Metairie Terrace, LA to Leesville, LA is 247.2 miles and takes about 4h 50m via I 10 and State Route 1, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the same area. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you travel through the state. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is straightforward for those looking for a direct connection between these two points.
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
123.6 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
74.7 mi
1h 24m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
60.1 mi
1h
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
Coliseum Boulevard
48.4 mi
56m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Jefferson Highway
2.8 mi
4m
Macarthur Drive
2.2 mi
3m
North 6th Street
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie Terrace, LA and Leesville, 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
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
15
Merge onto I 49; US 167
60 mi·1 hr·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 71, US 167 South: MacArthur Drive
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 71 North, US 671 North Business: MacArthur Drive
18
Continue on US 71; US 167 BUS
2.8 mi·4 min·Jefferson Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto US 71; US 165
0.3 mi·34 sec·Macarthur Drive
20
Continue on US 71; US 165
1.9 mi·2 min·Macarthur Drive
21
Take the exit
486 ft·13 sec
22
Continue on LA 28
48 mi·56 min·Coliseum Boulevard
23
Enter roundabout onto US 171; LA 8
314 ft·3 sec·North 6th Street
24
Continue on US 171; LA 8
1.2 mi·1 min·North 6th Street
25
Turn left onto LA 8
390 ft·7 sec·Nolan Trace Parkway
26
Continue on East Texas Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·East Texas Street
27
Arrive at destination
East Texas Street
Trip Plan
Leaving in the morning from Metairie Terrace is recommended to maximize daylight for the 4h 50m drive. Since this is a one-day trip covering 247.2 miles, you have flexibility with stops. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $34, so ensure your tank is full before you depart or at your planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 10 to the surface road portions of the route.
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 123.6 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 54 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.6 miles or 2h 31m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leesville, 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 247.2 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 74.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 191.4 — 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.
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
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
6
191.4 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 71 North, US 671 North Business: MacArthur Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 71 North, US 671 North Business: MacA...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.84 one way
$75.68 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$41.91
$83.81
premium
$4.65
$45.25
$90.49
diesel
$6.28
$61.08
$122.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.2
0
$25.96
$11.87
Efficient EV
61.8
0
$21.63
$9.89
EV Truck/SUV
98.9
1
$34.61
$15.82
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Metairie Terrace, LA
Night
in Metairie Terrace on Saturday
Local time
10:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Leesville, LA
Night
in Leesville on Saturday
Local time
10:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 50m 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 about 51% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the drive on I 10. The longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 74.7 miles. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads, including Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 1. Expect to encounter more exits and potentially slower speeds as you move off the interstate.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 247.2 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 73.9 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 247.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Leesville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Leesville, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
