Drive or Fly: Vivian, LA to New Orleans, 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 358 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 43m

Distance

358.6 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

145 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 41m

37m in the air

Air Distance

306 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

78 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vivian, LA → SHV 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSY → New Orleans, LA 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Vivian, LA SHV — Shreveport Regional Airport 31 mi, ~46m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 2m 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 50m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vivian, LA → Shreveport Bus Station (SHR6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From SHR6 — Shreveport Bus Station 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	6h 43m	3h 41m	7h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$187	$31
Carbon footprint	145 kg CO₂	78 kg CO₂	21 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

358.6 mi 6h 42m

via I 49, I 10, US 190

Shortest (+18 min)

352.3 mi 7h 1m

via I 49, I 10, LA 1

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