Origin
Denham Springs, LA
Evening in Denham Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denham Springs, LA to New Orleans, LA
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
85 mi
137 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denham Springs, LA
André Cogez
Trip Overview
Traveling from Denham Springs to New Orleans is a straightforward 85-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes. Because both cities are located within the Southeast region of Louisiana, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the transit. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, it is an economical choice for those looking to travel between these two points. Expect a direct, highway-focused drive that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, this trip offers a simple and predictable transit experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
42.5 miles from Denham Springs, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive is defined by its heavy reliance on major thoroughfares, with approximately 61% of your travel time spent on highways. You will navigate via Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway, West Florida Republic Parkway, and I-10 to complete the distance. A significant portion of the trip involves a 29.4-mile stretch along Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the journey. The experience is primarily an interstate-focused grind, designed to move you efficiently from the suburban landscape of Denham Springs into the urban center of New Orleans. Prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace that stays focused on getting you to your destination without unnecessary local road navigation.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway and West Florida Republic Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Centerville Street Northwest.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 85 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 (Centerville Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 80.1 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 12 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
|
Centerville Street Northwest
Turn left onto Centerville Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward I 12 East: Hammond
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 12 East: Hammond
8
80.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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
83.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
84.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
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
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 234B
Toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Denham Springs, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Business District along the way.
Business District
80.1 mi in
|
~1h 31m
|
via I 10
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway | 29.4 mi | 31m |
| West Florida Republic Parkway | 27.5 mi | 29m |
| I 10 | 20.5 mi | 25m |
| Pontchartrain Expressway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Corporal Shawn Kelly Memorial Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| North Range Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Tulane Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Claiborne Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
— 29.4 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denham Springs, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on Benton Street
228 ft
·
18 sec
·
Benton Street
2
Turn left onto Centerville Street Northwest
306 ft
·
13 sec
·
Centerville Street Northwest
3
Turn right onto LA 16
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Range Avenue
4
Continue on LA 3002
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Corporal Shawn Kelly Memorial Boulevard
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on LA 3002
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Range Avenue
6
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 12 East: Hammond
7
Merge onto I 12
27 mi
·
29 min
·
West Florida Republic Parkway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 38A
Toward I 55 South: New Orleans
9
Merge onto I 55
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10
20 mi
·
25 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 right at fork onto I 10
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 234B
Toward Poydras Street, Superdome
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Claiborne Avenue
15
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Tulane Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Tulane Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your scheduling. Aim to leave during off-peak hours if you want to avoid potential congestion on the main highways, especially as you approach the metropolitan area. Because there are no scheduled stops required for this 85-mile stretch, you can easily complete the drive in one go without worrying about extended travel fatigue. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, and ensure your tank is ready before you hit the main highways. Since the route relies heavily on I-10, check local traffic reports before you leave to ensure the flow remains steady along that primary corridor.
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 42.5 miles from Denham Springs, LA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.4 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 47m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Orleans, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Denham Springs, 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 Denham Springs, LA
This is one driving day of about 85 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Denham Springs, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway for about 29.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.5 mi from Denham Springs, LA · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 42.5 miles from Denham Springs, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Orleans, LA
The final approach into New Orleans, 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 New Orleans, 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
$12.99 one way
$25.99 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $14.25 | $28.51 |
| premium | $4.61 | $15.43 | $30.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.88 | $37.77 |
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: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.92 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.90 | $5.44 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
New Orleans, LA
Evening in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
5:12 PM
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m 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 Denham Springs, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 85 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway, West Florida Republic Parkway, I 10. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.5 miles from Denham Springs, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.99 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 85 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 (Centerville Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 80.1 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 Denham Springs, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Business District along the way.
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