Slidell, LA to Ouachita Parish, LA is 269.8 miles and takes about 5h 7m via US 84, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface road driving, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is ideal if you're looking for a direct drive without needing to break it up.
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
134.9 miles from Slidell, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi
1h 12m
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
56.4 mi
1h
US 84
47.3 mi
55m
West Florida Republic Parkway
41.7 mi
44m
US 98
30.1 mi
34m
I 20
22 mi
24m
Gause Boulevard West
3 mi
4m
Jonesboro Road
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
— 63.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Traffic on I-55
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
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 88 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 Slidell, LA and Ouachita Parish, LA.
1
Start on Bouscaren Street
220 ft·15 sec·Bouscaren Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·3rd Street
3
Turn left onto US 190 Business
0.1 mi·21 sec·Fremaux Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Front Street
5
Turn left onto US 190
3.0 mi·4 min·Gause Boulevard West
6
Turn right onto Northshore Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Northshore Boulevard
7
Continue on Airport Road
0.3 mi·28 sec·Airport Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
9
Merge onto I 12
42 mi·44 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 38BToward I 55: JacksonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 55
56 mi·1 hr·Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 98
29 mi·33 min·US 98
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 98; MS 184
0.8 mi·53 sec·US 98; MS 184
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
15
Merge onto US 84
28 mi·32 min·US 84
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.0 mi·7 min·US 84
17
Take the exit onto US 84
13 mi·15 min·US 84
18
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
19
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
20
Merge onto I 20
22 mi·24 min·I 20
21
Take the exit
373 ft·9 sec
Toward LA 34
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward LA 34 South
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward LA 34 South
24
Turn straight onto LA 34
0.4 mi·36 sec·Stella Street
25
Continue on LA 34
1.1 mi·1 min·Jonesboro Road
26
Continue on LA 34
0.6 mi·56 sec·Jonesboro Road
27
Arrive at destination
LA 34
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 7m estimated drive time and a fuel cost around $40, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Ouachita Parish comfortably. Since it's a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in planning your stops; consider breaking up the 63.2-mile stretch on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North if you prefer more frequent pauses. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move from highway to surface roads, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination in Ouachita Parish.
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 134.9 miles from Slidell, LA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.2 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.9 miles or 2h 31m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ouachita Parish, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 269.8 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Slidell, 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 E. E. Wallace Boulevard North for about 63.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 267.5 — 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|3rd Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 190 Business / Fremaux Avenue
Turn left onto US 190 Business / Fremaux Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
47 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38B
Toward I 55: Jackson
6
267.2 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 34 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 South
6
267.5 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 34 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.00 one way
$84.00 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.30
$92.60
premium
$4.71
$50.04
$100.08
diesel
$6.18
$65.63
$131.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.33
$12.95
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.79
EV Truck/SUV
107.9
1
$37.77
$17.27
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 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
Slidell, LA
Late night
in Slidell on Tuesday
Local time
12:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ouachita Parish, LA
Late night
in Ouachita Parish on Tuesday
Local time
12:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
31 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
5h 7m 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.
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 241.9
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?
This drive is about 52% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North covering 63.2 miles. You'll transition from higher-speed highway travel to surface roads as you progress. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances efficient travel with more local cruising.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.2 mi on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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.
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 19 significant decision points across 269.8 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 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
•Slidell — Amtrak rail station in Slidell, Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 269.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.2 miles on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Ouachita Parish, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Poverty Point National Monument and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ouachita Parish, LA before the return drive.
