Kenner, LA to Grambling, LA is 292.3 miles and takes about 5h 40m via Samuels Road and I-10, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on the interstate. With only one recommended stop and a total drive time under six hours, this is a straightforward, one-day excursion for most drivers.
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
146.2 miles from Kenner, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Samuels Road
75.7 mi
1h 28m
I 10
67.4 mi
1h 15m
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi
1h 12m
I 20
56.3 mi
1h 1m
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:
Samuels Road
— 75.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenner, LA and Grambling, LA.
1
Start on 21st Street
38 ft·5 sec·21st Street
2
Turn right onto LA 49
0.1 mi·12 sec·Williams Boulevard
3
Continue on LA 49
1.2 mi·2 min·Williams Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
5
Merge onto I 10
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Continue on I 110
2.6 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 8CToward US 61 North: NatchezUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 61
3.8 mi·5 min·Scenic Highway
10
Continue on US 61
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·Samuels Road
11
Turn left
0.1 mi·17 sec
12
Continue on US 84; US 425
2.4 mi·2 min·John R Junkin Drive
13
Continue on US 84; US 425
11 mi·12 min·Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
14
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
15
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
16
Merge onto I 20
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 20
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
379 ft·9 sec
19
Turn straight onto LA 149
0.9 mi·1 min·Rwe Jones Drive
20
Turn left onto LA 150
0.2 mi·23 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
21
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 40m drive, aim for an early morning departure from Kenner. This will help you avoid potential traffic and allow ample time to reach Grambling before dark. The route has one recommended stop, which you can use for a quick break or to refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 75.7-mile stretch on Samuels Road, as services might be less frequent there compared to the interstate. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility to adjust your pace as needed.
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 146.2 miles from Kenner, LA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.7 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 64 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 2h 52m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grambling, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kenner, 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 Kenner, LA
This is one driving day of about 292.3 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Kenner, 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 Samuels Road for about 75.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 291 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 49 / Williams Boulevard
Turn right onto LA 49 / Williams Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
69.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m 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
78 mi into trip|~1h 31m 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
5
291 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.58 one way
$81.15 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$45.40
$90.80
premium
$4.29
$49.36
$98.71
diesel
$4.80
$55.19
$110.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.7
1
$30.69
$14.03
Efficient EV
73.1
0
$25.58
$11.69
EV Truck/SUV
116.9
1
$40.92
$18.71
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Kenner, LA
Late night
in Kenner on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:16PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Grambling, LA
Late night
in Grambling on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:16PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:13PM CDT by NWS Shreveport 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
21 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 40m 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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 231.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 45% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good chunk of time on I-10. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 75.7 miles on Samuels Road, indicating some extended cruising outside of major interstate corridors. Expect a transition from potentially denser traffic near Kenner to more open cruising as you head northwest, with a noticeable change when you exit the interstate.
45% 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: 75.7 mi on Samuels Road.
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 early in the drive near LA 49 / Williams Boulevard.
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 12 significant decision points across 292.3 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: near the start (LA 49 / Williams Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.1 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
367 ft0 ft
Total Climb
615 ft
Total Descent
310 ft
Highest Point
367 ft
~125.3 mi in
Elevation Range
367 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 Kenner, LA to Grambling, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport 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 40m. Total distance: 292.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.7 miles on Samuels Road. 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 Grambling, 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: near the start (LA 49 / Williams Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.1 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Grambling, LA before the return drive.
