Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ama, LA
Natalia Olivera
The drive from Ama, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 20 miles and takes about 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on River Road, LA 18, US 90 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.6 miles on River Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 20 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Ama, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 20 miles and takes about 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
13 ft
Total Descent
23 ft
Highest Point
13 ft
~4.3 mi in
Elevation Range
15 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near US 90.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles (US 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit onto US 90 toward LA 48, US 90 East: Jefferson Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: Slidell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Downtown, Slidell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ama, LA and New Orleans, LA, road signs point toward Earhart Expressway East and Slidell.
Earhart Expressway East
Slidell
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| River Road | 9.6 mi | 16m |
| LA 18 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| US 90 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Earhart Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Earhart Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pontchartrain Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| I 10 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Carrollton Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ama, LA and New Orleans, LA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto LA 18
Take the ramp onto LA 18
Take the exit onto US 90
Keep slight right at fork onto US 90
Turn left onto Deckbar Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto LA 3139
Continue on LA 3139
Turn left onto Dante Street
Turn right onto Oleander Street
Turn left onto South Carrollton Avenue
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.02 one way
$6.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.32 | $6.63 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.59 | $7.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.42 | $8.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Ama on Friday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in New Orleans on Friday
Local time
12:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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