This 178.8-mile drive from Kinder, Louisiana, to Metairie, Louisiana, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking an estimated 3 hours and 34 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-10, with some time on West Vine Street and the Basile Eunice Highway. Given the relatively short duration and the Southeast region's consistent landscape, this route is straightforward. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $27. It's a practical option for a quick transit between these two Louisiana locations, offering a direct path without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.4 miles from Kinder, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
76.5 mi
1h 27m
West Vine Street
51.7 mi
1h 6m
Basile Eunice Highway
27.8 mi
31m
3rd Avenue
13.1 mi
14m
West Landry Street
4.4 mi
4m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
47th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 76.5 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kinder, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on US 190
13 mi·14 min·3rd Avenue
2
Continue on US 190
28 mi·31 min·Basile Eunice Highway
3
Continue on US 190
4.4 mi·4 min·West Landry Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 190
52 mi·1 hr 6 min·West Vine Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
7
Merge onto I 10
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
11
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
12
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
13
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
14
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
With a driving time of just under 3.5 hours, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave Kinder in the morning to make the most of your day upon arrival in Metairie. You'll encounter one main stretch of 76.5 miles on I-10, so plan for a potential fuel stop before embarking on that longer segment if needed. Given the relatively short distance, you can afford to be spontaneous with any brief stops along the way, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the longer highway portion.
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 89.4 miles from Kinder, LA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.5 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.4 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kinder, 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 Kinder, LA
This is one driving day of about 178.8 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Kinder, 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 76.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 100.9 and 178.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
100.9 mi into trip|~2h 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
177.5 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
177.6 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
5
178.6 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|North Causeway Boulevard
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
178.6 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|47th Street
Turn left onto 47th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.00 one way
$54.01 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.64
$59.29
premium
$4.56
$32.09
$64.18
diesel
$5.61
$39.48
$78.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.65
$7.15
EV Truck/SUV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Kinder, LA
Afternoon
in Kinder on Tuesday
Local time
12:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie, LA
Afternoon
in Metairie on Tuesday
Local time
12:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
83°F
Broussard, LA
89 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
19 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
3h 34m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 178.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The road character for this 178.8-mile trip is a mixed drive, with 45% of it being highway. Expect about 76.5 miles on I-10, which provides a consistent, faster pace for a significant portion of your journey. The Basile Eunice Highway and West Vine Street will offer a different driving experience, likely with lower speed limits and more local traffic. This blend means you'll transition between open highway cruising and more community-oriented roads, so be prepared for varied conditions as you travel.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 100.9 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 100.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 178.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.5 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 Metairie, 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 100.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Metairie, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
