Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
48.7 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paulina, LA
Israyosoy S.
This straightforward 48.7-mile drive from New Orleans to Paulina, Louisiana, is easily managed as a day trip, taking just a little over an hour. The journey sticks primarily to major roadways, with 96% of the route on highways, making it an efficient transit. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-10, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 39 miles. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this trip focuses on getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss within the Southeast region. It's a practical option for those needing to travel between these two Louisiana locations without significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 39 mi | 46m |
| LA 641 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| LA 44 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Poydras Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Airline Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Loyola Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tulane Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Paulina, LA.
Start on Tulane Avenue
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Turn right onto Poydras Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Turn left onto LA 641
Turn right onto LA 641; LA 3125
Turn left onto LA 641
Turn left onto LA 3274
At end of road, turn right onto LA 44
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from New Orleans, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Poydras Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward LA 641 South: Gramercy, Lutcher
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto LA 641
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.35 one way
$14.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.07 | $16.15 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.74 | $17.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Paulina on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 1-hour, 2-minute drive. The extensive highway share of 96% means you'll be on high-speed roads for the bulk of your travel. The longest continuous stretch, 39 miles on I-10, will likely involve consistent traffic flow. The route transitions to LA 641 and then LA 44, offering a slight change in scenery as you approach Paulina, but the overall character remains that of efficient, direct travel. This isn't a route for leisurely sightseeing, but rather for making good time.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and LA 641. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Loyola Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Loyola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Poydras Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from New Orleans, LA to Paulina, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Lutcher along the way.
Lutcher
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 48.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
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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