Sulphur, LA to Gretna, LA is 219.1 miles and takes about 4h 11m via I 10 and US 90, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, traversing the Southeast region. Expect mostly highway driving for this relatively short, one-day journey. It's a straightforward drive that should be manageable for most drivers looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
109.5 miles from Sulphur, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
185 mi
3h 27m
US 90
18.6 mi
21m
East Napoleon Street
6 mi
9m
Pontchartrain Expressway
5.9 mi
6m
Westbank Expressway
2.5 mi
3m
Crescent City Connection
0.7 mi
1m
Richard Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
11th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 185 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sulphur, LA and Gretna, LA.
1
Start on US 90
6.0 mi·9 min·East Napoleon Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp onto US 90
19 mi·21 min·US 90
3
Continue on I 10
185 mi·3 hr 27 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.5 mi·4 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business DistrictUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS
2.4 mi·2 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 90 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·Crescent City Connection
7
Continue on US 90 BUS
2.0 mi·2 min·Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 8Toward Stumpf BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Westbank Expressway
0.5 mi·59 sec·Westbank Expressway
10
Turn right
0.1 mi·38 sec
11
At end of road, turn left onto 11th Street
65 ft·4 sec·11th Street
12
Turn right onto Richard Street
171 ft·7 sec·Richard Street
13
Arrive at destination
Richard Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 11m drive, consider leaving in the morning to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With only 219.1 miles, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost is around $31, so factor that into your budget. Since this route is primarily highway, plan for a single stop around the halfway point, perhaps after you've covered the 185-mile stretch on I 10, to refuel and stretch your legs.
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 109.5 miles from Sulphur, LA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gretna, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sulphur, 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 Sulphur, LA
This is one driving day of about 219.1 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Sulphur, 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 185 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 219 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 90 / East Napoleon Street
Depart onto US 90 / East Napoleon Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
209.6 mi into trip|~3h 58m in|I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway toward New Orleans, Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New Orleans, Business District
6
213.1 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
218.1 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward Stumpf Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward Stumpf Boulevard
5
219 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|11th Street
At end of road, turn left onto 11th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.11 one way
$68.21 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.60
$75.20
premium
$4.71
$40.64
$81.27
diesel
$6.18
$53.30
$106.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$23.01
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.67
$14.02
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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 18, 2026
Origin
Sulphur, LA
Morning
in Sulphur on Monday
Local time
8:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gretna, LA
Morning
in Gretna on Monday
Local time
8:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
NE 10 to 15 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
2 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
4h 11m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 211.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 97% of this 219.1-mile route, with the longest continuous stretch covering 185 miles on I 10. The highway driving will transition to surface streets like East Napoleon Street as you approach your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and potential for merging traffic as you get closer to the New Orleans metropolitan area.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 90. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 90 / East Napoleon Street.
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 219.1 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (US 90 / East Napoleon Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 209.6 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 213.1 miles (US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 219.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
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: near the start (US 90 / East Napoleon Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 209.6 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 213.1 miles (US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Gretna, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
