This 85.5-mile drive from Gretna, LA to Baton Rouge, LA is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Given its short duration and minimal stops, it's ideal as a single-day excursion, so you won't need to worry about an overnight split. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an economical option for exploring the Southeast region of Louisiana. You'll primarily be on major expressways, so expect a consistent driving experience as you head towards the state capital.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Gretna, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pontchartrain Expressway
80.6 mi
1h 32m
Westbank Expressway
2.5 mi
3m
Crescent City Connection
0.6 mi
<1m
Government Street
0.6 mi
1m
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
0.4 mi
<1m
Evergreen Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
11th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Richard Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pontchartrain Expressway
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gretna, LA and Baton Rouge, LA.
1
Start on Richard Street
171 ft·12 sec·Richard Street
2
Turn left onto 11th Street
305 ft·15 sec·11th Street
3
Turn right onto Evergreen Drive
0.2 mi·51 sec·Evergreen Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto LA 23
0.4 mi·46 sec·Westbank Expressway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 90 Business East
6
Merge onto US 90 BUS
2.1 mi·2 min·Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on US 90 BUS
0.6 mi·57 sec·Crescent City Connection
8
Continue on US 90 BUS
81 mi·1 hr 32 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110
0.4 mi·29 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 1AToward LA 73: Government Street, River Center, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto LA 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Government Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
Government Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 41-minute drive, flexibility is your best friend. You can depart anytime, but leaving mid-morning might help you avoid the heaviest commuter traffic. With only 85.5 miles and a low fuel cost of $13, you won't need many fuel stops, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Gretna to ensure a smooth journey. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you navigate the expressways, as congestion can sometimes extend further than anticipated on these major arteries.
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 42.7 miles from Gretna, LA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 51m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baton Rouge, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gretna, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gretna, LA
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Gretna, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pontchartrain Expressway for about 80.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 84.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Evergreen Drive
Turn right onto Evergreen Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|LA 23 / Westbank Expressway
At end of road, turn left onto LA 23 / Westbank Expressway
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway
Merge onto US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward LA 73: Government Street, River Center, Downtown
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 1A
Toward LA 73: Government Street, River Center,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.83 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.17
$28.35
premium
$4.56
$15.35
$30.69
diesel
$5.61
$18.88
$37.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Gretna, LA
Late night
in Gretna on Sunday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Baton Rouge, LA
Late night
in Baton Rouge on Sunday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph0% chanceLive 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 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 highway-dominated experience, with 98% of this route utilizing major roads. The journey unfolds primarily on the Pontchartrain Expressway and Westbank Expressway, with a significant portion of uninterrupted travel on the Pontchartrain Expressway stretching for 80.6 miles. This means you'll be in a consistent, high-speed environment for most of your drive. The Crescent City Connection will be your link between these primary arteries as you make your way out of the immediate New Orleans metro area and towards Baton Rouge.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.6 mi on Pontchartrain Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pontchartrain Expressway and Westbank Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Evergreen Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Evergreen Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (LA 23 / Westbank Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, USA. Located on the east bank of the mighty Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is Louisiana's second largest city, home of Louisiana State University, major port facilities, and a variety of attractions.
The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on Pontchartrain Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Evergreen Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (LA 23 / Westbank Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Baton Rouge, LA before heading back.
