Traveling from Leesville to New Orleans covers 242.6 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 4 minutes of drive time. Because this route stays entirely within the Southeast region of Louisiana, you will experience a consistent local landscape throughout your journey. With a total estimated fuel cost of $37, this trip is well-suited for a one-day excursion. You won't need to plan an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace, as the distance is manageable for a single push. Expect a shift from the smaller-town feel of Leesville to the vibrant, high-energy environment of New Orleans as you reach your destination.
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
126.2 miles from Leesville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
79.1 mi
1h 30m
I 49
60.2 mi
1h
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
Alexandria Highway
48 mi
55m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
Jefferson Highway
3 mi
4m
Macarthur Drive
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 79.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leesville, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on East Texas Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·East Texas Street
2
Turn right onto US 171; LA 8
0.8 mi·1 min·North 5th Street
3
Turn right onto LA 1213
0.4 mi·39 sec·Kurthwood Road
4
Merge onto LA 8; LA 28
48 mi·55 min·Alexandria Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
6
Merge onto US 71; US 165
1.6 mi·2 min·Macarthur Drive
7
Enter roundabout onto US 71
0.4 mi·35 sec·Jefferson Highway
8
Continue on US 71
2.6 mi·4 min·Jefferson Highway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Opelousas
10
Merge onto I 49
60 mi·1 hr·I 49
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
12
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
13
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
15
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
16
Merge onto I 10
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi·36 sec·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 234BToward Poydras Street, SuperdomeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Claiborne Avenue
21
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Tulane Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
Plan for one dedicated stop along the way to break up the 4-hour drive and keep yourself fresh. Since you are navigating local roads exclusively, try to depart early in the day to avoid potential congestion on smaller stretches. Budget approximately $37 for gas, but keep in mind that local roads can sometimes impact fuel efficiency compared to highway cruising. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent speed adjustments and maneuvering. Staying flexible with your departure time is a major advantage here, as the lack of highway miles allows you to adjust your schedule easily if you encounter unexpected traffic on the local routes.
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 126.2 miles from Leesville, LA, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.1 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 56 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
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 Leesville, 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 Leesville, LA
This is one driving day of about 252.5 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Leesville, 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 79.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 115 and 251.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
115 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
6
115.6 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
247.6 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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
251.1 mi into trip|~4h 52m 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
251.6 mi into trip|~4h 52m 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
$38.13 one way
$76.27 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.86
$83.72
premium
$4.56
$45.32
$90.64
diesel
$5.61
$55.75
$111.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.8
0
$26.51
$12.12
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.09
$10.10
EV Truck/SUV
101
1
$35.35
$16.16
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Leesville, LA
Morning
in Leesville on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Morning
in New Orleans on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
1 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
4h 54m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via North 5th Street, Kurthwood Road, and Alexandria Highway, which keeps you off the major high-speed corridors. This setup requires more active attention behind the wheel, as the road personality is defined by winding local paths rather than monotonous straightaways. Because the route relies on smaller roads, you should prepare for a varied driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over rapid transit. Keep your focus sharp, as the technical nature of these roads makes for a more hands-on driving experience than a standard highway trek.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.1 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 252.5 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 115 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 247.6 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 Leesville, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas 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 4h 54m. Total distance: 252.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.1 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 New Orleans, 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 115 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 247.6 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at New Orleans, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
