Henderson to New Orleans is 123 miles and takes about 2 hours 24 minutes via I 10, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to its neighbor. It’s a primarily highway-focused trip, making it an efficient choice for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a single-day journey, as the relatively short distance and direct route don't necessitate an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.5 miles from Henderson, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
115.7 mi
2h 12m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
Henderson Highway
0.9 mi
1m
Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 115.7 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on LA 352
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
2
Continue on LA 352
0.9 mi·1 min·Henderson Highway
3
Enter roundabout
68 ft·1 sec
4
Continue
0.3 mi·37 sec
5
Merge onto I 10
115 mi·2 hr 12 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
10
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 24 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You can leave whenever is most convenient for you, whether it's early morning or mid-afternoon. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's a budget-friendly option. The longest stretch is 115.7 miles on I 10, so plan for one primary fuel stop if needed, ideally before you hit that long segment to avoid any last-minute searches.
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 61.5 miles from Henderson, LA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.7 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 57m
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 Henderson, 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 Henderson, LA
This is one driving day of about 123 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Henderson, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 115.7 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 122.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 22m 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
$18.58 one way
$37.15 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$20.39
$40.78
premium
$4.56
$22.08
$44.15
diesel
$5.61
$27.16
$54.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Henderson, LA
Morning
in Henderson on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Morning
in New Orleans on Tuesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph6% 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
3 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
2h 24m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of it on major roads like I 10 and the Pontchartrain Causeway. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including one segment of 115.7 miles solely on I 10. The driving experience will be characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel, with minimal transitions to local roads. Main Street in New Orleans will be your final approach, offering a change of pace as you enter the city.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Pontchartrain Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 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.
The longest stretch is about 115.7 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Orleans, LA before heading back.
