Traveling from Kentwood to New Orleans covers 88.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek within Southeast Louisiana, you can easily complete it as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to make the journey comfortably. Because there are zero formal stops planned, you will spend the entire time on the road. It is a practical route for those looking to reach the city efficiently while staying off the major interstates.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Kentwood, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
61.5 mi
1h 5m
I 10
20.5 mi
25m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
Avenue G
0.7 mi
1m
Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
State Route 38
0.2 mi
<1m
3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kentwood, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on US 51
512 ft·12 sec·3rd Street
2
Turn right onto LA 38
0.7 mi·1 min·Avenue G
3
Continue on LA 38
0.2 mi·24 sec·State Route 38
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·29 sec
5
Merge onto I 55
62 mi·1 hr 5 min·Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 10
20 mi·25 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
11
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 23 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the route is short, you do not need to worry about complex pacing or overnight breaks, allowing you to head out whenever it best suits your schedule. Make sure to fuel up before you leave Kentwood to cover your $12 estimate, as the lack of planned stops means you should be prepared to drive the full distance without interruptions. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider checking your vehicle's navigation system for potential traffic shifts on the Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway before you depart. Taking this local route instead of an interstate provides a different perspective on the regional transit between these two cities.
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 43.9 miles from Kentwood, LA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Orleans, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kentwood, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kentwood, LA
This is one driving day of about 87.7 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Kentwood, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway for about 61.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 86.9 — 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|I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Merge onto I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
62.8 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
82.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 234B
Toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.24 one way
$26.49 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.54
$29.08
premium
$4.56
$15.74
$31.48
diesel
$5.61
$19.36
$38.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.21
$4.21
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.67
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.28
$5.61
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 16, 2026
Origin
Kentwood, LA
Late night
in Kentwood on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Late night
in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph1% 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
10 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
1h 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate via Avenue G, State Route 38, and the Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway to reach your destination. Because the longest stretch on Avenue G is 0 miles, you will find yourself constantly adjusting to the road's rhythm rather than cruising on long, straightaways. This path offers a more personal, localized experience of the Southeast Louisiana landscape. Keep your hands on the wheel, as the winding nature of these local roads requires your full attention throughout the trip.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway.
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 87.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 1.3 miles (I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.9 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 Kentwood, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Business District along the way.
Way down yonder in New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans), you'll find the roots of jazz and a blossoming culture that is unlike anything else on Earth. Here, the laid-back atmosphere of the riverfront South has mixed with French sophistication, Spanish style, and African-American energy to create something greater than the sum of its parts. "NOLA" is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the top tourist destinations in the United States.
"Laissez les bons temps rouler" is what they say here in the Big Easy, and you too can "let the good times roll" with a cool stroll down Bourbon Street, a hot Dixieland band, and even hotter Creole cuisine. Mardi Gras may be the city's calling card, but that's just one day out of the hot and muggy year in New Orleans.
Go ahead, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, munch on some beignets, and watch the Saints go marchin' in.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 87.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway. 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 New Orleans, 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: at 1.3 miles (I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.8 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.9 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. 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 New Orleans, LA before heading back.
