Simmesport to Kenner is 133.1 miles and takes about 2h 49m via I 10 and Airline Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive entirely within Louisiana, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its relatively short distance and direct path, it's a practical option for a single-day trip, whether you're heading towards New Orleans or simply passing through the area. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a functional choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.6 miles from Simmesport, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
71.4 mi
1h 20m
LA 1
30.2 mi
42m
Airline Highway
11.4 mi
14m
False River Road
8.3 mi
11m
Wye Road
4.3 mi
5m
LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
5m
Hospital Road
1.8 mi
3m
Williams Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Simmesport, LA and Kenner, LA.
1
Start on Fisherman Drive
0.1 mi·36 sec·Fisherman Drive
2
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
0.5 mi·2 min·Riverside Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto North Martin Luther King
278 ft·7 sec·North Martin Luther King
4
Turn left onto LA 1
30 mi·42 min·LA 1
5
Turn right onto LA 1
1.8 mi·3 min·Hospital Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto LA 1
8.3 mi·11 min·False River Road
7
Continue on LA 1
4.3 mi·5 min·Wye Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 190; LA 1
11 mi·14 min·Airline Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi·5 min·LA 415 Spur
10
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
11
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 223A-BToward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans International AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
174 ft·4 sec
Toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International Airport, Williams Boulevard SouthUse the right lane.
14
Turn right onto LA 49
1.0 mi·2 min·Williams Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto 21st Street
38 ft·1 sec·21st Street
16
Arrive at destination
21st Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 3 hours and a fuel cost around $20, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the mid-morning to avoid early rush hour, and still arrive with ample time. The longest stretch without a break is over 71 miles, so plan for a quick stop before or during that segment if needed. Given the direct highway nature, watch for typical interstate traffic patterns as you approach Kenner, especially closer to the New Orleans metro area.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.6 miles from Simmesport, LA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 29 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenner, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Simmesport, 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 Simmesport, LA
This is one driving day of about 133.1 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Simmesport, 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 71.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 132 — 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|~2m in|North Martin Luther King
At end of road, turn left onto North Martin Luther King
Navigation decision point
5
32.7 mi into trip|~48m in|LA 1 / False River Road
At end of road, turn right onto LA 1 / False River Road
Navigation decision point
5
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
131.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans International 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 223A-B
Toward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans I...
9
132 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International Airport, Williams Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.10 one way
$40.20 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.07
$44.13
premium
$4.56
$23.89
$47.78
diesel
$5.61
$29.39
$58.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.98
$6.39
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.63
$8.52
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Simmesport, LA
Afternoon
in Simmesport on Sunday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kenner, LA
Afternoon
in Kenner on Sunday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Livonia, LA
67 mi in
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
6 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 49m 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.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 133.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the journey on major highways like I 10 and Airline Highway. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted section of 71.4 miles on I 10. While the primary roads offer efficiency, they also mean you'll experience a consistent driving environment for much of the trip. The character is less about varied scenery and more about covering ground effectively on well-traveled routes.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and LA 1. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near North Martin Luther King.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 (North Martin Luther King): Navigation decision point; at 32.7 miles (LA 1 / False River Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.4 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Kenner is a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana, on the east bank of Jefferson Parish, approximately 10 mi (16 km) west of the city. It is the location of New Orleans International Airport. René-Robert Cavelier landed on this stretch of the north shore of the Mississippi River in 1682.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 133.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (North Martin Luther King): Navigation decision point; at 32.7 miles (LA 1 / False River Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.4 miles (I 10): 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 Kenner, LA before heading back.
