Metairie Terrace, LA to Sulphur, LA is 208.8 miles and takes about 4h via I 10, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. With a recommended 1 day for this drive, you'll have plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get from the New Orleans metro area westward towards Lake Charles.
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
104.4 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
199.5 mi
3h 43m
US 90
6.2 mi
9m
Clearview Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
West Metairie Avenue North
0.9 mi
2m
Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Waltham Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Civic Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Napoleon Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 199.5 mi, about 3h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie Terrace, LA and Sulphur, 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
129 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 90
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 90
Toward US 90 West
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
5.9 mi·9 min·US 90
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
US 90
Trip Plan
Leaving in the morning is your best bet for this 4-hour drive, allowing you to arrive in Sulphur with ample daylight. Since the total travel time is manageable, you can easily complete this in one day without needing to stop overnight. The longest continuous stretch is nearly 200 miles on I 10, so plan for one fuel and rest stop around the halfway point or when you feel you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Sulphur, as services can sometimes be spaced out on long highway stretches. This route is straightforward, so focus on staying alert and enjoying the efficient transit.
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 104.4 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.5 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 104.4 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 16m
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 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 208.8 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 199.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 202.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Waltham Street
Turn right onto Waltham Street
Navigation decision point
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.
6
202.9 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
$28.36 one way
$56.72 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$31.65
$63.30
premium
$4.15
$34.11
$68.23
diesel
$3.75
$30.83
$61.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.92
$10.02
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.27
$8.35
EV Truck/SUV
83.5
1
$29.23
$13.36
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Metairie Terrace, LA
Morning
in Metairie Terrace on Sunday
Local time
8:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
NE 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Sulphur, LA
Morning
in Sulphur on Sunday
Local time
8:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM 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
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 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 208.8 miles on interstates. You'll experience a very long stretch of 199.5 miles on I 10, which means minimal turns and consistent cruising. Clearview Parkway is the main surface road, likely encountered at the beginning or end of your trip. Given the highway-heavy profile, anticipate steady travel speeds with potentially frequent exits in populated areas.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.5 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Waltham Street.
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 208.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Waltham Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 208.8 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 199.5 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Waltham Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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.
