Origin
Alexandria, LA
Late night in Alexandria on Wednesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexandria, LA to Gretna, LA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
207.7 mi
334 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 48m
★
6 AM
4h 1m
8 AM
4h 27m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 8m
3 PM
4h 12m
5 PM
4h 26m
8 PM
3h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Gretna, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alexandria, LA to Gretna, LA covers 207.7 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, US 190 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.6 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
103.8 miles from Alexandria, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 4h 1m highway drive covering 207.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.6 miles on I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 65.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 207.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.2 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.2 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
65.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
6
66.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
198.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 48m in
|
I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway toward New Orleans, Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New Orleans, Business District
6
201.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m in
|
US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
206.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward Stumpf Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward Stumpf Boulevard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alexandria, LA to Gretna, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Opelousas
65.6 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 78.6 mi | 1h 29m |
| Martin Luther King, Jr Highway | 64.8 mi | 1h 5m |
| US 190 | 49.5 mi | 1h 3m |
| Pontchartrain Expressway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| LA 415 Spur | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Westbank Expressway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Crescent City Connection | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Murray Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 78.6 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, LA and Gretna, LA.
1
Start on Murray Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Murray Street
2
Turn left onto Thorn Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Thorn Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
4
Merge onto I 49; US 71 BYP
65 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
6
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
7
Merge onto US 190
49 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
LA 415 Spur
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
10
Merge onto I 10
79 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 90 BUS
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Crescent City Connection
14
Continue on US 90 BUS
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 8
Toward Stumpf Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto Westbank Expressway
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Westbank Expressway
17
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
18
At end of road, turn left onto 11th Street
65 ft
·
4 sec
·
11th Street
19
Turn right onto Richard Street
171 ft
·
7 sec
·
Richard Street
20
Arrive at destination
Richard Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.8 miles from Alexandria, LA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gretna, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, LA
This is one driving day of about 207.7 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alexandria, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 78.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.8 mi from Alexandria, LA · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.8 miles from Alexandria, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.6 miles.
Arriving in Gretna, LA
The final approach into Gretna, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Gretna, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.37 one way
$62.74 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $34.43 | $68.87 |
| premium | $4.56 | $37.28 | $74.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.86 | $91.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.81 | $9.97 |
| Efficient EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.17 | $8.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.1 | 1 | $29.08 | $13.29 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gretna, LA
Late night in Gretna on Wednesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alexandria, LA to Gretna, LA covers 207.7 miles and takes about 4h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Martin Luther King, Jr Highway, US 190. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.8 miles from Alexandria, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 207.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.2 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.2 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Alexandria, LA to Gretna, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
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