Origin
Marrero, LA
Late night in Marrero on Tuesday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marrero, LA to Ponchatoula, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marrero, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Ponchatoula, LA
Maive & Nahuel Fotografía
Trip Overview
Marrero, LA to Ponchatoula, LA is 54.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via I-10 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. Expect a straightforward drive, largely on major highways, making it a quick and efficient journey. It’s a good option if you need to get between these two points without much fuss. Consider this route for its simplicity and short travel time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 22.5 mi | 24m |
| I 10 | 16.3 mi | 20m |
| Westbank Expressway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| LA 3152 | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| US 90 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| US 51 Business | 2 mi | 3m |
| Nine Mile Point Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Barataria Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 22.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marrero, LA and Ponchatoula, 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
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 55 North: Hammond
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 55; US 51
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 55; US 51
15
Take the exit onto US 51 Business
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 51 Business
Exit 23
Toward US 51 Business: Ponchatoula
16
Arrive at destination
Northwest Railroad Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Marrero, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 52.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 90 Business West
Navigation decision point
Toward US 90 Business West
4
11.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
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
29 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Hammond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Hammond
5
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
US 51 Business
Take the exit onto US 51 Business toward US 51 Business: Ponchatoula
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 23
Toward US 51 Business: Ponchatoula
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.23 one way
$16.46 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.04 | $18.07 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Ponchatoula, LA
Late night in Ponchatoula on Tuesday
Local time
5:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 94% of the 54.5 miles spent on major interstates like I-10 and I-55. You'll encounter the Westbank Expressway early on, transitioning to the faster pace of the interstates. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 22.5 miles on I-55. The character of the drive is consistent, prioritizing direct travel over varied scenery, so settle in for a smooth, high-speed journey.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Ponchatoula, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ponchatoula, LA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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