Origin
Jonesboro, LA
Afternoon in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jonesboro, LA to New Orleans, LA
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
275.1 mi
443 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Jonesboro to New Orleans, expect a journey covering 275.1 miles. This trip typically takes about 4 hours and 28 minutes, making it a manageable drive for a single day. You will primarily navigate via Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, and Winnfield Highway as you move through Southeast Louisiana. With an estimated fuel cost of $37, it is an affordable excursion for those looking to reach the coast. Since both locations are situated within the same region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere throughout the transit. It is a straightforward trip that fits well into a one-day itinerary without the need for an overnight stay.
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
137.5 miles from Jonesboro, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time on smaller, winding roads rather than high-speed thoroughfares. Because the longest stretch on Chatham Highway is 0 miles, you should anticipate frequent adjustments in your driving pace. The road's personality is defined by its technical nature, requiring you to stay alert through every turn. Expect a hands-on driving experience that contrasts sharply with the typical straight-line travel found on major national interstates.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chatham Highway 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jonesboro, LA to New Orleans, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Hudson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Winnfield Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Lafayette Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 190 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 190 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chatham Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, LA and New Orleans, LA.
1
Start on Allen Avenue
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
Allen Avenue
2
Turn left onto Chatham Highway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Chatham Highway
3
Turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hudson Avenue
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Hudson Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Hudson Avenue
5
Continue on Winnfield Highway
22 mi
·
27 min
·
Winnfield Highway
6
Continue on East Lafayette Street
48 mi
·
58 min
·
East Lafayette Street
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
8
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
64 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
10
Keep slight left to continue on US 190 East: Baton Rouge
361 ft
·
10 sec
·
US 190 East: Baton Rouge
11
Merge slight right
49 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
12
Keep slight right
3.6 mi
·
5 min
13
Turn left onto I 10 East: Baton Rouge
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 10 East: Baton Rouge
14
Merge slight left
79 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
15
Keep slight right to continue on Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pontchartrain Expressway
16
Keep slight right
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
17
Take the exit slight left toward Poydras Street, Superdome
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Poydras Street, Superdome
18
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Claiborne Avenue
19
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Tulane Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 28 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal preference. While the route is short enough to handle in one go, you should account for at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and break up the technical driving. Since you are relying on local roads rather than major highways, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, even with the $37 budget in mind. A smart way to manage this trip is to prioritize rest stops early, as the constant turning can be more fatiguing than highway cruising. Staying mindful of your speed on these local stretches will ensure a safer and more comfortable arrival in New Orleans.
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 137.5 miles from Jonesboro, LA, or about 2h 14m 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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.5 miles or 2h 14m 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 40m
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 Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, LA
This is one driving day of about 275.1 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jonesboro, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.5 mi from Jonesboro, LA · 2h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 137.5 miles from Jonesboro, 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
$42.06 one way
$84.11 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $46.13 | $92.26 |
| premium | $4.61 | $49.93 | $99.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.12 | $122.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.5 | 1 | $28.89 | $13.20 |
| Efficient EV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.07 | $11.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110 | 1 | $38.51 | $17.61 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Afternoon in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
65°F
Newton, TX
138 mi in
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
4 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
4h 28m 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 Jonesboro, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 275.1 miles and takes about 4h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chatham Highway, South Hudson Avenue, Winnfield Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.5 miles from Jonesboro, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.06 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 straightforward 4h 28m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jonesboro, LA to New Orleans, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Jonesboro, LA to New Orleans, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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