This 77-mile drive from Port Allen, LA, to Metairie, LA, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 31 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads like North Causeway Boulevard and Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway, with a significant stretch on the Horace Wilkinson Bridge. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region of Louisiana for the entire trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Port Allen, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Port Allen, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on South Alexander Avenue
304 ft·12 sec·South Alexander Avenue
2
Turn right onto Avenue A
52 ft·2 sec·Avenue A
3
Turn left onto LA 1
0.4 mi·46 sec·Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4
Continue on LA 1
0.1 mi·14 sec·Highway 1 South
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Baton RougeUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 10
74 mi·1 hr 25 min·Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
11
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
12
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
13
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
14
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over an hour and a half, you have a lot of flexibility with when you depart. Leaving Port Allen in the morning or mid-afternoon can help you avoid the heaviest local traffic. With no scheduled stops, you can make a quick fuel stop if needed, though the estimated $12 fuel cost suggests it won't be a major expense. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns required, especially as you navigate through urban areas. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for North Causeway Boulevard as it's a key artery leading into Metairie.
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 38.5 miles from Port Allen, LA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.4 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 45m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Port Allen, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Port Allen, LA
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Port Allen, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Horace Wilkinson Bridge for about 74.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 75.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
7
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m 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.
8
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
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 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.63 one way
$23.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.77
$25.53
premium
$4.56
$13.82
$27.64
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 17, 2026
Origin
Port Allen, LA
Morning
in Port Allen on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie, LA
Morning
in Metairie on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph1% 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
17 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
1h 31m on the road
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 77-mile segment between Port Allen and Metairie. With a highway share of 0%, you'll be navigating city streets and main thoroughfares for the duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 74.4 miles, primarily on the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, which forms a substantial part of the initial leg. This means you'll experience a more varied driving experience with frequent turns and traffic lights, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The route demands your attention as you transition through different local road networks.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.4 mi on Horace Wilkinson Bridge.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Port Allen is a town in the River Parishes region of Louisiana that sits directly across the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge and is the seat of West Baton Rouge Parish. It takes on a rather gritty and highly industrial character but has a few attractions.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.4 miles on Horace Wilkinson Bridge. 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 Metairie, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 0.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 10 / Horace Wilkinson Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Metairie, LA before heading back.
