Origin
Swartz, LA
Late night in Swartz on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swartz, LA to New Orleans, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 12m
Distance
264 mi
425 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 59m
★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 22m
12 PM
5h 19m
3 PM
5h 23m
5 PM
5h 38m
8 PM
5h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Swartz, LA
SHOX ART
Trip Overview
This 264-mile journey from Swartz, LA to New Orleans, LA is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 12 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425 before merging onto I-10, making it a familiar driving experience for those accustomed to American highways. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entire trip, experiencing the transition from smaller towns to the vibrant atmosphere of New Orleans. This drive is well-suited for a one-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
132 miles from Swartz, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Seargent Prentiss Drive | 79.3 mi | 1h 34m |
| US 425 | 76.2 mi | 1h 28m |
| I 10 | 75.2 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 20 | 13.2 mi | 14m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Highway 594 | 5.2 mi | 9m |
| Pontchartrain Expressway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Seargent Prentiss Drive
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swartz, LA and New Orleans, 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
75 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 234B
Toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Claiborne Avenue
21
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Tulane Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, departing in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive in New Orleans with time to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to make it a quick gas and stretch break or a more substantial meal. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 79.3-mile stretch on Seargent Prentiss Drive, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you can depart when it's most convenient for you, avoiding early morning rush hour if possible.
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 132 miles from Swartz, LA, or about 2h 37m 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 58 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132 miles or 2h 37m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Orleans, 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 264 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132 miles from Swartz, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Seargent Prentiss Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 19.3 and 263.2 — 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.
8
259.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 5m 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
262.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m in
|
I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
263.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m in
Take the exit toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 234B
Toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.87 one way
$79.74 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $43.77 | $87.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $47.38 | $94.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $58.29 | $116.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.2 | 0 | $27.72 | $12.67 |
| Efficient EV | 66 | 0 | $23.10 | $10.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.6 | 1 | $36.96 | $16.90 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Late night in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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
5h 12m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 272.2
View on nps.gov
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 18.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway, with 69% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While primarily highway, the initial sections on Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425 may offer a slightly different feel before you merge onto the faster pace of I-10. This road profile suggests a consistent driving experience, with the transition to I-10 marking the most significant change in road character as you approach your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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 Effort
9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 264 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 259.1 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
Archibald
19.3 mi in
|
~25m
About the Cities
Arriving in New Orleans, LA
Full guide →Way down yonder in New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans), you'll find the roots of jazz and a blossoming culture that is unlike anything else on Earth. Here, the laid-back atmosphere of the riverfront South has mixed with French sophistication, Spanish style, and African-American energy to create something greater than the sum of its parts. "NOLA" is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the top tourist destinations in the United States. "Laissez les bons temps rouler" is what they say here in the Big Easy, and you too can "let the good times roll" with a cool stroll down Bourbon Street, a hot Dixieland band, and even hotter Creole cuisine. Mardi Gras may be the city's calling card, but that's just one day out of the hot and muggy year in New Orleans. Go ahead, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, munch on some beignets, and watch the Saints go marchin' in.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 264 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m 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 New Orleans, 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 259.1 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Orleans, LA before the return drive.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From New Orleans, LA
More from Swartz, LA
More trips to New Orleans, LA
Explore more options from Swartz, LA or browse trips ending in New Orleans, LA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse LA road trips.