Patterson to Central is 84.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 8 minutes via Highway 1 and LA 70, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region of Louisiana, offering a straightforward trip. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey. Given its manageable length and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace without needing an overnight stay. Consider this trip if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Patterson, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 1
20.4 mi
27m
Marguerite Street
15.6 mi
23m
LA 70
11.7 mi
18m
State Route 69
8.7 mi
15m
Hooper Road
7 mi
11m
US 90
6.5 mi
7m
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
5.7 mi
7m
Bowie Street
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Highway 1
— 20.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Patterson, LA and Central, LA.
1
Start on LA 182
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn right onto Bernard Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Bernard Street
3
Turn right onto US 90
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 90
4
Take the exit
156 ft·9 sec
5
Turn left onto US 90
6.3 mi·7 min·US 90
6
Take the exit onto US 90 Business
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 90 Business
7
Turn left onto LA 70
0.4 mi·38 sec·9th Street
8
At end of road, turn right onto LA 70
16 mi·23 min·Marguerite Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto LA 70
12 mi·18 min·LA 70
10
Turn left onto LA 69
8.7 mi·15 min·State Route 69
11
Continue on LA 69
2.6 mi·4 min·Bowie Street
12
Turn left onto LA 1
9.1 mi·10 min·Highway 1
13
Continue on LA 1
1.0 mi·2 min·Church Street
14
Continue on LA 1
11 mi·17 min·Highway 1
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
16
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 155BToward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
18
Merge onto I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 6Toward LA 408: Southern University, Metro AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
443 ft·10 sec
Toward LA 408 East: Harding BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto LA 408
0.9 mi·1 min·Harding Boulevard
22
Continue on LA 408
7.0 mi·11 min·Hooper Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
LA 408
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Patterson in the morning is a good idea, allowing you to comfortably reach Central within the 2-hour timeframe without rushing. With a total duration of just over 2 hours, you likely won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially with a budget of around $13. The longest stretch is 20.4 miles, so plan your last fuel stop before embarking if you prefer a full tank. This is a short enough trip that you have flexibility; if you decide to leave later, you'll still have plenty of daylight. Be mindful of traffic, particularly as you approach Central, as local roads can sometimes present unexpected delays.
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 42.3 miles from Patterson, LA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.4 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Patterson, 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 Patterson, LA
This is one driving day of about 84.6 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Patterson, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 1 for about 20.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 76.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8 mi into trip|~10m in|LA 70 / Marguerite Street
At end of road, turn right onto LA 70 / Marguerite Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Merge onto I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 155B
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward LA 408: Southern University, Metro Airport
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 6
Toward LA 408: Southern University, Metro Airpo...
7
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 408 East: Harding Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward LA 408 East: Harding Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.78 one way
$25.55 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.03
$28.05
premium
$4.56
$15.18
$30.37
diesel
$5.61
$18.68
$37.36
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: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Patterson, LA
Morning
in Patterson on Tuesday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Central, LA
Morning
in Central on Tuesday
Local time
7:59 AM
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
4 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
2h 8m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 63% of your journey on major roads. You'll navigate via Highway 1 and LA 70, experiencing stretches that allow for consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.4 miles on Highway 1, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While primarily highway, the inclusion of Marguerite Street indicates some transition through local areas, though the overall feel remains geared towards efficient travel. The road character is designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic byways.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.4 mi on Highway 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 1 and Marguerite Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near LA 70 / Marguerite Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 84.6 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: at 8 miles (LA 70 / Marguerite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.6 miles (I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Patterson, LA to Central, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.4 miles on Highway 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Central, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (LA 70 / Marguerite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.6 miles (I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Central, LA before heading back.
