Traveling from Jonesboro to Kenner covers 264 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 17 minutes. This journey is best suited as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Southeast Louisiana locations. Since the route relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, expect a more hands-on driving experience. It is a straightforward trip for those who prefer navigating regional highways over the monotony of major freight corridors.
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
131.7 miles from Jonesboro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
71.4 mi
1h 20m
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
64.5 mi
1h 5m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
East Lafayette Street
47.7 mi
58m
Winnfield Highway
21.7 mi
27m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
South Hudson Avenue
2 mi
3m
Williams Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, LA and Kenner, LA.
1
Start on Allen Avenue
109 ft·2 sec·Allen Avenue
2
Turn left onto LA 4
0.2 mi·24 sec·Chatham Highway
3
Turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·South Hudson Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 167
1.0 mi·1 min·South Hudson Avenue
5
Continue on US 167
22 mi·27 min·Winnfield Highway
6
Continue on US 84; US 167; LA 34
48 mi·58 min·East Lafayette Street
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
0.8 mi·1 min·US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
8
Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP
64 mi·1 hr 5 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
10
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
11
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
13
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
14
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 223A-BToward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans International AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
174 ft·4 sec
Toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International Airport, Williams Boulevard SouthUse the right lane.
17
Turn right onto LA 49
1.0 mi·2 min·Williams Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto 21st Street
38 ft·1 sec·21st Street
19
Arrive at destination
21st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 17-minute journey, plan for at least one stop to break up the drive. Since this is a turn-heavy route, leaving early in the morning helps you navigate local intersections during daylight hours when visibility is best. Keep your fuel budget of $36 in mind as you plan your stops, ensuring you fill up at convenient intervals along the local roads. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as you can easily adjust your pace based on traffic flow. A concrete tip for this trip: keep your GPS active at all times, as the reliance on local highways means you will encounter frequent turns that are easy to miss without navigation assistance.
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 131.7 miles from Jonesboro, LA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 58 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.7 miles or 2h 31m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenner, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, LA
This is one driving day of about 263.4 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Jonesboro, 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 I 10 for about 71.4 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 1.3 and 262.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|US 167 / South Hudson Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 167 / South Hudson Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
6
137.5 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
262.1 mi into trip|~5h 7m in
Take the exit toward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans International Airport
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 223A-B
Toward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans I...
9
262.4 mi into trip|~5h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International Airport, Williams Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.78 one way
$79.56 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$43.67
$87.34
premium
$4.56
$47.28
$94.55
diesel
$5.61
$58.16
$116.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79
0
$27.66
$12.64
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.05
$10.54
EV Truck/SUV
105.4
1
$36.88
$16.86
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Jonesboro, LA
Night
in Jonesboro on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kenner, LA
Night
in Kenner on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Broussard, LA
132 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
13 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
5h 10m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 263.4
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 36.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a typical interstate slog, this route utilizes Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, and Winnfield Highway, resulting in a 0% highway share. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches on these roads, you will spend the entire drive navigating transitions rather than cruising on autopilot. The character of the road is technical and requires your full attention as you move through the Louisiana landscape. Prepare for a steady, rhythmic pace that contrasts sharply with standard highway travel.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on I 10.
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 1.3 miles in near US 167 / South Hudson Avenue.
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 263.4 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 1.3 miles (US 167 / South Hudson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 71.7 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.5 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Jonesboro, LA to Kenner, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Kenner is a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana, on the east bank of Jefferson Parish, approximately 10 mi (16 km) west of the city. It is the location of New Orleans International Airport. René-Robert Cavelier landed on this stretch of the north shore of the Mississippi River in 1682.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 263.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on I 10. 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 Kenner, 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 1.3 miles (US 167 / South Hudson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 71.7 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 137.5 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kenner, LA before the return drive.
