Metairie Terrace, LA to DeRidder, LA is 241.5 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 10 and Highway 171, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
120.8 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
193.3 mi
3h 35m
Highway 171
37.5 mi
43m
Martin Luther King Highway
4.5 mi
7m
East 1st Street
1.5 mi
1m
Clearview Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
West Metairie Avenue North
0.9 mi
2m
Mahlon Street
0.9 mi
1m
Shirley Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 193.3 mi, about 3h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie Terrace, LA and DeRidder, LA.
1
Start on Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Mayflower Drive
2
Continue on Civic Street
396 ft·18 sec·Civic Street
3
Turn right onto Waltham Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Waltham Street
4
Turn left onto West Metairie Avenue North
0.9 mi·2 min·West Metairie Avenue North
5
Turn right onto LA 3152
1.2 mi·2 min·Clearview Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
8
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
122 mi·2 hr 15 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 171: DeRidder, Shreveport
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 171 North: DeRidder, Shreveport
12
Merge onto US 171
4.5 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Highway
13
Continue on US 171
38 mi·43 min·Highway 171
14
Continue on US 171; US 190
1.5 mi·1 min·East 1st Street
15
Continue on US 171; US 190
0.9 mi·1 min·Mahlon Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 171; US 190
0.2 mi·23 sec·Shirley Street
17
Turn left onto US 171
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Pine Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
LA 27
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 37m drive time, departing in the morning from Metairie Terrace, LA, allows ample time to reach DeRidder, LA, before evening. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 193.3 miles on I 10, you can easily manage this trip in a single day. Consider fueling up before you leave Metairie Terrace, as the estimated fuel cost is $39 for the 241.5-mile drive. The transition from I 10 to Highway 171 is a good point to consider a brief break if needed.
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 120.8 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.3 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.8 miles or 2h 19m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near DeRidder, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Metairie Terrace, 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 Terrace, LA
This is one driving day of about 241.5 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Metairie Terrace, 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 193.3 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 1.2 and 241.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway
Turn right onto LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~7m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
73.9 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.
7
196.6 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 171 North: DeRidder, Shreveport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 171 North: DeRidder, Shreveport
7
241.4 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|US 171 / North Pine Street
Turn left onto US 171 / North Pine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.52 one way
$67.05 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$37.51
$75.02
premium
$4.29
$40.78
$81.56
diesel
$4.80
$45.60
$91.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.36
$11.59
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
EV Truck/SUV
96.6
1
$33.81
$15.46
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Metairie Terrace, LA
Late night
in Metairie Terrace on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
DeRidder, LA
Late night
in DeRidder on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Partly Sunny
W 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
91°F
Crowley, LA
121 mi in
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
2 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 37m 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 route is on the highway for 96% of its 241.5 miles, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major roadways. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 193.3 miles on I 10. You'll transition from I 10 to Highway 171, which will mark the end of the primary highway cruising. Be prepared for frequent exits on I 10 as you begin your trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Highway 171. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 241.5 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 1.2 miles (LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
202 ft0 ft
Total Climb
248 ft
Total Descent
48 ft
Highest Point
202 ft
~241.5 mi in
Elevation Range
202 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Metairie Terrace, LA to DeRidder, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Shreveport along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 241.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.3 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 DeRidder, 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 1.2 miles (LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 10): 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 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at DeRidder, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
