KY's Olde Towne Bicycle Shop
Near the start, right off the route
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+19856411911
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 44m
Distance
303 mi
488 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Slidell, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Grambling, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Slidell to Grambling is 303 miles and takes about 5h 44m via E. E. Wallace Boulevard North, Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway, and I 20, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region up towards the northern part of the state. The route offers a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on highways but also time on surface roads. Plan for a single day to cover the distance, as the duration is manageable for most drivers.
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
151.5 miles from Slidell, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| E. E. Wallace Boulevard North | 63.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway | 56.4 mi | 1h |
| I 20 | 56.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 84 | 47.3 mi | 55m |
| West Florida Republic Parkway | 41.7 mi | 44m |
| US 98 | 30.1 mi | 34m |
| Gause Boulevard West | 3 mi | 4m |
| Rwe Jones Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~597 veh/hr typical · worst 922
Quietest
1 AM
~83 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 88 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Slidell, LA and Grambling, LA.
Start on Bouscaren Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 190 Business
Turn right onto US 11
Turn left onto US 190
Turn right onto Northshore Boulevard
Continue on Airport Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 12
Take the exit
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit onto US 98
At end of road, turn left onto US 98; MS 184
Take the exit
Merge onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Take the exit onto US 84
Continue on US 425; LA 15
Turn left
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto LA 149
Turn left onto LA 150
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 5h 44m drive, leaving Slidell in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Grambling with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with your timing for breaks. The estimated fuel cost is around $44, so keep that in mind as you budget. Pay attention to the change in road types; while much of the route is highway, the initial 63.2 miles on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North will be on surface roads, so adjust your speed accordingly.
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.
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 67 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.5 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grambling, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Slidell, 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 Slidell, LA
This is one driving day of about 303 miles and 5h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 151.5 miles from Slidell, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before E. E. Wallace Boulevard North if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop
Slidell, Louisiana
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+19856411911
Sogo | Japanese Restaurant
Slidell, Louisiana
Copeland's of New Orleans
Covington, Louisiana
Near the start, right off the route
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+19856411911
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm
+19852884512
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Covington, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+19858099659
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Amite City, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+19857485555
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hammond, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+19855427600
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Mandeville, Louisiana
Hours: 6:30 am–3 pm
+19856265375
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Natchez, Mississippi
Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm
+16013045802
Near the start, right off the route
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
Near the start, short detour
Hammond, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Monroe, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Natchez, Mississippi
+18773862273
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Mandeville, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19856165041
Around the midpoint, short detour
Natchez, Mississippi
+16013045378
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
Near the start, ~11 min detour
Covington, Louisiana
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+19856464371
Near the start, right off the route
Slidell, Louisiana
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19856464380
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Mandeville, Louisiana
Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm
+18006349443
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hammond, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+19856625038
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+19853453617
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Abita Springs, Louisiana
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19858922624
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Madisonville, Louisiana
+19858453318
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Ruston, Louisiana
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13182515099
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 190 Business / Fremaux Avenue
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 55: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$47.17 one way
$94.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $52.00 | $104.00 |
| premium | $4.71 | $56.20 | $112.40 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $73.71 | $147.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.9 | 1 | $31.82 | $14.54 |
| Efficient EV | 75.8 | 0 | $26.51 | $12.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.2 | 1 | $42.42 | $19.39 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Late night in Slidell on Tuesday
Local time
12:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Grambling on Tuesday
Local time
12:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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You'll spend about 58% of this 303-mile drive on highways, primarily I 20. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 63.2 miles on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North. Expect the transition from surface roads to highway cruising as you head north. The route involves significant highway driving, so be prepared for merging traffic and varied speed limits.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 303 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 (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 190 Business / Fremaux Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
678 ft
Total Descent
379 ft
Highest Point
435 ft
~108.2 mi in
Elevation Range
429 ft
Founded 1882
Slidell is a small city in St. Tammany Parish, one of the Florida Parishes of Louisiana. Named after the statesman, John Slidell, this town is a growing suburb of the New Orleans area. Since Hurricane Katrina, Slidell and its surrounding areas have seen a tremendous population surge.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 44m. Total distance: 303 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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