Traveling from Jonesboro to Marrero covers 277.1 miles and typically requires about 4 hours and 39 minutes of driving time. Because this journey stays entirely within Louisiana, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of your trip. Budgeting roughly $38 for fuel should cover your needs for this excursion. Given the manageable timeframe, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect a straightforward trek that connects the northern part of the state down toward the Marrero area.
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
141.1 miles from Jonesboro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
78.6 mi
1h 29m
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
Pontchartrain Expressway
5.9 mi
6m
Westbank Expressway
5.6 mi
7m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 78.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, LA and Marrero, 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
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS
2.4 mi·2 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 90 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·Crescent City Connection
18
Continue on US 90 BUS
5.4 mi·6 min·Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 4BToward LA 45: Barataria BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto Westbank Expressway
0.3 mi·36 sec·Westbank Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Turn right onto LA 45
0.3 mi·39 sec·Barataria Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
LA 18
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, planning to depart early in the morning will help you navigate local roads while visibility is at its best. You should factor in at least one planned stop during your 4-hour and 39-minute drive to stretch your legs and remain alert on the winding sections. Keep in mind that because you aren't relying on major interstates, your travel time can fluctuate based on local traffic conditions. Make sure your fuel tank is ready for the $38 estimated cost before you head out, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options than major highways. Prioritize smooth, steady driving to handle the frequent turns safely as you transition from Jonesboro to Marrero.
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 141.1 miles from Jonesboro, LA, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.6 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 62 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.1 miles or 2h 42m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marrero, 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 282.2 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 78.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.7 and 281.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
269.4 mi into trip|~5h 16m 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
273 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
281.4 mi into trip|~5h 31m in
Take the exit toward LA 45: Barataria Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward LA 45: Barataria Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.62 one way
$85.24 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$46.79
$93.57
premium
$4.56
$50.65
$101.30
diesel
$5.61
$62.31
$124.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.7
1
$29.63
$13.55
Efficient EV
70.6
0
$24.69
$11.29
EV Truck/SUV
112.9
1
$39.51
$18.06
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, LA
Late night
in Jonesboro on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Marrero, LA
Late night
in Marrero on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Cloudy
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 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 33m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 272.5
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
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 38.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, and Winnfield Highway to navigate your path. With a highway share of 0%, you won’t find long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed pavement; in fact, the longest uninterrupted stretch on Chatham Highway is 0 miles. You will experience a road personality defined by frequent turns and local transitions rather than steady cruising. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads keeps you actively engaged throughout the entire 277.1-mile distance.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.6 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 71.7 miles in near US 167.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 282.2 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 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; at 269.4 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Marrero, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 33m. Total distance: 282.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.6 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 Marrero, 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 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; at 269.4 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 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marrero, LA before the return drive.
