Lake Arthur, LA to Metairie Terrace, LA is 177 miles and takes about 3h 30m via I 10 and State Route 26, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Southeast Louisiana drive is almost entirely highway, making for a straightforward trip. You'll transition from more rural areas to the outskirts of a major metropolitan region. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal for those looking for efficiency and minimal fuss.
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
88.5 miles from Lake Arthur, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
162.3 mi
3h 2m
State Route 26
5 mi
8m
Highway 26
3.4 mi
5m
Elton Road
1.7 mi
3m
South Lake Arthur Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
West Metairie Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Clearview Parkway
1 mi
2m
Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 162.3 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Arthur, LA and Metairie Terrace, LA.
1
Start on LA 26
0.1 mi·11 sec·Calcasieu Avenue
2
Turn straight onto LA 26
3.4 mi·5 min·Highway 26
3
Continue on State Route 26
5.0 mi·8 min·State Route 26
4
Continue on LA 26
1.5 mi·2 min·South Lake Arthur Avenue
5
Continue on LA 26
1.7 mi·3 min·Elton Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 10
162 mi·3 hr 2 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 226Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long BridgeUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto LA 3152
1.0 mi·2 min·Clearview Parkway
11
Turn right onto West Metairie Avenue
253 ft·6 sec·West Metairie Avenue
12
Continue on West Metairie Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·West Metairie Avenue
13
Turn right onto Division Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Division Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·Mayflower Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Mayflower Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 30m duration, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach your destination comfortably. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility; consider a mid-morning departure to avoid peak rush hour if heading into Metairie Terrace. There's only one recommended stop, so plan to refuel before you leave Lake Arthur if your tank is low, as the fuel cost is estimated at $27. The long stretch on I 10 means you'll want to be sure you're comfortable with your fuel level before embarking on that segment.
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 88.5 miles from Lake Arthur, LA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.3 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.5 miles or 1h 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 2h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie Terrace, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Arthur, 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 Lake Arthur, LA
This is one driving day of about 177 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Lake Arthur, 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 162.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.9 and 176.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.9 mi into trip|~21m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
174.3 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
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 226
Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
8
174.4 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridg...
4
175.7 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|West Metairie Avenue
Turn right onto West Metairie Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
176.9 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|Mayflower Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Mayflower Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.73 one way
$53.46 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.34
$58.69
premium
$4.56
$31.77
$63.54
diesel
$5.61
$39.08
$78.16
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: 61.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.49
$7.08
EV Truck/SUV
70.8
0
$24.78
$11.33
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Lake Arthur, LA
Morning
in Lake Arthur on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie Terrace, LA
Morning
in Metairie Terrace on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
3 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
3h 30m 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?
This route is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed interstates. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 162.3 miles on I 10. You'll experience a lot of consistent cruising. Towards the end of your drive, expect a higher density of exits as you approach the New Orleans metropolitan area.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and State Route 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 11.9 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 30m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 177 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 162.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.9 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 174.4 miles: 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Metairie Terrace, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
