This 84.1-mile drive from Metairie, Louisiana, to Watson, Louisiana, will take you approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey primarily utilizing I-55 and I-10, making it an easy one-day trip. With a projected fuel cost of around $13, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct and efficient way to travel between these two points in Louisiana.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Metairie, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
28.4 mi
30m
West Florida Republic Parkway
22.1 mi
23m
I 10
17.9 mi
22m
Lockhart Road
4.5 mi
7m
LA 16
3.2 mi
4m
Florida Boulevard
2.7 mi
3m
Walker South Road
1.1 mi
1m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 28.4 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie, LA and Watson, 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
18 mi·22 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North: HammondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 55; US 51
28 mi·30 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 29BToward I 12 West: Baton Rouge
13
Merge onto I 12
22 mi·23 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward LA 447: Walker
15
Keep slight left at fork
436 ft·10 sec
Toward LA 447: Walker
16
Enter roundabout onto LA 447
47 ft·0 sec·Walker South Road
17
Continue on LA 447
1.1 mi·1 min·Walker South Road
18
Turn left onto US 190
2.7 mi·3 min·Florida Boulevard
19
Turn right onto LA 1026; LA 1027
0.4 mi·52 sec·Burgess Avenue
20
Turn left onto LA 1026
1.9 mi·3 min·Lockhart Road
21
Enter roundabout onto LA 1026
125 ft·2 sec·Lockhart Road
22
Continue on LA 1026
0.7 mi·1 min·Lockhart Road
23
Enter roundabout onto LA 1026
67 ft·1 sec·Lockhart Road
24
Continue on LA 1026
1.9 mi·3 min·Lockhart Road
25
Turn right onto LA 16
3.2 mi·4 min·LA 16
26
Turn right onto LA 1019
0.2 mi·17 sec·LA 1019
27
Turn slight right
125 ft·5 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, this trip is best suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you navigate the initial interstate segments. Since there are no planned stops in the data, you have the flexibility to add breaks as needed, but keep in mind the longest uninterrupted stretch is 28.4 miles. Your fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before setting off from Metairie to minimize any unscheduled stops.
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 42 miles from Metairie, LA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.4 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Metairie, LA
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Metairie, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 28.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 71.9 — 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
20 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Hammond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Hammond
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 447: Walker
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 447: Walker
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.70 one way
$25.40 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.94
$27.89
premium
$4.56
$15.09
$30.19
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Watson, LA
Late night
in Watson on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
8 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 44m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a heavily highway-oriented experience, with 85% of the drive on major interstates. You'll encounter stretches like the 28.4-mile segment on I-55, which offers a consistent pace. While predominantly interstate, the route incorporates West Florida Republic Parkway, providing a slight variation in the driving experience. This is a route built for covering ground efficiently rather than for leisurely sightseeing. The road's personality remains largely consistent, emphasizing speed and directness from start to finish.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and West Florida Republic 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.1 miles you will encounter 20 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.4 miles on I 55. 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 Watson, 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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Watson, LA before heading back.
