This 296.5-mile drive from Grambling, Louisiana, to Metairie, Louisiana, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes. You'll primarily be on Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425 before merging onto I-10. With a highway share of 72%, expect a largely highway-focused experience. Plan for an estimated fuel cost of $45. Given the relatively short duration, this trip is very manageable as a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. The route stays within the Southeast region of the US.
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
148.2 miles from Grambling, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Grambling, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto LA 150
0.2 mi·22 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
3
Turn right onto LA 149
0.7 mi·1 min·Rwe Jones Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
5
Merge onto I 20
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 20
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
7
Turn right onto US 425
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 425
8
Keep slight right at fork
526 ft·14 sec
9
Merge onto US 61
79 mi·1 hr 34 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
11
Continue on I 110
2.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110
0.5 mi·35 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 10
73 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
18
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
19
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
20
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
21
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 296.5-mile journey, leaving Grambling in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and arrive in Metairie with ample time. You'll have one recommended stop, so consider breaking up the 5-hour, 45-minute drive around the halfway point or when you transition to I-10. With a fuel cost estimate of $45, ensure your tank is full before departing Grambling to minimize any unplanned stops. Pay attention to traffic conditions as you get closer to Metairie, especially if you're traveling during peak hours. The 79.3-mile stretch on Seargent Prentiss Drive is your longest continuous segment, so plan accordingly for any necessary breaks before or after this section.
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 148.2 miles from Grambling, LA, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 65 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.2 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grambling, 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 Grambling, LA
This is one driving day of about 296.5 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Grambling, 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 Seargent Prentiss Drive for about 79.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 295.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 150 / Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto LA 150 / Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
57.5 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
6
222 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
295.2 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
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 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
295.3 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.16 one way
$82.32 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$46.05
$92.10
premium
$4.29
$50.07
$100.13
diesel
$4.80
$55.98
$111.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89
1
$31.13
$14.23
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.94
$11.86
EV Truck/SUV
118.6
1
$41.51
$18.98
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Grambling, LA
Late night
in Grambling on Sunday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
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
2 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
5h 45m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 296.5
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 61.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this 5-hour, 45-minute drive is predominantly highway. With 72% of the journey on highways, you'll find stretches of consistent speed and efficiency. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive, offering a good period of steady travel. While much of the route is focused on getting you there, the shift onto I-10 will introduce more typical interstate traffic patterns as you approach the New Orleans metropolitan area. Expect a straightforward driving experience for the majority of your trip.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on Seargent Prentiss Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near LA 150 / Martin Luther King Jr Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 296.5 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 0.2 miles (LA 150 / Martin Luther King Jr Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 57.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
353 ft1 ft
Total Climb
295 ft
Total Descent
599 ft
Highest Point
353 ft
~169.4 mi in
Elevation Range
352 ft
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 Grambling, LA to Metairie, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 296.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Metairie, 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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (LA 150 / Martin Luther King Jr Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 57.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Metairie, LA before the return drive.
