Metairie, LA to Sulphur, LA is 209.3 miles and takes about 4 hours via I 10 and US 90, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region from the New Orleans area to the Lake Charles area. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's ideal for a single day. Plan for a smooth transition between major roadways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.7 miles from Metairie, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
201.1 mi
3h 45m
US 90
6.2 mi
9m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
47th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Fagot Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
46th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Napoleon Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 201.1 mi, about 3h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie, LA and Sulphur, 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 RougeUse 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
129 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 90
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 90
Toward US 90 West
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
5.9 mi·9 min·US 90
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
US 90
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, leaving Metairie in the morning allows ample time to reach Sulphur before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $33, this route offers flexibility; you can depart later or take brief breaks as needed. The longest stretch is over 200 miles on I 10, so ensure you have enough fuel before entering this longer segment. Keep an eye out for the shift from urban-influenced highway to more open stretches as you head west.
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 104.7 miles from Metairie, LA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.1 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 1m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sulphur, 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 209.3 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 201.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 203.4 — 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
203.4 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|US 90
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.05 one way
$58.11 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.51
$65.01
premium
$4.29
$35.34
$70.68
diesel
$4.80
$39.52
$79.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
EV Truck/SUV
83.7
1
$29.30
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:11AM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Sulphur, LA
Late night
in Sulphur on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:11AM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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
5 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
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 99% of the 209.3 miles on major roads like I 10 and US 90. You'll experience a long stretch of 201.1 miles on I 10, meaning minimal turns and consistent cruising. The initial part of the route involves North Causeway Boulevard before merging onto the interstate, where you'll notice the dense network of exits characteristic of major highway travel.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 201.1 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 90. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North Causeway Boulevard.
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 209.3 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: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 209.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 201.1 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 Sulphur, 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 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Sulphur, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
