Drive or Fly: Golden Meadow, LA to Maryland, 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 MSY–BTR. At 121 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 20m

Distance

121.5 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

49 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

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 26m

12m in the air

Air Distance

97 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Golden Meadow, LA → MSY 64m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BTR → Maryland, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Golden Meadow, LA MSY — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 42 mi, ~64m drive

Maryland, LA BTR — Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 51m

1h 6m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Golden Meadow, LA → New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal 61m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 66m

Arrival 10m

Hammond Amtrak Station → Maryland, LA 64m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal 41 mi, ~61m drive

To Hammond Amtrak Station 43 mi, ~64m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 20m	3h 26m	3h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$9
Carbon footprint	49 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	3 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: Amtrak 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Golden Meadow, LA to Maryland, LA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.