Origin
New Orleans, LA
Night in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Orleans, LA to Ouachita Parish, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
269.6 mi
434 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 17m
8 AM
5h 44m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ouachita Parish, LA
Vika Glitter
Trip Overview
New Orleans, LA to Ouachita Parish, LA is 269.6 miles and takes about 5h 17m via I 10, Samuels Road, and E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, with a fuel budget near $41 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 fairly straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a manageable one-day journey. You'll find the drive offers a mixed experience, not entirely interstate but not entirely backroads either. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path with a predictable travel time.
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
134.8 miles from New Orleans, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 78.5 mi | 1h 29m |
| Samuels Road | 75.7 mi | 1h 28m |
| E. E. Wallace Boulevard North | 63.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| I 20 | 22 mi | 24m |
| Natchez-Vidalia Bridge | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Scenic Highway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 78.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Ouachita Parish, 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 right at fork onto I 110
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 110
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 61
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Scenic Highway
10
Continue on US 61
76 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
Samuels Road
11
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
12
Continue on US 84; US 425
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
John R Junkin Drive
13
Continue on US 84; US 425
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
14
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
15
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
16
Merge onto I 20
22 mi
·
24 min
·
I 20
17
Take the exit
373 ft
·
9 sec
Toward LA 34
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward LA 34 South
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward LA 34 South
20
Turn straight onto LA 34
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Stella Street
21
Continue on LA 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonesboro Road
22
Continue on LA 34
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Jonesboro Road
23
Arrive at destination
LA 34
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 17m estimated drive time, departing from New Orleans in the morning allows you to reach Ouachita Parish with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, plan your break strategically, perhaps midway or when you begin to notice the road profile changing. Fuel costs are estimated at $41, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before leaving the city, as the longest stretch without a significant change is 78.5 miles. Pay attention to the transition from I 10 to Samuels Road; this is where you'll want to be most mindful of navigation to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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 134.8 miles from New Orleans, LA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 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 59 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ouachita Parish, 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 269.6 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 I 10 for about 78.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.8 miles from New Orleans, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 267.3 — 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
8
79.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m 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
88.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
6
267 mi into trip
|
~5h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 34 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 South
6
267.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 34 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.72 one way
$81.43 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $44.70 | $89.39 |
| premium | $4.56 | $48.39 | $96.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.52 | $119.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.9 | 0 | $28.31 | $12.94 |
| Efficient EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.59 | $10.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.8 | 1 | $37.74 | $17.25 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Ouachita Parish, LA
Night in Ouachita Parish on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live 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
21 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
5h 17m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 241.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is a mixed bag, with 41% of it being highway driving. You'll experience stretches on I 10, which will likely feel like a typical interstate journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 78.5 miles on I 10, so be prepared for a solid segment of consistent speed. As you transition to Samuels Road and E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, expect the character of the drive to change, likely offering a different pace and scenery. This shift from highway to more local roads is characteristic of the entire 269.6-mile trip.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 269.6 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 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 New Orleans, LA to Ouachita Parish, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
79.7 mi in
|
~1h 32m
|
via I 110
About the Cities
Starting in New Orleans, LA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 269.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.5 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 Ouachita Parish, 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 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ouachita Parish, LA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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