Origin
Metairie, LA
Late night in Metairie on Friday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metairie, LA to Cottonport, 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
3h 25m
Distance
156.9 mi
252 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 34m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metairie, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Cottonport, LA
Kari Alfonso
Trip Overview
Metairie to Cottonport is 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 25m via I 10 and LA 1, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip entirely within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 84% of the drive on highways, it's a route that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently. Plan for a single day to cover the distance comfortably, making it a good option if you're looking for a simple, direct path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.4 miles from Metairie, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 76.2 mi | 1h 26m |
| LA 1 | 39.1 mi | 54m |
| State Route 1 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| False River Road | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| Wye Road | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| North Lobdell Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Highway 29 | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Highway 114 | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 76.2 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie, LA and Cottonport, LA.
1
Start on Fagot Avenue
111 ft
·
4 sec
·
Fagot Avenue
2
Continue on 47th Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
47th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Causeway Boulevard
4
Turn left onto 46th Street
47 ft
·
4 sec
·
46th Street
5
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Causeway Boulevard
6
Take the exit
425 ft
·
12 sec
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: New Orleans, Baton Rouge
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
Use the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
9
Merge onto I 10
72 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
11 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 1
15
Turn right onto LA 1
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Wye Road
16
Continue on LA 1
8.3 mi
·
12 min
·
False River Road
17
Turn left onto LA 1
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Hospital Road
18
Turn left onto LA 1; LA 10
39 mi
·
54 min
·
LA 1; LA 10
19
Turn left onto LA 114
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Highway 114
20
Turn straight onto LA 114
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
21
Turn left onto LA 114
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bayou Des Glaises Street
22
Continue on LA 114
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 114
23
Turn left onto LA 29
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 29
24
Continue on LA 29
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Longbridge Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto LA 107
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
26
Turn left onto LA 107
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cottonport Avenue
27
Turn left onto Dr H J Kaufman Avenue
329 ft
·
16 sec
·
Dr H J Kaufman Avenue
28
Turn right onto Carmen
183 ft
·
8 sec
·
Carmen
29
Arrive at destination
Carmen
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Metairie in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. The route has a fuel cost estimate of $23, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, as there's only one recommended stop, suggesting fewer services along the way. The longest stretch without a major change is 76.2 miles on I 10, so be prepared for that continuous highway segment. Since it’s a single-day drive, you have flexibility; however, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from I 10 to LA 1 is a practical tip for this route.
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 78.4 miles from Metairie, LA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cottonport, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Metairie, 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 Metairie, LA
This is one driving day of about 156.9 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Metairie, 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 I 10 for about 76.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.4 miles from Metairie, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.2 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 78.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Causeway Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
6
74.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
78.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
78.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.99 one way
$45.97 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $25.52 | $51.04 |
| premium | $4.49 | $27.71 | $55.42 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $34.59 | $69.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.47 | $7.53 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.73 | $6.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Cottonport, LA
Late night in Cottonport on Friday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 25m 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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 84% of the 156.9 miles on faster roads like I 10. You'll experience a significant stretch of 76.2 miles on I 10 before transitioning to surface roads like LA 1. Expect a smooth cruise for the majority of the trip, with the change to state routes likely bringing a shift to more local traffic and potentially a different pace as you approach Cottonport.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.2 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and LA 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Causeway Boulevard.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 156.9 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 0.2 miles (North Causeway Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
55 ft
-1 ft
Total Climb
70 ft
Total Descent
16 ft
Highest Point
55 ft
~156.9 mi in
Elevation Range
55 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Metairie, LA
Full guide →Metairie is the largest suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish.
Arriving in Cottonport, LA
Full guide →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 3h 25m. Total distance: 156.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m 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 76.2 miles on I 10. 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 Cottonport, 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 0.2 miles (North Causeway Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Cottonport, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Metairie, LA or browse trips ending in Cottonport, LA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse LA road trips.