

124 mi

200 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 17m ★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 21m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Cecilia, LA, LA

Cecilia, LA

Israyosoy S.

Trip Overview

This 124-mile drive from Cecilia, LA, to New Orleans, LA, is easily manageable in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 26 minutes. With 96% of the journey on highways, it's a predominantly fast-paced trip focused on getting you to your destination efficiently. The estimated fuel cost for this leg is around $19, making it an affordable option for a quick getaway. Since both Cecilia and New Orleans are within the Southeast region of Louisiana, you won't experience significant regional shifts. This route is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time in New Orleans without needing an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

62 miles from Cecilia, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 115.7 mi 2h 12m
Pontchartrain Expressway 3.5 mi 4m
Grand Point Highway 2 mi 3m
Cecilia Senior High School Highway 1.6 mi 2m
Tulane Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
South Claiborne Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Cecilia Bridge Highway <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 10 — 115.7 mi, about 2h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cecilia, LA and New Orleans, LA.

1

Start on LA 355

68 ft · 2 sec · Cecilia Bridge Highway
2

Turn right onto LA 347

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Cecilia Senior High School Highway
3

At end of road, turn left onto LA 347

1.4 mi · 2 min · Cecilia Senior High School Highway
4

Turn right onto LA 347

1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Point Highway
5

Enter roundabout onto LA 347

126 ft · 2 sec · Grand Point Highway
6

Continue on LA 347

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Grand Point Highway
7

Enter roundabout

277 ft · 5 sec
8

Continue

0.3 mi · 37 sec
9

Merge onto I 10

115 mi · 2 hr 12 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

3.5 mi · 4 min · Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business District Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 234B Toward Poydras Street, Superdome Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13

Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue

0.3 mi · 40 sec · South Claiborne Avenue
14

Turn right onto Tulane Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Tulane Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Tulane Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour 26-minute duration, departing Cecilia in the morning will give you ample time to enjoy New Orleans. There are no mandated stops, but the longest stretch without an exit is over 115 miles, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before you embark. Since this is a relatively short, highway-dominant drive, flexibility is your advantage. Keep an eye on the fuel gauge, especially as you approach New Orleans, where traffic can sometimes impact your MPG. The $19 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always have a little extra buffer.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62 miles from Cecilia, LA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.7 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 27 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 62 miles or 1h 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 59m

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 Cecilia, 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 Cecilia, LA

This is one driving day of about 124 miles and 2h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Cecilia, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 115.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Denham Springs, LA

62 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Denham Springs, LA to New Orleans, LA

85 mi · 1h 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Port Allen, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Denham Springs, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62 miles from Cecilia, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 123.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
3.6 mi into trip | ~6m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
4 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 10

Merge onto I 10

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
119.1 mi into trip | ~2h 19m 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
122.7 mi into trip | ~2h 23m 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
123.2 mi into trip | ~2h 24m 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

$18.73 one way

$37.45 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $20.56 $41.12
premium $4.56 $22.26 $44.51
diesel $5.61 $27.38 $54.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.2 0 $13.02 $5.95
Efficient EV 31 0 $10.85 $4.96
EV Truck/SUV 49.6 0 $17.36 $7.94

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (65% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cecilia, LA

Morning in Cecilia on Sunday

Local time

11:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Orleans, LA

Morning in New Orleans on Sunday

Local time

11:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°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

16 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

2h 26m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of your trip, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I-10, including a substantial stretch of 115.7 miles without needing to exit. The Pontchartrain Expressway and Grand Point Highway also contribute to the highway-centric nature of this journey. This profile suggests a relatively consistent driving experience, characterized by efficient travel and minimal complex navigation, making it straightforward for most drivers.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.7 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Pontchartrain Expressway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 124 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.1 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Arriving in New Orleans, LA

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 124 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 115.7 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 119.1 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Orleans, LA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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