The drive from Metairie Terrace, LA to Zachary, LA covers 90.5 miles and takes about 1h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway, Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.8 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.26 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
70.8 mi
1h 20m
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
Clearview Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
West Metairie Avenue North
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 70.8 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie Terrace, LA and Zachary, 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 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.
10
Continue on I 110
1.8 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 8AToward LA 19: Scotlandville, BakerUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto LA 19
2.1 mi·3 min·Scotland Avenue
13
Continue on LA 19
2.9 mi·4 min·Main Street
14
Continue on LA 19
2.8 mi·4 min·Scotlandville-Zachary Highway
15
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi·32 sec·Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
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 45.2 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.8 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 55m 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 Terrace, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Metairie Terrace, LA
This is one driving day of about 90.5 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 70.8 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 81.9 — 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.
8
73.9 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
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
$13.26 one way
$26.52 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$14.72
$29.44
premium
$4.49
$15.98
$31.97
diesel
$5.60
$19.95
$39.90
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: 31.7 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
27.2
0
$9.50
$4.34
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.92
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
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 4, 2026
Origin
Metairie Terrace, LA
Evening
in Metairie Terrace on Monday
Local time
5:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 0 to 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued September 3 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 3 at 12:38PM CDT until September 4 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Zachary, LA
Evening
in Zachary on Monday
Local time
5:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
E 0 to 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued September 3 at 6:41PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 3 at 12:38PM CDT until September 4 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
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
4 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?
90.5 mi in 1h 51m, mostly highway — 70.8 mi of that is on I 10.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.8 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway. 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 90.5 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
101 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
111 ft
Total Descent
11 ft
Highest Point
101 ft
~90.5 mi in
Elevation Range
104 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Metairie Terrace, LA and Zachary, LA, road signs point toward Airport and Baker.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 90.5 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 70.8 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 (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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Zachary, LA before heading back.
