Many, LA to Metairie, LA is 273.7 miles and takes about 5h 10m via I 49, I 10, and US 190, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, so expect efficient travel. Consider this a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
136.8 miles from Many, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
118 mi
1h 59m
I 10
76.5 mi
1h 27m
US 190
49.5 mi
1h 3m
Natchitoches Highway
22.6 mi
27m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
San Antonio Avenue
1 mi
1m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
47th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 118 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Many, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on Sabine Street
20 ft·6 sec·Sabine Street
2
Turn left onto North Capitol Street
173 ft·12 sec·North Capitol Street
3
Turn left onto LA 6
0.3 mi·22 sec·San Antonio Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto LA 6
0.8 mi·52 sec·San Antonio Avenue
5
Continue on LA 6
23 mi·27 min·Natchitoches Highway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 49 South: AlexandriaUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 49
118 mi·1 hr 59 min·I 49
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
9
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
10
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
12
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
13
Merge onto I 10
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
17
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
18
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
19
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
20
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 10m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to reach Metairie with plenty of daylight. The route is mostly highway, so plan for a single stop around the halfway point for fuel and a break. With a fuel cost estimated at $43, it's a relatively inexpensive trip. Pay attention to the transition off the interstate system as you get closer to your destination, as this is where traffic can become more complex. Since it's a single-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 136.8 miles from Many, LA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118 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 60 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.8 miles or 2h 23m 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 11m
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 Many, 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 Many, LA
This is one driving day of about 273.7 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Many, 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 49 for about 118 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 272.5 — 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|North Capitol Street
Turn left onto North Capitol Street
Navigation decision point
6
23.6 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 49 South: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
6
142.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
272.4 mi into trip|~5h 6m 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
272.5 mi into trip|~5h 6m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.99 one way
$75.99 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$42.51
$85.02
premium
$4.29
$46.22
$92.43
diesel
$4.80
$51.68
$103.36
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: 95.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.1
1
$28.74
$13.14
Efficient EV
68.4
0
$23.95
$10.95
EV Truck/SUV
109.5
1
$38.32
$17.52
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Many, LA
Late night
in Many on Sunday
Local time
3:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
3:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:02AM CDT until July 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
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
4 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
5h 10m 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.
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 273.7
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 37.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 90% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of the trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 118 miles on I 49. Expect a significant portion of your drive to be on I 10 and US 190 as well. Given the high percentage of highway driving, you'll notice frequent exits and an urban feel as you approach Metairie.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Capitol Street.
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 17 significant decision points across 273.7 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: near the start (North Capitol Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.5 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
271 ft1 ft
Total Climb
20 ft
Total Descent
290 ft
Highest Point
271 ft
Elevation Range
270 ft
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 Many, LA to Metairie, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Many (pronounced like the given name "Manny") is a small town in Central Louisiana and is the parish seat of Sabine Parish. The town is also the gateway to the Louisiana portion of the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 273.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Capitol Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.5 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Metairie, LA before the return drive.
