This straightforward 71.2-mile drive from Chauvin to New Orleans, Louisiana, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 33 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical journey. The route primarily utilizes US 90 and I-310, with a brief section on Highway 56, offering a highway-focused experience. Given its short duration and direct path, you won't need to split this into an overnight stay. Both the origin and destination are within the Southeast region of Louisiana, so expect a consistent regional feel throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.6 miles from Chauvin, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 90
22.1 mi
28m
I 310
11.1 mi
12m
Highway 56
11.1 mi
16m
I 10
10.1 mi
12m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
LA 182
3.1 mi
3m
State Highway 3087
3.1 mi
3m
East Main Street
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 90
— 22.1 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chauvin, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on Chauvin Street
99 ft·9 sec·Chauvin Street
2
Turn left onto LA 56
11 mi·16 min·Highway 56
3
Continue on LA 24
2.8 mi·4 min·East Main Street
4
Turn right onto Prospect Boulevard
1.9 mi·3 min·Prospect Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on LA 3087
3.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 3087
6
Turn right onto LA 182
3.1 mi·3 min·LA 182
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 90 East: New Orleans
8
Merge onto US 90
22 mi·28 min·US 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 310 North, LA 3127 North: Donaldsonville, New Orleans
10
Continue on I 310
11 mi·12 min·I 310
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward I 10 East: New Orleans
12
Merge onto I 10
9.6 mi·11 min·I 10
Use the straight lane.
13
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.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
17
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 33-minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Chauvin in the morning will get you to New Orleans with plenty of daylight. There are no specific stops recommended, but keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without major services is 22.1 miles on US 90. The estimated fuel cost of $11 makes this an inexpensive journey. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic as you approach New Orleans, especially during peak hours, as this can significantly extend your travel time beyond the estimated 1 hour and 33 minutes.
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 35.6 miles from Chauvin, LA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.1 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.6 miles or 49m 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 19m
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 Chauvin, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chauvin, LA
This is one driving day of about 71.2 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Chauvin, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 90 for about 22.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 70.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.9 mi into trip|~21m in|Prospect Boulevard
Turn right onto Prospect Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
56 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 East: New Orleans
8
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 31m 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
70.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m 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
$10.75 one way
$21.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$11.80
$23.61
premium
$4.56
$12.78
$25.56
diesel
$5.61
$15.72
$31.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.23
$2.85
EV Truck/SUV
28.5
0
$9.97
$4.56
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Chauvin, LA
Night
in Chauvin on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Night
in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
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
1 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
1h 33m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 90% of the journey taking place on faster roads like US 90 and I-310. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.1 miles on US 90, providing a good sense of steady progress. While the highway forms the backbone of this route, the inclusion of Highway 56 suggests a brief transition to a more local road feel before rejoining the main arteries. This mix offers a generally smooth and efficient travel experience.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on US 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 90 and I 310. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in near Prospect Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 13.9 miles (Prospect Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.3 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 Chauvin, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Business District 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 1h 33m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on US 90. 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 New Orleans, 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 13.9 miles (Prospect Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.3 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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Orleans, LA before heading back.
