This 78.8-mile drive from Kenner, Louisiana, to Watson, Louisiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with an 85% highway share, making it a straightforward journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this drive is quite budget-friendly. As both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travels. This route is ideal for those seeking an efficient and uncomplicated transit between these two Louisiana locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Kenner, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
28.4 mi
30m
West Florida Republic Parkway
22.1 mi
23m
I 10
12.9 mi
16m
Lockhart Road
4.5 mi
7m
LA 16
3.2 mi
4m
Florida Boulevard
2.7 mi
3m
Williams Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Walker South Road
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 28.4 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenner, LA and Watson, 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
13 mi·16 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North: HammondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 55; US 51
28 mi·30 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 29BToward I 12 West: Baton Rouge
9
Merge onto I 12
22 mi·23 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward LA 447: Walker
11
Keep slight left at fork
436 ft·10 sec
Toward LA 447: Walker
12
Enter roundabout onto LA 447
47 ft·0 sec·Walker South Road
13
Continue on LA 447
1.1 mi·1 min·Walker South Road
14
Turn left onto US 190
2.7 mi·3 min·Florida Boulevard
15
Turn right onto LA 1026; LA 1027
0.4 mi·52 sec·Burgess Avenue
16
Turn left onto LA 1026
1.9 mi·3 min·Lockhart Road
17
Enter roundabout onto LA 1026
125 ft·2 sec·Lockhart Road
18
Continue on LA 1026
0.7 mi·1 min·Lockhart Road
19
Enter roundabout onto LA 1026
67 ft·1 sec·Lockhart Road
20
Continue on LA 1026
1.9 mi·3 min·Lockhart Road
21
Turn right onto LA 16
3.2 mi·4 min·LA 16
22
Turn right onto LA 1019
0.2 mi·17 sec·LA 1019
23
Turn slight right
125 ft·5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 36 minute duration of this 78.8-mile trip, there's no need to break it up. You can easily depart at your convenience, though an early start might help you avoid any potential traffic. With a fuel cost of around $12, you won't need extensive fuel planning, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to the transition from I-10 to I-55, as this is a key point in your navigation. Since there are no specified stops, enjoy the flexibility this short drive offers.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Kenner, LA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.4 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kenner, LA
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Kenner, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 28.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 66.6 — 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.
6
14.7 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Hammond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Hammond
5
44.1 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward I 12 West: Baton Rouge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 29B
Toward I 12 West: Baton Rouge
6
66.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 447: Walker
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 447: Walker
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.80 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.06
$26.13
premium
$4.56
$14.14
$28.29
diesel
$5.61
$17.40
$34.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.27
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.03
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Kenner, LA
Late night
in Kenner on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Watson, LA
Late night
in Watson on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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
1h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 78.8-mile drive, with 85% of your journey on major interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 28.4 miles on I-55, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While primarily interstate, the route does incorporate segments of West Florida Republic Parkway, providing some variation in the road ahead. This drive is designed for efficiency, minimizing complex navigation and maximizing your time on the open road.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and West Florida Republic Parkway. 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.8 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 1h 36m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Watson, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Watson, LA before heading back.
