This 76.1-mile drive from Merrydale, LA to Metairie, LA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a single day trip. The route primarily utilizes I 10 and Airline Highway, making it a practical choice for those looking for an efficient drive through the Southeast region. This trip is well-suited for a day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Merrydale, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
64.4 mi
1h 12m
Airline Highway
6.4 mi
10m
Lanier Drive
1.7 mi
4m
Siegen Lane
1.3 mi
2m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Greenwell Springs Road
0.3 mi
<1m
47th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Greenwell Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrydale, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on Greenwell Street
222 ft·7 sec·Greenwell Street
2
Turn right onto Lanier Drive
1.7 mi·4 min·Lanier Drive
3
Turn right onto LA 37
0.3 mi·29 sec·Greenwell Springs Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 61; US 190
6.4 mi·10 min·Airline Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
399 ft·10 sec
Toward LA 3246 South
7
Turn straight onto LA 3246
1.3 mi·2 min·Siegen Lane
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
9
Merge onto I 10
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
13
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
14
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
15
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
16
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 34 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility in when you depart for your 76.1-mile journey. Leaving Merrydale in the morning should allow you to avoid significant traffic, especially as you merge onto I 10. With a fuel cost of around $11, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps after the longest stretch on I 10.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38 miles from Merrydale, LA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Merrydale, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Merrydale, LA
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Merrydale, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 64.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 74.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip|~5m in|US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge onto US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
10.3 mi into trip|~18m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
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 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.49 one way
$22.99 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.62
$25.23
premium
$4.56
$13.66
$27.32
diesel
$5.61
$16.80
$33.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.66
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Merrydale, LA
Late night
in Merrydale on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Shenandoah, LA
38 mi in
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
2 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
1h 34m 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.
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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 76.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 76.1-mile route, with 85% of your travel occurring on high-speed roads like I 10. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 64.4 miles on I 10, offering a consistent pace. You'll also navigate portions of Airline Highway and Lanier Drive, which may introduce slightly more varied driving conditions as you approach your destination. Overall, the profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.
85% 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: 64.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Airline Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 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 34m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.4 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Metairie, 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (US 61; US 190 / Airline Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 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 Metairie, LA before heading back.
