This 253.2-mile journey from Swartz, LA, to Kenner, LA, is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take just under 5 hours. You'll primarily navigate Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425 before merging onto I-10. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $38, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day adventure without needing an overnight stop. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, so expect a consistent regional feel throughout your travels.
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
126.6 miles from Swartz, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Swartz, LA and Kenner, LA.
1
Start on Swartz School Road
74 ft·9 sec·Swartz School Road
2
Turn left onto LA 594
1.8 mi·3 min·Highway 594
3
Enter roundabout onto LA 594
114 ft·2 sec·Highway 594
4
Continue on LA 594
3.3 mi·5 min·Highway 594
5
Continue on Russell Sage Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Russell Sage Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
7
Merge onto I 20
13 mi·14 min·I 20
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
9
Turn right onto US 425
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 425
10
Keep slight right at fork
526 ft·14 sec
11
Merge onto US 61
79 mi·1 hr 34 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
13
Continue on I 110
2.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110
0.5 mi·35 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 10
67 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 223A-BToward LA 49: Williams Boulevard, New Orleans International AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
174 ft·4 sec
Toward LA 49 South: New Orleans International Airport, Williams Boulevard SouthUse the right lane.
19
Turn right onto LA 49
1.0 mi·2 min·Williams Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto 21st Street
38 ft·1 sec·21st Street
21
Arrive at destination
21st Street
Trip Plan
For this approximately 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Swartz to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Kenner. With only one recommended stop and a straightforward route, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 79 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping the $38 fuel cost in mind. A practical tip for this route is to monitor your fuel levels before entering the I-10 corridor, as services can sometimes be more spread out on the interstate compared to the initial highway segments.
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 126.6 miles from Swartz, LA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 56 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.6 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 6m
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 Swartz, 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 Swartz, LA
This is one driving day of about 253.2 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Swartz, 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 Seargent Prentiss Drive for about 79.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.3 and 252.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19.3 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
6
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
184.5 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
251.9 mi into trip|~4h 56m 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
252.1 mi into trip|~4h 56m 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
$38.24 one way
$76.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.98
$83.95
premium
$4.56
$45.45
$90.89
diesel
$5.61
$55.90
$111.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76
0
$26.59
$12.15
Efficient EV
63.3
0
$22.15
$10.13
EV Truck/SUV
101.3
1
$35.45
$16.20
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Swartz, LA
Morning
in Swartz on Tuesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kenner, LA
Morning
in Kenner on Tuesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 59m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 261.1
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a highway-focused experience, with 67% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive, providing a chance to settle into a rhythm. While the majority of the trip is on established highways, the initial segments on Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425 may offer a slightly different feel before you transition to the faster pace of I-10. Expect a progression from potentially more rural highway driving to the faster, more direct interstate travel as you near your destination.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on Seargent Prentiss Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.3 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 253.2 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: at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.9 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.5 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Swartz, LA to Kenner, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
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 4h 59m. Total distance: 253.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Kenner, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.9 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 184.5 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Kenner, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
