Origin
Central, LA
Late night in Central on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central, LA to Donaldsonville, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
46.9 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central, LA
Jesus Alfonso
Donaldsonville, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Central to Donaldsonville, you are in for a straightforward 46.9-mile journey across Southeast Louisiana. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 1 minute behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will not need to worry about high travel costs, as the estimated fuel expenditure is just $6. Because the route is short, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. Since both towns reside within the same region, the drive maintains a consistent local feel throughout. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that serves as a simple way to navigate between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 18.5 mi | 19m |
| Joor Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| LA 70 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Airline Highway | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Crawford Leblanc Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| LA 3089 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Siegen Lane | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Oak Villa Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 18.5 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, LA and Donaldsonville, LA.
1
Start on LA 408
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Hooper Road
2
Turn left onto LA 946
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Joor Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Oak Villa
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Villa
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Oak Villa Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Villa Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 190
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Florida Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 61 South: New Orleans
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 61; US 190
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Airline Highway
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
399 ft
·
10 sec
Toward LA 3246 South
9
Turn straight onto LA 3246
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Siegen Lane
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
11
Merge onto I 10
19 mi
·
19 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 182
Toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto LA 22
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
LA 22
14
Enter roundabout onto LA 70
208 ft
·
12 sec
·
Crawford Leblanc Boulevard
15
Continue on LA 70
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Crawford Leblanc Boulevard
16
Turn straight onto LA 70
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
LA 70
17
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 3089
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
LA 3089
Toward LA 3009: Donaldsonville
18
Arrive at destination
LA 1
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Central, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 33.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
LA 946 / Joor Road
Turn left onto LA 946 / Joor Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 190 / Florida Boulevard
Turn right onto US 190 / Florida Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South: New Orleans
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 61 South: New Orleans
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge onto US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
33.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
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 182
Toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.08 one way
$14.17 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.78 | $15.55 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.42 | $16.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Donaldsonville, LA
Late night in Donaldsonville on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Shenandoah, LA
23 mi in
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
18 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
1h 1m 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?
Forget about highway cruising on this trip, as the route consists of 0% highway driving. Instead, you will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged with your surroundings. Your path relies on Joor Road, Oak Villa, and Oak Villa Boulevard to link your start and end points. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Joor Road is 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent turns and a slower pace. This is a classic local transit experience that favors steady attention over long-distance highway speed.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.5 mi on I 10.
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 1.1 miles in near LA 946 / Joor Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.1 miles (LA 946 / Joor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles (US 190 / Florida Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
14min in
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Baton Rouge, LA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteVivi Bubble Tea
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Baton Rouge, LA
Cuisine: bubble_tea
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
41min in
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Gonzales, LA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
20min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Perkins Rowe, LA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 05:30-20:00
Visit websiteAnother Broken Egg
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
20min in
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Cuisine: breakfast
Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-14:00
Visit websiteKung Fu Tea
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
20min in
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Cuisine: bubble_tea
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
Visit websiteLittle Caesars
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
14min in
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cuisine: pizza
Visit websiteWendy's
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
1h 1m in
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Donaldsonville, LA
Cuisine: burger
Hours: 07:00-22:00
Visit websiteSmoothie King
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
14min in
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cuisine: juice
Sonic
Fast_food
Near the start, short detour
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Baton Rouge, LA
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-23:00; Sa-Su 07:00-23:00
Visit websiteTaco Bell
Fast_food
Near the end, short detour
1h 1m in
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Donaldsonville, LA
Cuisine: tex-mex
Hours: 09:00-24:00
Visit websiteDomino's
Fast_food
Near the start, short detour
7min in
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Baton Rouge, LA
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su...
Visit websiteDonaldsonville Historic District
Park
Near the end, right off the route
1h 1m in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Samuel D'Agostino Park
Park
Near the start, right off the route
7min in
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Judson Baptist Recreation Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
7min in
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Thomas A Maher Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
7min in
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Howard Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Airline Highway Parish Park
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
27min in
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Donaldsonville Historic District
District
Near the end, right off the route
1h 1m in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Museum
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Baton Rouge, LA
Hours: 8:00-17:00
Visit website2000
Artwork
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Gonzales 'Tee Joe' Museum
Museum
Later in the drive, short detour
41min in
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
LA
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Baton Rouge/I-10
Hotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
20min in
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Americas Best Value Inn - Baton Rouge / Seigen Lane
Motel
Early in the drive, right off the route
20min in
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Value Place Baton Rouge (North)
Motel
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Baton Rouge
Crossland Economy Studios - Baton Rouge - Sherwood Forest
Motel
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Clarion Inn
Hotel
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Value Place Baton Rouge (East)
Motel
Early in the drive, short detour
14min in
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Central, LA
Full guide →Central is a region in Louisiana. This area is also known as Cenla or the Crossroads.
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 1h 1m. Total distance: 46.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.5 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Donaldsonville, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (LA 946 / Joor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles (US 190 / Florida Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Donaldsonville, 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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