New Orleans to Greenwood is 333.7 miles and takes about 6h 11m via Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a single-day drive with a mixed highway and surface road profile, suitable if you're looking for a straightforward transit between these two points. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on one main highway, making for a predictable travel experience.
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
166.8 miles from New Orleans, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
180.8 mi
3h 3m
I 10
82.5 mi
1h 34m
State Route 1
49 mi
1h 2m
Inner Loop Expressway
6.8 mi
8m
I 20
5.5 mi
6m
North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
4m
Greenwood Road
1.5 mi
2m
Poydras Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
— 180.8 mi, about 3h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Greenwood, LA.
1
Start on Tulane Avenue
40 ft·3 sec·Tulane Avenue
2
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·Loyola Avenue
3
Turn right onto Poydras Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Poydras Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
5
Merge onto I 10
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi·4 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 151Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft·7 sec
Toward LA 415: LobdellUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi·4 min·North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi·1 hr 2 min·State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
12
Merge onto I 49; US 167
181 mi·3 hr 3 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward LA 3132: Dallas, Texarkana
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward LA 3132 West: Dallas, Texarkana
15
Merge onto LA 3132
6.8 mi·8 min·Inner Loop Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
17
Merge onto I 20
5.5 mi·6 min·I 20
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 79 North, US 80: Greenwood
19
Keep slight left at fork
205 ft·10 sec
20
Turn left onto US 79; US 80
1.5 mi·2 min·Greenwood Road
21
Turn left onto LA 169
227 ft·5 sec·Greenwood Springridge Road
22
Arrive at destination
LA 169
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 11m duration, starting your drive from New Orleans in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive in Greenwood with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $50, this route is manageable for a single day. Pay attention to the transition points between the Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 1, as this is where you'll likely see changes in the driving environment. The longest stretch of highway is over 180 miles, so plan for your fuel and any necessary breaks before hitting that segment.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166.8 miles from New Orleans, LA, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.8 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 73 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.8 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Orleans, 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 New Orleans, LA
This is one driving day of about 333.7 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from New Orleans, 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 Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway for about 180.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 318 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Loyola Avenue
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 32m 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
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
84 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
318 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 3132 West: Dallas, Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward LA 3132 West: Dallas, Texarkana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.40 one way
$100.79 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$55.32
$110.65
premium
$4.56
$59.90
$119.79
diesel
$5.61
$73.68
$147.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.1
1
$35.04
$16.02
Efficient EV
83.4
0
$29.20
$13.35
EV Truck/SUV
133.5
1
$46.72
$21.36
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
New Orleans, LA
Evening
in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Greenwood, LA
Evening
in Greenwood on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Alexandria, LA
167 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
7 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
6h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 241.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll cover 333.7 miles with 43% of that on highways. The longest stretch of continuous highway driving is 180.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic patterns. The profile is mixed highway and surface, indicating you'll experience both faster-paced travel and more local road conditions.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.8 mi on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway.
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 early in the drive near Loyola Avenue.
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 20 significant decision points across 333.7 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: near the start (Loyola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 79.7 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Way down yonder in New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans), you'll find the roots of jazz and a blossoming culture that is unlike anything else on Earth. Here, the laid-back atmosphere of the riverfront South has mixed with French sophistication, Spanish style, and African-American energy to create something greater than the sum of its parts. "NOLA" is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the top tourist destinations in the United States.
"Laissez les bons temps rouler" is what they say here in the Big Easy, and you too can "let the good times roll" with a cool stroll down Bourbon Street, a hot Dixieland band, and even hotter Creole cuisine. Mardi Gras may be the city's calling card, but that's just one day out of the hot and muggy year in New Orleans.
Go ahead, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, munch on some beignets, and watch the Saints go marchin' in.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 11m. Total distance: 333.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 11m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.8 miles on Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. 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 Greenwood, 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: near the start (Loyola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 79.7 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Greenwood, LA before the return drive.
