Greenwood, LA to New Orleans, LA is 333.7 miles and takes about 6h 11m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and I 10, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, moving from one part of Louisiana to another. It's a straightforward drive that’s manageable in a single day, especially if you get an early start. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic conditions as you approach your destination. The estimated fuel cost is around $50, making it an economical option for a quick getaway.
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
166.8 miles from Greenwood, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
180.8 mi
3h 3m
I 10
79.1 mi
1h 30m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
Inner Loop Expressway
6.9 mi
8m
I 20
5.6 mi
6m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
Greenwood Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 180.8 mi, about 3h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenwood, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on LA 169
128 ft·3 sec·Greenwood Springridge Road
2
Turn right onto US 79; US 80
1.2 mi·2 min·Greenwood Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
4
Merge onto I 20
5.6 mi·6 min·I 20
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 220 East, LA 3132 East: Alexandria
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward LA 3132 East: Alexandria
7
Merge onto LA 3132
6.9 mi·8 min·Inner Loop Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 49: Shreveport, Alexandria
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
10
Merge onto I 49
181 mi·3 hr 3 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
12
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
13
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
15
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
16
Merge onto I 10
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
21
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to New Orleans. With only one recommended stop and a total duration under 7 hours, this is easily a same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you choose to depart. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major change in road type is 180.8 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $50 should cover the trip, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Greenwood and perhaps once more along the way, particularly before hitting the more urban areas of New Orleans.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.8 miles from Greenwood, LA, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.8 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 73 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.8 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 1m
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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, LA
This is one driving day of about 333.7 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Greenwood, 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 Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 180.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 332.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 220 East, LA 3132 East: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 220 East, LA 3132 East: Alexandria
6
196.8 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
328.8 mi into trip|~6h 4m 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
332.3 mi into trip|~6h 8m 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
332.8 mi into trip|~6h 9m 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
$50.40 one way
$100.79 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$55.32
$110.65
premium
$4.56
$59.90
$119.79
diesel
$5.61
$73.68
$147.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
31 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Gonzales, LA - Tesla Supercharger
Gonzales, LA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Hammond Aire Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Baton Rouge, LA
Tesla
11 DCFC
Mall St. Vincent - Tesla Supercharger
Shreveport, LA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Shop-A-Lott - Tesla Supercharger
Natchitoches, LA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Holiday Inn Alexandria Downtown - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.1
1
$35.04
$16.02
Efficient EV
83.4
0
$29.20
$13.35
EV Truck/SUV
133.5
1
$46.72
$21.36
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Greenwood, LA
Evening
in Greenwood on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Evening
in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Alexandria, LA
167 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
7 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
6h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 333.7
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 44% of the route on interstates like I 10. You'll experience a long stretch of 180.8 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway before transitioning to other roads. Expect mixed highway and surface driving, meaning you'll encounter both high-speed cruising and potentially more local traffic and varied speed limits on US 190. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely involve a noticeable change in the environment and the density of exits.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.8 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 7.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 333.7 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 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196.8 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.8 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 Greenwood, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas 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 6h 11m. Total distance: 333.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.8 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. 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: at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 196.8 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 328.8 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Orleans, LA before the return drive.
