Gretna, LA to Ruston, LA is 302.3 miles and takes about 5h 55m via Pontchartrain Expressway, Samuels Road, and E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is a practical option for getting across the state. Expect a mix of driving conditions, so keep an eye on your fuel and plan for breaks as needed.
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
151.2 miles from Gretna, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pontchartrain Expressway
80.6 mi
1h 32m
Samuels Road
75.7 mi
1h 28m
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi
1h 12m
I 20
50.5 mi
55m
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi
12m
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
6.2 mi
8m
Scenic Highway
3.8 mi
5m
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pontchartrain Expressway
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gretna, LA and Ruston, 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
6.2 mi·8 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 110
2.6 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 8CToward US 61 North: NatchezUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 61
3.8 mi·5 min·Scenic Highway
13
Continue on US 61
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·Samuels Road
14
Turn left
0.1 mi·17 sec
15
Continue on US 84; US 425
2.4 mi·2 min·John R Junkin Drive
16
Continue on US 84; US 425
11 mi·12 min·Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
17
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
18
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
19
Merge onto I 20
51 mi·55 min·I 20
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft·7 sec
22
Turn left onto LA 33
0.7 mi·1 min·Farmerville Highway
23
Continue on US 80
0.4 mi·1 min·East Georgia Avenue
24
Turn left onto North Farmerville Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Farmerville Street
25
Turn right onto LA 146
0.4 mi·54 sec·East California Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
LA 146
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 55-minute drive time, departing Gretna, LA in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a straightforward route, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep the $44 fuel budget in mind and ensure your tank is sufficiently full before heading out, especially since the longest stretch on the highway is over 80 miles. Watch for the shift in road types as you progress towards Ruston, as the highway segment will eventually give way to surface roads.
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 151.2 miles from Gretna, LA, or about 2h 59m 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 67 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.2 miles or 2h 59m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruston, 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.
+
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 Gretna, LA
This is one driving day of about 302.3 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Gretna, 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 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 93.1 — 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
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.46 one way
$92.93 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$51.39
$102.78
premium
$4.65
$55.31
$110.61
diesel
$5.35
$63.67
$127.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.7
1
$31.74
$14.51
Efficient EV
75.6
0
$26.45
$12.09
EV Truck/SUV
120.9
1
$42.32
$19.35
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Gretna, LA
Afternoon
in Gretna on Wednesday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph49% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 11:20AM CDT until June 2 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Ruston, LA
Afternoon
in Ruston on Wednesday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 11:20AM CDT until June 2 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
5 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 55m 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...
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 250.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 47% of this 302.3-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch of highway cruising at 80.6 miles on the Pontchartrain Expressway. The profile indicates a mixed highway and surface road experience, meaning you'll transition from faster-paced highway driving to more local roads. Be prepared for the change in speed and traffic patterns when the highway portion concludes.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 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?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Evergreen Drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 302.3 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 0.1 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
331 ft-1 ft
Total Climb
586 ft
Total Descent
254 ft
Highest Point
331 ft
~302.3 mi in
Elevation Range
332 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 Gretna, LA to Ruston, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 302.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on Pontchartrain Expressway. 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 Ruston, 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 0.1 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 and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ruston, LA before the return drive.
