Drive or Fly: Olla, 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 MLU–MSY. At 244 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 2m

Distance

244.5 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

99 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 38m

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Olla, LA → MLU 66m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSY → Metairie Terrace, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MLU and MSY. 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 20m

7h 55m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 475m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From JER6 — Jonesboro (Super Save#2-Chevron) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NOD6 — New Orleans Bus Station 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 2m	3h 38m	9h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$182	$25
Carbon footprint	99 kg CO₂	46 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 12, 2026.

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