Traveling from West Monroe to Metairie covers 271 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 33 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best approached as a full-day commitment. You should budget about $37 for fuel to complete the journey through the Southeast region of Louisiana. While the distance is manageable for a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you will want to plan for at least one stop to break up the time behind the wheel. Use this route if you prefer local roads over the monotony of major highways.
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
131.6 miles from West Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between West Monroe, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on LA 143
1.5 mi·2 min·North 7th Street
2
Turn right onto LA 34
0.1 mi·8 sec·Stella Street
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
4
Merge onto I 20
22 mi·24 min·I 20
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
6
Turn right onto US 425
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 425
7
Keep slight right at fork
526 ft·14 sec
8
Merge onto US 61
79 mi·1 hr 34 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
10
Continue on I 110
2.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Merge onto I 10
73 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·North Causeway Boulevard
17
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft·5 sec·46th Street
18
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft·17 sec·North Causeway Boulevard
19
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·47th Street
20
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4 hour and 33 minute trip, plan your departure for early in the day to avoid fatigue on the winding local roads. Since you have a $37 fuel budget, topping off your tank before you leave West Monroe is a smart way to ensure you don't need to hunt for gas stations during the trickier segments of the drive. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, utilize your one recommended stop as a genuine break to stretch and reset. Because there are no long highway stretches, keep your navigation tools handy and ready for frequent turns. Being prepared for the constant changes in direction will make your drive to Metairie much more predictable.
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 131.6 miles from West Monroe, LA, or about 2h 33m 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 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.6 miles or 2h 33m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Monroe, 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 West Monroe, LA
This is one driving day of about 263.1 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from West Monroe, 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 24.1 and 261.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
24.1 mi into trip|~27m 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
188.6 mi into trip|~3h 42m 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
189.2 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
261.8 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
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 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
261.9 mi into trip|~5h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.73 one way
$79.47 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$43.62
$87.24
premium
$4.56
$47.22
$94.45
diesel
$5.61
$58.09
$116.18
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: 92.1 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
78.9
0
$27.63
$12.63
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.02
$10.52
EV Truck/SUV
105.2
1
$36.83
$16.84
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
West Monroe, LA
Late night
in West Monroe on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Metairie, LA
Late night
in Metairie on Tuesday
Local time
3:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
1 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 9m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 263.1
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 27.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is characterized by its turn-heavy local profile, trading high-speed interstate travel for a more involved driving experience. You will navigate using Stella Street, US 425, and Seargent Prentiss Drive, with a highway share of 0%. Because the longest stretch on Stella Street is 0 miles, expect constant changes in pace and steering. The lack of long, uninterrupted highway sections means you will need to stay focused on the road ahead throughout the entire 271-mile trip. It is a technical drive that requires your full attention compared to a standard highway cruise.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
10/10
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 24.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 263.1 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 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.6 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
351 ft1 ft
Total Climb
293 ft
Total Descent
375 ft
Highest Point
351 ft
~131.6 mi in
Elevation Range
350 ft
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 West Monroe, LA to Metairie, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 263.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m 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 Metairie, 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 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.6 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.2 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 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 Metairie, LA before the return drive.
