Trip from Kenner, LA to New Orleans, LA

Drive Time

19m

Distance

13.2 mi

21 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 18m ★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m ★

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

Downtown Kenner, LA, LA

Kenner, LA

Galina Yarovaya.

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Kenner to New Orleans, you are looking at a quick 13.2-mile trip that typically takes about 19 minutes. This short, highway-focused drive is perfect for a one-day excursion, meaning you certainly won't need an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $2 on fuel for the entire journey, making it an incredibly budget-friendly way to move between these two Southeast Louisiana locations. Since the route stays entirely within the same region, you can anticipate a familiar landscape throughout your transit. It is a straightforward commute that serves as an efficient link between the two cities.

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

6.6 miles from Kenner, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

The personality of this route is dominated by its highway-focused design, with 82% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate using a combination of Williams Boulevard, the Pontchartrain Expressway, and I-10 to make your way into the city. A significant portion of the drive includes a longest uninterrupted stretch of 7.2 miles on I-10, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. While the transition from local streets to high-speed interstate lanes happens quickly, the overall experience is functional and direct. You can expect a steady drive without the need for any complex navigation or mid-route stops.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 7.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Pontchartrain Expressway. 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 49 / Williams Boulevard.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 13.2 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 (LA 49 / Williams Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 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 8 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 49 / Williams Boulevard

Turn right onto LA 49 / Williams Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 East: New Orleans

Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10 East: New Orleans
8
8.3 mi into trip | ~12m 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
11.8 mi into trip | ~16m 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
12.3 mi into trip | ~17m 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

Between Kenner, LA and New Orleans, LA, road signs point toward Business District and Superdome.

Business District

8.3 mi in | ~12m | via I 10

Superdome

12.3 mi in | ~17m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 7.2 mi 8m
Pontchartrain Expressway 3.5 mi 4m
Williams Boulevard 1.2 mi 2m
Tulane Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
South Claiborne Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
21st Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 10 — 7.2 mi, about 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenner, LA and New Orleans, LA.

1

Start on 21st Street

38 ft · 5 sec · 21st Street
2

Turn right onto LA 49

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Williams Boulevard
3

Continue on LA 49

1.1 mi · 2 min · Williams Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 East: New Orleans Use the slight right lane.
5

Merge onto I 10

6.7 mi · 8 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

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.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 234B Toward Poydras Street, Superdome Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue

0.3 mi · 40 sec · South Claiborne Avenue
10

Turn right onto Tulane Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Tulane Avenue
11

Arrive at destination

Tulane Avenue

Trip Plan

Since the entire trip is only 19 minutes long, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops or meal breaks, as the distance is short enough to drive straight through without interruption. Keep in mind that because this route relies heavily on I-10 and the Pontchartrain Expressway, traffic patterns on these main roads will dictate your actual travel time more than anything else. To ensure a smooth arrival, check local traffic reports for the interstate before you head out from Kenner. This quick transit is best approached as a simple, efficient connection rather than a scenic tour.

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 6.6 miles from Kenner, LA, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.2 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 13.2 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 6.6 miles or 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 16m

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 Kenner, 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 Kenner, LA

This is one driving day of about 13.2 miles and 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kenner, 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 I 10 for about 7.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.6 mi from Kenner, LA · 10m into the drive

Downtown Metairie, LA, LA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Metairie, LA

7 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

Marrero, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Metairie, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.6 miles from Kenner, 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

$2.02 one way

$4.04 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $2.21 $4.43
premium $4.61 $2.40 $4.79
diesel $5.64 $2.93 $5.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4 0 $1.39 $0.63
Efficient EV 3.3 0 $1.15 $0.53
EV Truck/SUV 5.3 0 $1.85 $0.84

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Kenner, LA

Evening in Kenner on Sunday

Local time

5:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Orleans, LA

Evening in New Orleans on Sunday

Local time

5:15 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

1 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

19m 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 Kenner, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 13.2 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Pontchartrain Expressway, Williams Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.6 miles from Kenner, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.02 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 8 significant decision points across 13.2 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 (LA 49 / Williams Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.3 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kenner, LA and New Orleans, LA, road signs point toward Business District and Superdome.

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