This 328.5-mile drive from Homer, Louisiana, to Metairie, Louisiana, is a substantial journey that can be comfortably completed in about 6 hours and 26 minutes. Given the duration and distance, it's best suited as a single-day trip, allowing you ample time to reach your destination without feeling overly rushed. The estimated fuel cost for this Southeast region to Southeast region route is around $50. You'll primarily navigate via Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425 before merging onto I-10, offering a mixed driving experience that balances highway speeds with local road travel. This route is a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B within Louisiana.
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
164.2 miles from Homer, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Homer, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on this road
17 ft·0 sec·this road
2
Turn slight left
221 ft·9 sec
3
Continue on US 79; LA 9
3.0 mi·5 min·West Main
4
Enter roundabout onto LA 9
204 ft·3 sec·LA 9
5
Continue on LA 9
16 mi·22 min·LA 9
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
7
Merge onto I 20
70 mi·1 hr 16 min·Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
9
Turn right onto US 425
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 425
10
Keep slight right at fork
526 ft·14 sec
11
Merge onto US 61
79 mi·1 hr 34 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
13
Continue on I 110
2.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Merge onto I 10
73 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
20
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
21
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
22
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
23
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-and-a-half-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Homer to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach the New Orleans metropolitan area. With just one recommended stop, plan it strategically for a break around the halfway point or when you transition to I-10. The estimated fuel cost of $50 is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the longer stretches on Seargent Prentiss Drive, to ensure you don't run low before reaching a service area.
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 164.2 miles from Homer, LA, or about 3h 11m 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 72 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.2 miles or 3h 11m 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 16m
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 Homer, 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 Homer, LA
This is one driving day of about 328.5 miles and 6h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Homer, 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 3 and 327.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip|~5m in|LA 9
Enter roundabout onto LA 9
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
19.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Monroe
Navigation decision point
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
6
254 mi into trip|~4h 59m 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
327.2 mi into trip|~6h 22m 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
327.3 mi into trip|~6h 22m 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
$45.60 one way
$91.20 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$51.02
$102.04
premium
$4.29
$55.47
$110.94
diesel
$4.80
$62.03
$124.05
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: 114.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.6
1
$34.49
$15.77
Efficient EV
82.1
0
$28.74
$13.14
EV Truck/SUV
131.4
1
$45.99
$21.02
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Homer, LA
Evening
in Homer on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Partly Sunny
0 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:11PM CDT until July 21 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Metairie, LA
Evening
in Metairie on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:11PM CDT until July 21 at 4:00AM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 26m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 328.5
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 90.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed driving profile, with approximately 53% of the journey on highways. You'll begin on roads like Seargent Prentiss Drive, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 79.3 miles on this particular road. As you progress, the drive transitions to more significant highways and eventually I-10, which will likely feel like a faster-paced, more direct segment. Expect a blend of rural and semi-urban environments, with the character of the drive evolving from more open stretches to busier corridors closer to your destination.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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 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 3 miles in near LA 9.
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 328.5 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 3 miles (LA 9): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 19.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 254 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
355 ft1 ft
Total Climb
368 ft
Total Descent
651 ft
Highest Point
355 ft
~23.5 mi in
Elevation Range
354 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 Homer, LA to Metairie, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 26m. Total distance: 328.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 26m 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 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 3 miles (LA 9): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 19.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 254 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 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 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.
