Marrero, LA to Alexandria, LA is 206.3 miles and takes about 4h 4m via I 10 and State Route 1, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's manageable for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on interstate, making it an efficient way to cover the distance between these two points.
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
103.2 miles from Marrero, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
74.7 mi
1h 24m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
64.9 mi
1h 5m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
Westbank Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
LA 3152
3.8 mi
7m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
US 90
2.6 mi
3m
Nine Mile Point Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marrero, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on LA 18
346 ft·12 sec·Barataria Boulevard
2
Continue on LA 18
0.4 mi·57 sec·Barataria Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Westbank Expressway
131 ft·2 sec·Westbank Expressway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 90 Business West
5
Merge onto US 90 BUS
4.2 mi·5 min·Westbank Expressway
6
Turn right onto Nine Mile Point Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Nine Mile Point Road
7
Continue on West Nine Mile Point Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Nine Mile Point Road
8
Turn right onto US 90; LA 18
2.6 mi·3 min·US 90; LA 18
9
Continue on LA 3152
3.8 mi·7 min·LA 3152
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
12
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
19
Merge onto I 49; US 167
65 mi·1 hr 5 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
21
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·10th Street
22
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Murray Street
23
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 4m drive time, leaving Marrero in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Alexandria with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself; consider a brief break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you approach Alexandria, and budget around $33 for gas. Since this is a single-day drive, you can easily adjust your departure time if needed.
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 103.2 miles from Marrero, LA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 45 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.2 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marrero, 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 Marrero, LA
This is one driving day of about 206.3 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Marrero, 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 74.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 87.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.6 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.
6
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
87.3 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
5
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway
Merge onto LA 415 / North Lobdell Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.64 one way
$57.28 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.04
$64.08
premium
$4.29
$34.84
$69.67
diesel
$4.80
$38.95
$77.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.9
0
$21.66
$9.90
Efficient EV
51.6
0
$18.05
$8.25
EV Truck/SUV
82.5
1
$28.88
$13.20
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Marrero, LA
Late night
in Marrero on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Alexandria, LA
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
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 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 4m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 65% of this 206.3-mile route. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 74.7 miles, which occurs on I 10. After the interstate segments, you'll transition to Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 1, which will feel more like cruising through towns and rural areas with more frequent intersections.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort10/10
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 16 significant decision points across 206.3 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 12.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
79 ft-4 ft
Total Climb
88 ft
Total Descent
14 ft
Highest Point
79 ft
~191.6 mi in
Elevation Range
83 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Alexandria is a historic city, rich in Louisiana history. Civil War historic sites along with easy access to numerous historic locations and Kisatchie National Forest sites make it a city ideal for history enthusiasts and sportsmen.
Top landmarks
•Arna Wendell Bontemps House — historic house in Louisiana, United States
•Bolton High School — high school in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 206.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Alexandria, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Alexandria, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
