Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Metairie, LA to Prien, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
206.5 mi
332 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 45m
★
6 AM
3h 58m
8 AM
4h 24m
10 AM
4h 7m
12 PM
4h 5m
3 PM
4h 9m
5 PM
4h 23m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metairie, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Prien, LA
DeLuca G
Trip Overview
Metairie, LA to Prien, LA is 206.5 miles and takes about 3h 58m via I 10, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region with itself. It's a straightforward drive that's almost entirely on the interstate, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Given the relatively short duration and high highway percentage, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel.
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
103.2 miles from Metairie, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 193.7 mi | 3h 35m |
| 1st Lieutenant Douglas B Fournet Memorial Parkway | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| North Causeway Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Prien Lake Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Henderson Bayou Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lock Lane | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 47th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cove Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 193.7 mi, about 3h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie, LA and Prien, 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
121 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 210 West: Lake Charles Bypass
12
Continue on I 210
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
1st Lieutenant Douglas B Fournet Memorial Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 3
Toward Prien Lake Road, Golden Nugget Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Cove Lane
505 ft
·
18 sec
·
Cove Lane
15
Enter roundabout onto West Prien Lake Road
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Prien Lake Road
16
Continue on West Prien Lake Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Prien Lake Road
17
Turn right onto Henderson Bayou Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Henderson Bayou Road
18
Turn left onto Lock Lane
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lock Lane
19
Arrive at destination
Lock Lane
Trip Plan
For this 206.5-mile drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive before evening. With only one recommended stop and a duration under 4 hours, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 193.7-mile stretch on I 10, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $31, so plan accordingly. Since it's a single-day trip, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations.
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 103.2 miles from Metairie, LA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.7 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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.2 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prien, 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 206.5 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 193.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.2 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 193.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Butte La Rose Rest Area and Tourist Information Center
0.1 mi from route
Butte La Rose Rest Area and Tourist Information Center
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
TA Express
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
415 South Truck Stop
0.3 mi from route
La1 Truck Stop
1.2 mi from route
TA Express
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 204.8 — 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
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.
6
204.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 53m in
Take the exit toward Prien Lake Road, Golden Nugget Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward Prien Lake Road, Golden Nugget Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.05 one way
$56.10 round trip
$3.45/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $31.30 | $62.60 |
| premium | $4.15 | $33.74 | $67.48 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $30.49 | $60.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62 | 0 | $21.68 | $9.91 |
| Efficient EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.91 | $13.22 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Origin
Metairie, LA
Morning in Metairie on Saturday
Local time
8:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
N 5 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Prien, LA
Morning in Prien on Saturday
Local time
8:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Widespread Fog then Mostly Sunny
N 5 to 20 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
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
3 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
3h 58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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?
Expect to spend nearly all your time on the interstate, with a 98% highway share. The bulk of your driving, 193.7 miles, will be on I 10. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically 1st Lieutenant Douglas B Fournet Memorial Parkway and North Causeway Boulevard, as you approach your destination. The long stretch of continuous highway driving means you'll encounter frequent exits and services before reaching the final miles on local roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and 1st Lieutenant Douglas B Fournet Memorial Parkway. 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 206.5 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 0.2 miles (46th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
52 ft
1 ft
Total Climb
82 ft
Total Descent
70 ft
Highest Point
52 ft
~73.7 mi in
Elevation Range
51 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Metairie, LA
Full guide →Metairie is the largest suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish.
Arriving in Prien, 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 58m. Total distance: 206.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.7 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 Prien, 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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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: 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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Prien, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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