Origin
Donaldsonville, LA
Afternoon in Donaldsonville on Saturday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Donaldsonville, LA to Metairie, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
59.8 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Donaldsonville, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Metairie, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Donaldsonville, LA to Metairie, LA covers 59.8 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, LA 70, Division Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.2 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 45.2 mi | 51m |
| LA 70 | 10 mi | 12m |
| Division Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| North Causeway Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Marchand Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| LA 22 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 47th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Albert Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 45.2 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Donaldsonville, LA and Metairie, LA.
1
Start on LA 1
11 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 10th Street
2
Continue on LA 3089
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Albert Street
3
Continue on LA 3089
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Marchand Drive
4
Continue on LA 3089
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Division Street
5
Continue on LA 70
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
LA 70
6
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 70
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
LA 70
7
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 70
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
LA 70
8
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 70
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Crawford Leblanc Boulevard
9
Merge onto LA 22
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
LA 22
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 10 East: New Orleans
11
Merge onto I 10
45 mi
·
51 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 228
Toward Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, Bonnabel Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
Toward Causeway Boulevard South
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto North Causeway Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Causeway Boulevard
15
Turn left onto 46th Street
88 ft
·
5 sec
·
46th Street
16
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
285 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Causeway Boulevard
17
Turn left onto 47th Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
47th Street
18
Arrive at destination
Fagot Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Donaldsonville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 59.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
58.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
5
59.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
North Causeway Boulevard
Turn right onto North Causeway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
59.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
47th Street
Turn left onto 47th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.03 one way
$18.06 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.73 | $21.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.20 | $26.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Metairie, LA
Afternoon in Metairie on Saturday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
59.8 mi in 1h 12m, mostly highway — 45.2 mi of that is on I 10.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.2 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and LA 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.8 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 13.3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.2 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Metairie, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Metairie, LA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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