Drive or Fly: New Orleans, LA to Olla, 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–MLU. At 248 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 50m

Distance

248.6 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 46m

22m in the air

Air Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Orleans, LA → MSY 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MLU → Olla, LA 66m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Orleans, LA MSY — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Olla, LA MLU — Monroe Regional Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSY and MLU. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 15m

7h 50m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Orleans, LA → New Orleans Bus Station (NOD6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 470m

Arrival 10m

Jonesboro (Super Save#2-Chevron) (JER6) → Olla, LA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From NOD6 — New Orleans Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To JER6 — Jonesboro (Super Save#2-Chevron) 0 mi, ~30m 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	4h 50m	3h 46m	9h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$182	$25
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	14 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 14, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from New Orleans, LA to Olla, LA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.