Origin
Metairie, LA
Morning in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metairie, 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
1h 14m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metairie, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Donaldsonville, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Metairie, LA to Donaldsonville, LA is 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m via I 10 and LA 70, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Louisiana's Southeast region. You'll primarily be on interstate highways before transitioning to state roads for the final stretch. Given the relatively quick drive time and manageable distance, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. Consider this an efficient way to get from the New Orleans metro area to the communities along the Mississippi River.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 45 mi | 51m |
| LA 70 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Crawford Leblanc Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| LA 3089 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| North Causeway Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| LA 22 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 47th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fagot Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 45 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie, LA and Donaldsonville, 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
45 mi
·
51 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 182
Toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto LA 22
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
LA 22
12
Enter roundabout onto LA 70
208 ft
·
12 sec
·
Crawford Leblanc Boulevard
13
Continue on LA 70
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Crawford Leblanc Boulevard
14
Turn straight onto LA 70
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
LA 70
15
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 3089
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
LA 3089
Toward LA 3009: Donaldsonville
16
Arrive at destination
LA 1
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from Metairie, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 47.1 — 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
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
46th Street
Turn left onto 46th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: New Orleans, Baton Rouge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: New Orleans, Baton...
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
8
47.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
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 182
Toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.11 one way
$18.21 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.00 | $19.99 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.82 | $21.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.31 | $26.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
6:35 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
21 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 14m 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, with 89% of the 60.3 miles on major roads like I 10. You'll experience a longest stretch of 45 miles on I 10 before transitioning to LA 70. Expect to navigate urban merging and dense exits as you begin on I 10 near Metairie. The shift to LA 70 will likely bring a change in scenery and traffic patterns as you move away from the interstate.
89% 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: 45 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and LA 70. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (North Causeway Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (46th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 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 0.2 miles (North Causeway Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (46th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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