Marrero, LA to Leesville, LA is 256.7 miles and takes about 5h 5m via I 10 and State Route 1, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region of Louisiana, offering a mixed experience of highway cruising and surface road travel. You'll spend over half your time on the interstate, making it a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a total duration under six hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
128.3 miles from Marrero, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
74.7 mi
1h 24m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
60.1 mi
1h
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
Coliseum Boulevard
48.4 mi
56m
Westbank Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
LA 3152
3.8 mi
7m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Jefferson Highway
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marrero, LA and Leesville, 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
60 mi·1 hr·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 71, US 167 South: MacArthur Drive
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 71 North, US 671 North Business: MacArthur Drive
22
Continue on US 71; US 167 BUS
2.8 mi·4 min·Jefferson Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto US 71; US 165
0.3 mi·34 sec·Macarthur Drive
24
Continue on US 71; US 165
1.9 mi·2 min·Macarthur Drive
25
Take the exit
486 ft·13 sec
26
Continue on LA 28
48 mi·56 min·Coliseum Boulevard
27
Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8
314 ft·3 sec·North 6th Street
28
Continue on US 171; LA 8
1.2 mi·1 min·North 6th Street
29
Turn left onto LA 8
390 ft·7 sec·Nolan Trace Parkway
30
Continue on East Texas Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·East Texas Street
31
Arrive at destination
East Texas Street
Trip Plan
Given the drive is just over five hours, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Leesville before evening. You can complete this trip in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider breaking it up with an overnight stay. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move onto State Route 1, where services might be less frequent than on I 10. The $37 fuel estimate is based on average prices, so adjust for current rates. Plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel.
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 128.3 miles from Marrero, LA, or about 2h 39m 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 56 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.3 miles or 2h 39m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leesville, 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 256.7 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 200.9 — 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
6
200.9 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 71 North, US 671 North Business: MacArthur Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 North, US 671 North Business: MacA...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.96 one way
$79.92 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.05
$88.11
premium
$4.71
$47.61
$95.22
diesel
$6.18
$62.45
$124.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77
0
$26.95
$12.32
Efficient EV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
EV Truck/SUV
102.7
1
$35.94
$16.43
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Marrero, LA
Late night
in Marrero on Tuesday
Local time
12:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leesville, LA
Late night
in Leesville on Tuesday
Local time
12:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
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 5m 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?
The route is a 52% highway drive, meaning you'll experience both interstate speeds and slower surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 74.7 miles on I 10. Expect to transition from the interstate to surface roads, specifically Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 1, which will change the pace of your travel. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for varying traffic conditions and speed limits.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 20 significant decision points across 256.7 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: 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 256.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 Leesville, 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Leesville, LA before the return drive.
