Drive or Fly: Red Chute, LA to Metairie, 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 SHV–MSY. At 329 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 8m

Distance

329.4 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

133 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73

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 4m

32m in the air

Air Distance

271 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Red Chute, LA → SHV 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSY → Metairie, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Red Chute, LA SHV — Shreveport Regional Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

Metairie, LA MSY — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 4m 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 14m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

16 kg

Route

Greyhound 2221

Door-to-Door Timeline

Red Chute, LA → Shreveport Bus Station (SHR6) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

New Orleans Bus Station (NOD6) → Metairie, 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 9 mi, ~14m drive

To NOD6 — New Orleans Bus Station 5 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	6h 8m	3h 4m	7h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$108	$186	$31
Carbon footprint	133 kg CO₂	69 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

329.4 mi 6h 7m

via I 49, I 10, US 190

Alternative (+36 min)

349.3 mi 6h 44m

via I 20, US 61, US 425

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