Origin
Terrytown, LA
Night in Terrytown on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Terrytown, LA to Gardere, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
78.8 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Terrytown, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Gardere, LA
Miguel Cuenca
Trip Overview
This 78.8-mile drive from Terrytown, LA, to Gardere, LA, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 37 minutes. With 94% of the journey on main roads like the Pontchartrain Expressway and State Route 30, it's a quick transit. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option for a day trip. Since there are no recommended overnight stops, you can plan to depart whenever it's most convenient. This route stays within the Southeast region of Louisiana, offering a familiar driving experience without significant regional changes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Terrytown, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pontchartrain Expressway | 58.3 mi | 1h 6m |
| State Route 30 | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| East Highway 30 | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Nicholson Drive | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Westbank Expressway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Nicholson Extended | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Terry Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Crescent City Connection | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pontchartrain Expressway
— 58.3 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Terrytown, LA and Gardere, LA.
1
Start on Cedarwood Avenue
418 ft
·
16 sec
·
Cedarwood Avenue
2
Turn right onto Heritage Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Heritage Avenue
3
Turn left onto Terry Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Terry Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward US 90 Business East: New Orleans
5
Merge onto US 90 BUS
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on US 90 BUS
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Crescent City Connection
7
Continue on US 90 BUS
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 177
Toward LA 30: Saint Gabriel, Gonzales
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto LA 30
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Route 30
10
Enter roundabout onto LA 30
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Route 30
11
Continue on LA 30
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 30
12
Continue on LA 30
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
East Highway 30
13
Continue on LA 30
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Nicholson Extended
14
Continue on LA 30
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicholson Drive
15
Turn right onto LA 327 Spur
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
Gardere Lane
16
Arrive at destination
LA 327 Spur
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 37 minutes, this trip offers flexibility. You can easily tackle it in a single day without needing to split the drive. Aim to depart at a time that avoids potential local traffic, especially if you're traveling during peak commuting hours on the main expressways. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, ensure your tank is sufficiently full before leaving Terrytown. A specific tip for this route: pay attention to signage for State Route 30 as it may involve transitions that require your focus.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Terrytown, LA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.3 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gardere, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Terrytown, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Terrytown, LA
This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Terrytown, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pontchartrain Expressway for about 58.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Terrytown, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 62.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Heritage Avenue
Turn right onto Heritage Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Terry Parkway
Turn left onto Terry Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway
Merge onto US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward LA 30: Saint Gabriel, Gonzales
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 177
Toward LA 30: Saint Gabriel, Gonzales
4
62.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
LA 30 / State Route 30
Enter roundabout onto LA 30 / State Route 30
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.80 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.06 | $26.13 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.14 | $28.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.40 | $34.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.03 | $5.04 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Gardere, LA
Night in Gardere on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
20 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
1h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 94% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Pontchartrain Expressway, including a notable uninterrupted stretch of 58.3 miles. This highway-focused profile suggests a consistent pace for most of the journey. While the specifics of road changes aren't detailed, the primary roads indicate a focus on efficient travel rather than varied landscapes or technical driving.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.3 mi on Pontchartrain Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pontchartrain Expressway and State Route 30. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Heritage Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Terrytown, LA to Gardere, LA is easy. At 1h 37m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Heritage Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Terry Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): 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.
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 Terrytown, LA to Gardere, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Gonzales along the way.
Gonzales
61.8 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.3 miles on Pontchartrain Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Heritage Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Terry Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gardere, LA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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