Origin
Chalmette, LA
Afternoon in Chalmette on Wednesday
Local time
1:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chalmette, LA to Alexandria, LA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
209.3 mi
337 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 57m
★
6 AM
4h 10m
8 AM
4h 36m
10 AM
4h 19m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 35m
8 PM
4h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chalmette, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 209.3-mile drive from Chalmette, Louisiana, to Alexandria, Louisiana, is a manageable 4-hour and 9-minute journey. Designed as a single-day trip, it offers a straightforward path through the heart of Louisiana. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, this highway-focused route is an economical option for reaching your destination. You'll primarily travel on I 10 and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, experiencing a consistent pace for most of the drive. Given its relatively short duration, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience and arrive with ample daylight.
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
104.7 miles from Chalmette, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 63% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 78.8 miles on I 10, providing a solid block of consistent travel. While much of the journey maintains highway speeds, the inclusion of Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway and State Route 1 suggests a potential shift in scenery and pace as you transition between these road types. Expect a generally efficient drive, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside exploration compared to more rural routes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 78.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Montesquieu Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 209.3 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: near the start (Montesquieu Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Oak Place): Navigation decision point; at 86.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Montesquieu Street
Turn right onto Montesquieu Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Oak Place
Turn right onto Oak Place
Navigation decision point
6
86.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
90.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
7
90.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 78.8 mi | 1h 30m |
| Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway | 64.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| State Route 1 | 49 mi | 1h 2m |
| I 610 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| North Lobdell Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West Judge Perez Drive | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| North Claiborne Avenue | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| Franklin Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 78.8 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chalmette, LA and Alexandria, LA.
1
Start on LA 39
175 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Judge Perez Drive
2
Turn right onto Montesquieu Street
169 ft
·
7 sec
·
Montesquieu Street
3
Turn right onto Oak Place
352 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Place
4
Turn right onto Fenelon Street
166 ft
·
5 sec
·
Fenelon Street
5
Turn left onto LA 39
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
West Judge Perez Drive
6
Continue on LA 39
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
North Claiborne Avenue
7
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Franklin Avenue
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Franklin Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Avenue
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Franklin Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
11
Continue on I 610
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 610
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10
75 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 151
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward LA 415: Lobdell
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto LA 415
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lobdell Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
49 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
State Route 1
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
19
Merge onto I 49; US 167
65 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward M L King Drive, Downtown Alexandria
21
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
10th Street
22
Turn right onto Murray Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Murray Street
23
Arrive at destination
Murray Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 9-minute drive, an early morning departure from Chalmette will allow you to reach Alexandria with plenty of time to spare. With only one recommended stop, you can plan to refuel and take a break around the halfway point to maximize your time on the road. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 78.8-mile stretch on I 10, to ensure you don't need to detour for gas. The $32 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer for unexpected needs.
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 104.7 miles from Chalmette, LA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.8 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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 11m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chalmette, 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 Chalmette, LA
This is one driving day of about 209.3 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chalmette, 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 78.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.7 mi from Chalmette, LA · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 104.7 miles from Chalmette, 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 78.8 miles.
Arriving in Alexandria, LA
The final approach into Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, 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
$31.61 one way
$63.22 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $34.70 | $69.40 |
| premium | $4.56 | $37.57 | $75.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.21 | $92.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 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 | 62.8 | 0 | $21.98 | $10.05 |
| Efficient EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.31 | $8.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.7 | 1 | $29.30 | $13.40 |
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
Alexandria, LA
Afternoon in Alexandria on Wednesday
Local time
1:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
18 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 9m 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 Chalmette, LA to Alexandria, LA covers 209.3 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway, State Route 1. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.7 miles from Chalmette, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.61 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 16 significant decision points across 209.3 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: near the start (Montesquieu Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Oak Place): Navigation decision point; at 86.4 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Chalmette, LA to Alexandria, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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