The drive from Central, LA to Jefferson, LA covers 82.9 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, Joor Road, Airline Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.4 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Central, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 82.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 82.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and Joor Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.4 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 18 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 64.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Joor Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near LA 946 / Joor Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (LA 946 / Joor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles (US 190 / Florida Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|LA 946 / Joor Road
Turn left onto LA 946 / Joor Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
8.4 mi into trip|~12m in|US 190 / Florida Boulevard
Turn right onto US 190 / Florida Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
9 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South: New Orleans
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 61 South: New Orleans
8
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel...
7
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Causeway Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
64.4 mi
1h 12m
Joor Road
5.2 mi
7m
Airline Highway
4.5 mi
7m
North Causeway Boulevard
2.2 mi
4m
Siegen Lane
1.3 mi
2m
Oak Villa Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
Hooper Road
1.1 mi
2m
Oak Villa
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 64.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, LA and Jefferson, LA.
1
Start on LA 408
1.1 mi·2 min·Hooper Road
2
Turn left onto LA 946
5.2 mi·7 min·Joor Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Oak Villa
0.9 mi·1 min·Oak Villa
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Oak Villa Boulevard
1.2 mi·2 min·Oak Villa Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 190
0.6 mi·53 sec·Florida Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 South: New OrleansUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto US 61; US 190
4.5 mi·7 min·Airline Highway
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
399 ft·10 sec
Toward LA 3246 South
9
Turn straight onto LA 3246
1.3 mi·2 min·Siegen Lane
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
11
Merge onto I 10
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 228Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard SouthUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
2.2 mi·4 min·North Causeway Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto US 90
0.3 mi·36 sec·Jefferson Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn left onto Labarre Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Labarre Road
17
Turn left onto Madelon Street
276 ft·12 sec·Madelon Street
18
Arrive at destination
Madelon Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.5 miles from Central, LA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.4 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Central, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Central, LA
This is one driving day of about 82.9 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Central, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 64.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.5 mi from Central, LA
· 54m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 82.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.52 one way
$25.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.74
$27.49
premium
$4.56
$14.88
$29.76
diesel
$5.61
$18.30
$36.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.70
$3.98
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.25
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Central, LA
Morning
in Central on Friday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jefferson, LA
Morning
in Jefferson on Friday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Shenandoah, LA
41 mi in
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
2 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
1h 44m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Central, LA to Jefferson, LA covers 82.9 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Joor Road, Airline Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 miles from Central, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (LA 946 / Joor Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles (US 190 / Florida Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Central, LA to Jefferson, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
