New Orleans to Tallulah is 246.7 miles and takes about 4h 36m via I-55, I-20, and I-10, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making for a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short distance and highway focus, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a leisurely start or a relaxed arrival.
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
123.3 miles from New Orleans, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
156.2 mi
2h 47m
I 20
62.1 mi
1h 9m
I 10
24.1 mi
30m
US 65
1.3 mi
2m
Poydras Street
0.6 mi
1m
Loyola Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Tulane Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Green Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 156.2 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,261 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,551
Quietest
2 AM
~117 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Tallulah, 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
24 mi·30 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 55 North: HammondUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 55; US 51
156 mi·2 hr 47 min·I 55; US 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 55
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 92CToward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
11
Merge onto I 20; US 49
39 mi·43 min·I 20; US 49
12
Merge onto I 20; US 61; US 80
3.8 mi·4 min·I 20; US 61; US 80
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 80
20 mi·21 min·I 20; US 80
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
15
Turn right onto US 65
1.3 mi·2 min·US 65
16
Turn left onto US 80
30 ft·0 sec·East Green Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 80
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 36-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from New Orleans to maximize your daylight. The route is primarily interstate, so planning for a single stop around the halfway point would be sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel; the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 150 miles. Given that this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but being aware of the 99% highway share means services are generally plentiful at frequent exits.
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 123.3 miles from New Orleans, LA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.2 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 19m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tallulah, 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 246.7 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 55 for about 156.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 182.7 — 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
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25.3 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Hammond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 55 North: Hammond
7
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 92C
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo...
7
182.7 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.76 one way
$75.53 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$41.82
$83.64
premium
$4.65
$45.15
$90.31
diesel
$6.28
$60.96
$121.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74
0
$25.90
$11.84
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.59
$9.87
EV Truck/SUV
98.7
1
$34.54
$15.79
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
New Orleans, LA
Late night
in New Orleans on Friday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tallulah, LA
Late night
in Tallulah on Friday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
16 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
4h 36m 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...
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 246.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for 99% of this 246.7-mile trip. The bulk of your driving, a continuous stretch of 156.2 miles, will be on I-55. You'll notice the interstate transitions fairly quickly, with a dense network of exits and services common on major highways. The profile is mostly highway, meaning you'll encounter minimal delays from surface streets.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.2 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 20. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 246.7 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 1.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
435 ft-1 ft
Total Climb
584 ft
Total Descent
497 ft
Highest Point
435 ft
~158.6 mi in
Elevation Range
436 ft
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 Tallulah, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Yazoo City along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Tulane University — private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
•Caesars Superdome — domed stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
•French Quarter — neighborhood of and historic district in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 246.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m 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 156.2 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Tallulah, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Loyola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Tallulah, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
