Origin
Marrero, LA
Afternoon in Marrero on Friday
Local time
4:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marrero, LA to Ruston, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 58m
Distance
301.4 mi
485 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 45m
★
6 AM
5h 58m
8 AM
6h 24m
10 AM
6h 8m
12 PM
6h 5m
3 PM
6h 9m
5 PM
6h 23m
8 PM
5h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marrero, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Ruston, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Marrero, LA to Ruston, LA is 301.4 miles and takes about 5h 58m via Samuels Road and I-10, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, starting in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. You'll experience a mix of highway speeds and surface roads, making it a manageable single-day drive. Plan for a straightforward trip that requires minimal overnight stays.
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
150.7 miles from Marrero, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Samuels Road | 75.7 mi | 1h 28m |
| I 10 | 70.8 mi | 1h 20m |
| E. E. Wallace Boulevard North | 63.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| I 20 | 50.5 mi | 55m |
| Natchez-Vidalia Bridge | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Westbank Expressway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| LA 3152 | 3.8 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Samuels Road
— 75.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marrero, LA and Ruston, 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 right at fork onto I 110
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 110
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on US 61
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Scenic Highway
17
Continue on US 61
76 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
Samuels Road
18
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
19
Continue on US 84; US 425
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
John R Junkin Drive
20
Continue on US 84; US 425
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
21
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
22
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
23
Merge onto I 20
51 mi
·
55 min
·
I 20
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
25
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft
·
7 sec
26
Turn left onto LA 33
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Farmerville Highway
27
Continue on US 80
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Georgia Avenue
28
Turn left onto North Farmerville Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Farmerville Street
29
Turn right onto LA 146
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
East California Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
LA 146
Trip Plan
For this 5h 58m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop, you can manage your breaks efficiently. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before longer stretches like the 75.7 miles on Samuels Road. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility if you encounter unexpected traffic or decide to take a brief detour.
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 150.7 miles from Marrero, LA, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.7 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 66 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.7 miles or 3h 3m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruston, 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 301.4 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 Samuels Road for about 75.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.7 miles from Marrero, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Samuels Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.7 miles.
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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 299.3 — 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
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.
8
83.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
92.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
5
299.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.15 one way
$88.31 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $49.02 | $98.04 |
| premium | $4.49 | $53.23 | $106.46 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $66.44 | $132.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.65 | $14.47 |
| Efficient EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.37 | $12.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.6 | 1 | $42.20 | $19.29 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Ruston, LA
Afternoon in Ruston on Friday
Local time
4:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
3 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
5h 58m 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
~12 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 249.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This 301.4-mile route is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 47% of it being on highways. You'll encounter a significant 75.7-mile stretch on Samuels Road before transitioning to other road types. Expect to navigate areas with dense exits and merges as you transition between interstate and surface roads.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.7 mi on Samuels Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 301.4 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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
331 ft
-1 ft
Total Climb
588 ft
Total Descent
259 ft
Highest Point
331 ft
~298.4 mi in
Elevation Range
331 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Marrero, LA to Ruston, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
83.4 mi in
|
~1h 42m
|
via I 110
About the Cities
Starting in Marrero, LA
Full guide →Arriving in Ruston, LA
Full guide →Founded 1885
Ruston is the fourth-largest city in Northern Louisiana, with a population of about 23,000 people, and is home to Louisiana Tech University.
Top landmarks
- • Dixie Center for the Arts — theater and former movie theater in Ruston, Louisiana, United States
- • Downtown — historic district and central business district in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louis...
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 301.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.7 miles on Samuels Road. 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 Ruston, 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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ruston, LA before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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