This 85.2-mile drive from Houma, Louisiana, to Slidell, Louisiana, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 47 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on major highways, with an 85% highway share, making it a very efficient route. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, so it's an economical option for a quick hop within the Southeast region. You'll primarily navigate via I-10, US-90, and I-310, offering a consistent and predictable travel experience. This route is ideal when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Houma, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 85.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 85.2-mile trip. With 85% of the route on interstates and major highways like I-10, US-90, and I-310, this is a drive built for efficiency. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.5 miles on I-10, allowing for steady progress. The road character remains largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum rather than winding scenic detours. This profile means you'll spend minimal time on slower, local roads, keeping your travel time down.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 34.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near LA 182 / Barrow Street.
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 85.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (LA 182 / Barrow Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.7 miles (US 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|LA 182 / Barrow Street
Turn left onto LA 182 / Barrow Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.7 mi into trip|~13m in|US 90
Merge onto US 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
42.1 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1A
Toward I 10 East: New Orleans
7
52.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|I 610
Keep slight left at fork onto I 610 toward Slidell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Slidell
7
82.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward LA 433: Old Spanish Trail
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 263
Toward LA 433: Old Spanish Trail
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Houma, LA to Slidell, LA, road signs begin pointing toward New Orleans along the way.
New Orleans
30.8 mi in|~41m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
34.5 mi
40m
US 90
22.1 mi
28m
I 310
11.1 mi
12m
New Orleans Boulevard
7.7 mi
11m
I 610
5 mi
6m
Old Spanish Trail
1.7 mi
2m
Sergeant Alfred Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 34.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houma, LA and Slidell, LA.
1
Start on School Street
47 ft·7 sec·School Street
2
Turn left onto LA 182
0.2 mi·28 sec·Barrow Street
3
Turn right onto LA 24; LA 182
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
4
Turn left onto LA 182
319 ft·11 sec·New Orleans Bridge
5
Continue on LA 182
1.2 mi·2 min·New Orleans Boulevard
6
Enter roundabout onto LA 182
88 ft·1 sec·New Orleans Boulevard
7
Continue on LA 182
6.5 mi·8 min·New Orleans Boulevard
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 90 East: New Orleans
9
Merge onto US 90
22 mi·28 min·US 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 310 North, LA 3127 North: Donaldsonville, New Orleans
11
Continue on I 310
11 mi·12 min·I 310
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward I 10 East: New Orleans
13
Merge onto I 10
9.6 mi·11 min·I 10
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 610
5.0 mi·6 min·I 610
Toward SlidellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10
25 mi·28 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 263Toward LA 433: Old Spanish TrailUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto LA 433
1.7 mi·2 min·Old Spanish Trail
18
Turn sharp right onto Sergeant Alfred Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Sergeant Alfred Drive
19
Continue on 3rd Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·3rd Street
20
Turn left onto Bouscaren Street
220 ft·9 sec·Bouscaren Street
21
Arrive at destination
Bouscaren Street
Trip Plan
For this short, 1 hour and 47-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility. Leaving Houma anytime in the morning or early afternoon should work well, avoiding peak traffic. Since the longest stretch without a major exit is 34.5 miles on I-10, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though at $13 estimated cost, it's not a significant concern. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps at a rest area along I-10. Given the efficiency of this highway-focused route, you can easily make good time and arrive in Slidell without feeling rushed.
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 42.6 miles from Houma, LA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Slidell, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houma, LA
This is one driving day of about 85.2 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Houma, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 34.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.87 one way
$25.73 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.13
$28.25
premium
$4.56
$15.29
$30.58
diesel
$5.61
$18.81
$37.62
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: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
EV Truck/SUV
34.1
0
$11.93
$5.45
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Houma, LA
Late night
in Houma on Friday
Local time
12:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Slidell, LA
Late night
in Slidell on Friday
Local time
12:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
19 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 47m 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 Slidell, LA covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, US 90, I 310. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.6 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 $12.87 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 85.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (LA 182 / Barrow Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.7 miles (US 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Houma, LA to Slidell, LA, road signs begin pointing toward New Orleans along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.
