Origin
Maryland, LA
Morning in Maryland on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maryland, LA to Donaldsonville, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
42.9 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maryland, LA
Styves Exantus
Donaldsonville, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Maryland, LA to Donaldsonville, LA is 42.9 miles and takes about 58 minutes via Highway 1, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana's Southeast region, offering a short, direct journey. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option for a quick transit. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, allowing for easy scheduling. Plan for a simple, efficient drive with minimal logistical planning needed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 1 | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| Highway 1 South | 11.5 mi | 17m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 10 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Eden Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West 10th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Scotland Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 1
— 18.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryland, LA and Donaldsonville, LA.
1
Start on this road
86 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto LA 19
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Scotland Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left
305 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
this road
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
5
Merge onto I 110
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 1I
Toward I 10 West: Lafayette
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 153
Toward LA 1 North, LA 1 South: Port Allen, Plaquemine
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Toward LA 1 South: Plaquemine
Use the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward LA 1 South: Plaquemine
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto LA 1
11 mi
·
17 min
·
Highway 1 South
13
Turn slight right onto LA 1
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Eden Street
14
Continue on LA 1
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Highway 1
15
Continue on LA 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 10th Street
16
Arrive at destination
LA 1
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Maryland, 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 0.7 and 10.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
8
8.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: Lafayette
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1I
Toward I 10 West: Lafayette
8
10.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward LA 1 North, LA 1 South: Port Allen, Plaquemine
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 153
Toward LA 1 North, LA 1 South: Port Allen, Plaq...
8
10.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 1 South: Plaquemine
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward LA 1 South: Plaquemine
8
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 1 South: Plaquemine
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward LA 1 South: Plaquemine
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.48 one way
$12.96 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.70 | $15.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.50 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Donaldsonville, LA
Morning in Donaldsonville on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
23 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
58m 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 highway-focused, with 91% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey, including an uninterrupted stretch of 18.5 miles on Highway 1. The primary roads include Highway 1, Highway 1 South, and the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway, indicating a mix of state highways and potentially a freeway segment. Expect a driving personality that prioritizes directness and speed over leisurely exploration.
91% 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: 18.5 mi on Highway 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 1 and Highway 1 South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 42.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Maryland, LA to Donaldsonville, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Plaquemine along the way.
Plaquemine
10.3 mi in
|
~14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 42.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.5 miles on Highway 1. 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 Donaldsonville, 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Donaldsonville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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