Origin
Lafayette, LA
Late night in Lafayette on Friday
Local time
1:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lafayette, LA to Merrydale, LA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
63.6 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Merrydale, LA
Perry Z
Trip Overview
This 63.6-mile drive from Lafayette, LA to Merrydale, LA is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 19 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $10, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a quick connection between these two points within Louisiana. Given its short duration and efficient path, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll mainly be on I 10 and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this trip, with 89% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 10 and Northeast Evangeline Thruway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 51.7 miles on I 10, which means you can settle in for a consistent pace. This segment is designed for efficiency rather than a winding, scenic exploration. The character of the drive is largely consistent, emphasizing speed and directness as you travel through the Southeast region.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 51.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.2 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 155B
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
5
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Merge onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 190, US 61: Airline Highway, Opelousas
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 5B
Toward US 190, US 61: Airline Highway, Opelousa...
8
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 190 East, US 61 South: Airline Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 190 East, US 61 South: Airline Highwa...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lafayette, LA and Merrydale, LA, road signs point toward Airport and Opelousas.
Airport
54.7 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Opelousas
60.2 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 51.7 mi | 58m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Northeast Evangeline Thruway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Airline Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Greenwell Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Rue Jefferson | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rue Vermilion Ouest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 51.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, LA and Merrydale, LA.
1
Start on Rue Vermilion Ouest
335 ft
·
22 sec
·
Rue Vermilion Ouest
2
Turn left onto Rue Jefferson
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Rue Jefferson
3
Continue on Jefferson Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Jefferson Boulevard
4
Turn left onto US 90; LA 182
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Northeast Evangeline Thruway
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
6
Merge onto I 10
52 mi
·
58 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 155B
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
Merge onto I 110
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 5B
Toward US 190, US 61: Airline Highway, Opelousas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 190 East, US 61 South: Airline Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 61; US 190
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Airline Highway
12
Turn left onto Greenwell Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Greenwell Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Greenwell Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.8 mi from Lafayette, LA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Lafayette, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Merrydale, LA
The final approach into Merrydale, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.61 one way
$19.21 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.54 | $21.09 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.42 | $22.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Northeast Evangeline Thruway
(1.9 mi)
$0.13
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$0
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
| Efficient EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Merrydale, LA
Late night in Merrydale on Friday
Local time
1:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°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
22 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 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 Lafayette, LA to Merrydale, LA covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway, Northeast Evangeline Thruway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.8 miles from Lafayette, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.61 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 63.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 3 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.2 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Lafayette, LA and Merrydale, LA, road signs point toward Airport and Opelousas.
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