Drive or Fly: Cullen, LA to Metairie Terrace, LA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for ELD–MSY. At 354 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 4m

Distance

354.6 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

143 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 45m

34m in the air

Air Distance

283 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cullen, LA → ELD 61m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSY → Metairie Terrace, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Cullen, LA ELD — South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field 41 mi, ~61m drive

Metairie Terrace, LA MSY — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELD and MSY. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 19m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 55m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

16 kg

Route

Greyhound 2221

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cullen, LA → Shreveport Bus Station (SHR6) 55m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

New Orleans Bus Station (NOD6) → Metairie Terrace, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From SHR6 — Shreveport Bus Station 37 mi, ~55m drive

To NOD6 — New Orleans Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h 4m	3h 45m	7h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$186	$31
Carbon footprint	143 kg CO₂	72 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Cullen, LA to Metairie Terrace, LA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.