Spanning 247.6 miles across Louisiana, this drive from DeRidder to New Orleans typically takes about 4 hours and 42 minutes. Because the total travel time is manageable, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $38 on fuel, making this a cost-effective trek between the western and southeastern parts of the state. You will primarily navigate via Highway 171, the Martin Luther King Highway, and I-10. This trip is straightforward and best suited for travelers looking to reach their destination efficiently while staying within the 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
123.8 miles from DeRidder, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
197.6 mi
3h 41m
Highway 171
37.5 mi
43m
Martin Luther King Highway
4.8 mi
7m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
West 1st Street
2.5 mi
2m
Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 197.6 mi, about 3h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between DeRidder, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on LA 27
155 ft·6 sec·South Pine Street
2
Turn right onto US 171; US 190
2.5 mi·2 min·West 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 171; US 190
38 mi·43 min·Highway 171
4
Continue on US 171
4.8 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
197 mi·3 hr 40 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
12
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, aim to depart early to avoid potential congestion as you approach the metropolitan area of New Orleans. Since the route is a single-day trip, plan for at least one well-timed stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the nearly five-hour duration. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the long 197.6-mile I-10 stretch, as service intervals can vary significantly once you are locked into the interstate flow. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the relatively short duration allows you to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic reports. Prioritize your comfort by breaking up the drive once, ensuring you arrive in the city feeling alert and ready for your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 123.8 miles from DeRidder, LA, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.6 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.8 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
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 DeRidder, 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 DeRidder, LA
This is one driving day of about 247.6 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from DeRidder, 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 I 10 for about 197.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 246.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Turn right onto US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
45.6 mi into trip|~55m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
242.7 mi into trip|~4h 35m 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
246.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m 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
246.7 mi into trip|~4h 40m 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
$37.39 one way
$74.79 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.05
$82.10
premium
$4.56
$44.44
$88.88
diesel
$5.61
$54.67
$109.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.3
0
$26.00
$11.88
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.67
$9.90
EV Truck/SUV
99
1
$34.66
$15.85
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
DeRidder, LA
Late night
in DeRidder on Tuesday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Late night
in New Orleans on Tuesday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Crowley, LA
124 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
1 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
4h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 247.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 96% of your journey spent on highways, this trip is clearly focused on speed and directness rather than backroad exploration. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 197.6 miles on I-10. While the initial sections involve Highway 171 and the Martin Luther King Highway, the experience is largely defined by the interstate grind. Prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace as you transition from the quiet of DeRidder to the dense traffic patterns nearing New Orleans. It is a functional drive designed to get you from A to B with minimal deviation.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.6 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Highway 171. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 247.6 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: near the start (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 242.7 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 4h 42m. Total distance: 247.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m 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 197.6 miles on I 10. 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: near the start (US 171; US 190 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 242.7 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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at New Orleans, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
