This 75.7-mile drive from Merrydale, LA, to Metairie Terrace, LA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 35 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to break it up into overnight stays. You'll be spending a significant portion of your time on major highways, making it a relatively quick journey. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $11, which is quite budget-friendly. Given that both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll be traversing familiar territory throughout this Louisiana excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.9 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
62.6 mi
1h 10m
Airline Highway
6.4 mi
10m
Lanier Drive
1.7 mi
4m
Siegen Lane
1.3 mi
2m
West Metairie Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Clearview Parkway
1 mi
2m
Greenwell Springs Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 62.6 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrydale, LA and Metairie Terrace, 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
63 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 226Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long BridgeUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto LA 3152
1.0 mi·2 min·Clearview Parkway
13
Turn right onto West Metairie Avenue
253 ft·6 sec·West Metairie Avenue
14
Continue on West Metairie Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·West Metairie Avenue
15
Turn right onto Division Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Division Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·Mayflower Drive
17
Arrive at destination
Mayflower Drive
Trip Plan
With a short duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Merrydale in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Metairie Terrace with ample daylight. Since there are no specific stops recommended and the longest stretch on I 10 is over 60 miles, plan your fuel and restroom breaks before you begin or be prepared to take an exit when needed. The relatively low fuel cost of $11 means you don't need to worry excessively about topping up frequently, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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 37.9 miles from Merrydale, LA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.6 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 37.9 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 Terrace, 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 75.7 miles and 1h 35m.
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 62.6 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 73.1 — 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
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
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 226
Toward Clearview Parkway, Huey Long Bridge
8
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Clearview Parkway South, Huey Long Bridg...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.43 one way
$22.86 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.55
$25.10
premium
$4.56
$13.59
$27.17
diesel
$5.61
$16.71
$33.43
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: 26.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.7
0
$7.95
$3.63
Efficient EV
18.9
0
$6.62
$3.03
EV Truck/SUV
30.3
0
$10.60
$4.84
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Morning
in Merrydale on Sunday
Local time
10:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie Terrace, LA
Morning
in Metairie Terrace on Sunday
Local time
10:00 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 35m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 75.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 84% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll primarily be on I 10 and Airline Highway, interspersed with a bit of Lanier Drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 62.6 miles on I 10, meaning you can settle in for a good period of steady driving. This profile suggests a route where speed and efficiency are key, rather than winding backroads or scenic detours.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.6 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 75.7 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 35m. Total distance: 75.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.6 miles on I 10. 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 Metairie Terrace, 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 Terrace, LA before heading back.
