Trip from Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

48 mi

77 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min

4 AM

1h 10m ★

6 AM

1h 16m

8 AM

1h 28m

10 AM

1h 20m

12 PM

1h 19m

3 PM

1h 21m

5 PM

1h 28m

8 PM

1h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Connecting Houma to Donaldsonville, this 48-mile journey through Southeast Louisiana is a straightforward trek that fits perfectly into a single day of travel. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 16 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate away from the coast toward the river parishes. Because the distance is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, making this an ideal quick excursion. With a modest fuel budget of just $7, you can easily manage the trip without significant expense. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that keeps you off the major interstates entirely. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this simple drive offers a direct path between these two regional hubs.

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

24 miles from Houma, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Forget about monotonous highway cruising; this trip is defined by a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged. You will navigate primarily via Barrow Street, Park Avenue, and Canal Boulevard, with a 0% highway share throughout the entire journey. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—the longest being 0 miles on Barrow Street—you should expect a steady pace that requires your full attention. This route feels more like a local transit experience than a high-speed transit corridor. By sticking to these local roads, you avoid the heavy traffic often found on larger thoroughfares, though you should be prepared for frequent turns as you transition between streets.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Barrow Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA is easy. At 1h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Barrow Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Park Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Canal Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Jackson Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Saint Mary Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 1	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Barrow Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houma, LA and Donaldsonville, LA.

1

Start on School Street

46 ft · 7 sec · School Street

2

Turn left onto Barrow Street

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Barrow Street

3

At the end of the road, turn left onto Park Avenue

15 mi · 24 min · Park Avenue

4

Continue on Canal Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · Canal Boulevard

5

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Jackson Street

180 ft · 4 sec · Jackson Street

6

Exit the roundabout onto Jackson Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Jackson Street

7

Turn left onto Saint Mary Street

6.6 mi · 9 min · Saint Mary Street

8

Continue on Highway 1

15 mi · 22 min · Highway 1

9

Turn right

1.6 mi · 2 min

10

Turn right

6.5 mi · 10 min

11

Merge slight right

2.2 mi · 2 min

12

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 48-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak local traffic hours is always a smart move. You don't need to worry about planning for lengthy stops or rest breaks since the total duration is only 1 hour and 16 minutes. Keep your $7 fuel budget in mind before you head out, as fueling up in Houma before you start will ensure you reach Donaldsonville without any mid-trip stress. Because this route relies entirely on local roads like Canal Boulevard rather than highways, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns. Embracing the lack of stops allows you to complete the trip efficiently, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your destination upon arrival.

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 24 miles from Houma, LA, or about 38m into the drive.

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 48 miles or 1h 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 24 miles or 38m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Donaldsonville, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Houma, 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 Houma, LA

This is one driving day of about 48 miles and 1h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Houma, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24 mi from Houma, LA · 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Laplace, LA

24 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

Addis, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laplace, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24 miles from Houma, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Donaldsonville, LA

The final approach into Donaldsonville, 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 Donaldsonville, 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

$7.34 one way

$14.68 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$8.05	$16.10
premium	$4.61	$8.71	$17.42
diesel	$5.64	$10.66	$21.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	14.4	$5.04	$2.30
Efficient EV	12	$4.20	$1.92
EV Truck/SUV	19.2	$6.72	$3.07

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Houma, LA

Afternoon in Houma on Sunday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Donaldsonville, LA

Afternoon in Donaldsonville on Sunday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°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

1 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 16m 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 Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA covers 48 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Barrow Street, Park Avenue, Canal Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 24 miles from Houma, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.34 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.

The drive from Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA is easy. At 1h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Houma, LA to Donaldsonville, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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