Kenner, LA to Vivian, LA is 346.7 miles and takes about 6h 28m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and I 10, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a solid option for getting across the state without needing to break it up.
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
173.4 miles from Kenner, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
186.3 mi
3h 10m
I 10
71.3 mi
1h 20m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
Alvin B Kessler Memorial Highway
18.7 mi
19m
Highway 170
6.6 mi
9m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
North Market Street
2.8 mi
4m
South Pardue Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 186.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenner, LA and Vivian, 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 left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
12
Merge onto I 49; US 167
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
14
Continue on Pete Harris Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Pete Harris Drive
15
Turn right onto LA 173
0.3 mi·44 sec·Caddo Street
16
Turn left onto Common Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Common Street
17
Turn left onto US 71; LA 1
2.8 mi·4 min·North Market Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto LA 3194
0.4 mi·41 sec·Doctor Martin Luther King Drive
Use the left lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
20
Merge onto I 49
19 mi·19 min·Alvin B Kessler Memorial Highway
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward LA 170: Vivian, Gilliam
22
Turn left onto Highway 170
6.6 mi·9 min·Highway 170
23
Continue on LA 170
1.4 mi·2 min·South Pardue Street
24
Turn slight left onto East Arkansas Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·East Arkansas Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
West Arkansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6.5-hour estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Leaving Kenner in the morning should give you plenty of daylight to reach Vivian. The route includes one recommended stop, so plan to stretch your legs and refuel accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 186.3-mile stretch, and consider filling up before you begin if you're starting with a low tank.
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 173.4 miles from Kenner, LA, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.3 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 76 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.4 miles or 3h 21m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vivian, 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 346.7 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 186.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.1 and 315.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
69.1 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
6
312.7 mi into trip|~5h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Pete Harris Drive, Murphy Street
6
315.6 mi into trip|~5h 49m in|US 71; LA 1 / North Market Street
Turn left onto US 71; LA 1 / North Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.13 one way
$96.26 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$53.85
$107.70
premium
$4.29
$58.54
$117.09
diesel
$4.80
$65.46
$130.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104
1
$36.40
$16.64
Efficient EV
86.7
0
$30.34
$13.87
EV Truck/SUV
138.7
1
$48.54
$22.19
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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
Evening
in Kenner on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°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
Destination
Vivian, LA
Evening
in Vivian on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph3% 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
97°F
Alexandria, LA
173 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
22 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
6h 28m 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.
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 239.1
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 drive offers a mix of highway and surface roads. For 186.3 miles, you'll be on the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, which is the longest continuous stretch. After that, you'll transition to other roads, including I 10. With 37% of the route on highways, expect periods of faster cruising interspersed with more local traffic and lower speeds as you move through towns and rural areas.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.3 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
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 69.1 miles in near I 10.
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 18 significant decision points across 346.7 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 69.1 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6h 28m. Total distance: 346.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 28m 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 186.3 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Vivian, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 69.1 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 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 Vivian, LA before the return drive.
