Metairie to Zachary is 91 miles and takes about 1 hour 51 minutes via surface roads, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region from the New Orleans metro area to an area north of Baton Rouge. Since this route is entirely on surface roads and covers less than 100 miles, it’s a straightforward drive without the complexities of highway navigation. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct, uncomplicated trip between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.5 miles from Metairie, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
72.3 mi
1h 22m
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
6.2 mi
8m
Main Street
3.3 mi
4m
Scotlandville-Zachary Highway
2.8 mi
4m
Scotland Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
1.8 mi
2m
North Causeway Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
47th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 72.3 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie, LA and Zachary, 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 right at fork onto I 110
6.2 mi·8 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 110
1.8 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 8AToward LA 19: Scotlandville, BakerUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto LA 19
2.1 mi·3 min·Scotland Avenue
14
Continue on LA 19
2.9 mi·4 min·Main Street
15
Continue on LA 19
2.8 mi·4 min·Scotlandville-Zachary Highway
16
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi·32 sec·Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given that this 1 hour and 51-minute drive is under 100 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Metairie mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Zachary with plenty of time to spare. With no major highway stretches, you can easily make quick stops for gas or a restroom break as needed, though with a fuel cost of only $13, you likely won't need to refuel often. Pay close attention to local traffic patterns, especially when transitioning through different neighborhoods along the 91-mile route.
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 45.5 miles from Metairie, LA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.3 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.5 miles or 54m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Zachary, 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 91 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Metairie, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 72.3 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 82.4 — 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
8
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward LA 19: Scotlandville, Baker
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 8A
Toward LA 19: Scotlandville, Baker
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.33 one way
$26.66 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$14.80
$29.60
premium
$4.49
$16.07
$32.14
diesel
$5.60
$20.06
$40.12
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: 31.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.96
$3.64
EV Truck/SUV
36.4
0
$12.74
$5.82
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
12:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 4:56PM CDT until September 2 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Tropical Cyclone Local Statement
Tropical Cyclone Local Statement issued September 1 at 4:49PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Zachary, LA
Late night
in Zachary on Sunday
Local time
12:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 10 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 4:56PM CDT until September 2 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Tropical Cyclone Local Statement
Tropical Cyclone Local Statement issued September 1 at 4:49PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles 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
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
1h 51m 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?
This 91-mile drive is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any highway driving. Expect to navigate local streets like 47th Street, North Causeway Boulevard, and 46th Street for the entire trip. The constant presence of intersections and traffic signals is characteristic of this kind of driving, so be prepared for frequent stops and speed adjustments.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
101 ft-4 ft
Total Climb
110 ft
Total Descent
10 ft
Highest Point
101 ft
~91 mi in
Elevation Range
105 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Metairie, LA and Zachary, LA, road signs point toward Airport and Baker.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 91 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Zachary, 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 Zachary, LA before heading back.
