Trip from Melville, LA to New Orleans, LA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 44m

Distance

129.5 mi

208 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 34m ★

6 AM

2h 44m

8 AM

3h 6m

10 AM

2h 52m

12 PM

2h 50m

3 PM

2h 53m

5 PM

3h 5m

8 PM

2h 38m

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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Melville, LA

Szymon Shields

Trip Overview

The drive from Melville, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 129.5 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 10, US 190, State Route 105 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.1 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.56 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

64.7 miles from Melville, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	79.1 mi	1h 30m
US 190	30.5 mi	40m
State Route 105	10.1 mi	17m
LA 415 Spur	3.6 mi	5m
Pontchartrain Expressway	3.5 mi	4m
North Levee Road	0.4 mi	<1m
Fontenot Street	0.4 mi	<1m
Tulane Avenue	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 79.1 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Church Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Church Street

Turn left onto Gum Street

363 ft · 21 sec · Gum Street

Turn left onto LA 10

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Lafleur Street

Turn right onto Fontenot Street

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Fontenot Street

Continue on LA 105

10 mi · 17 min · State Route 105

Continue on LA 105

0.4 mi · 48 sec · North Levee Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Merge onto US 190

31 mi · 40 min · US 190

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto LA 415 Spur

3.6 mi · 5 min · LA 415 Spur

Turn left

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge

Merge onto I 10

79 mi · 1 hr 29 min · I 10

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · I 10

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Exit 234B Toward Poydras Street, Superdome Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue

0.3 mi · 40 sec · South Claiborne Avenue

Turn right onto Tulane Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Tulane Avenue

Arrive at destination

Tulane Avenue

Trip Plan

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Melville, LA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.1 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 28 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 64.7 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 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 Melville, 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 Melville, LA

This is one driving day of about 129.5 miles and 2h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Melville, 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.

The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 79.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

suburb city of Baton Rouge, located in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Port Allen, LA

65 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.

Popular next leg

Port Allen, LA to New Orleans, LA

82.7 mi · 1h 37m

Pacing Suggestions

Livonia, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baton Rouge, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.7 miles from Melville, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Pluck Wine Bar & Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New Orleans, Louisiana

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 129.5

Hours: 3 pm–12 am

+15042339780

Visit website

Plates Restaurant & Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New Orleans, Louisiana

1 mi

Dooky Chase Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

New Orleans, Louisiana

1 mi

Pluck Wine Bar & Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 3 pm–12 am

+15042339780

Visit website

Plates Restaurant & Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Moderately mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 4–9 pm

+15045829020

Visit website

Dooky Chase Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15048210600

Visit website

Please-U-Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+15045259131

Visit website

Louisiana Lagniappe Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour Expensive mile 55.5

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+12257679991

Visit website

NolaKorea Korean Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 120.2

Metairie, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15047028811

Court Street Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 46.2

Port Allen, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12253304669

Visit website

Supper Club BR

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $100 or ab mile 55.5

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 5–10 pm

+12253411000

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 120.2

Harahan, Louisiana

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+15044906263

Visit website

Burden Museum & Gardens

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 55.5

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12257633990

Visit website

Museum of Death New Orleans

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

+15045933968

Visit website

French Quarter Visitor Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm

+15045893882

Visit website

The National WWII Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15045281944

Visit website

Marie Laveau's House Of Voodoo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–11 pm

Visit website

The Cabildo Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 129.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+15045686968

Visit website

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 55.5

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12257633990

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 128.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | LA 10 / Lafleur Street

Turn left onto LA 10 / Lafleur Street

Navigation decision point

11.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 190

Merge onto US 190

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

124.6 mi into trip | ~2h 37m 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

128.2 mi into trip | ~2h 41m 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.

128.6 mi into trip | ~2h 42m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.56 one way

$39.12 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$21.47	$42.94
premium	$4.56	$23.24	$46.49
diesel	$5.61	$28.59	$57.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	38.9	$13.60	$6.22
Efficient EV	32.4	$11.33	$5.18
EV Truck/SUV	51.8	$18.13	$8.29

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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

Melville, LA

Afternoon in Melville on Saturday

Local time

1:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Orleans, LA

Afternoon in New Orleans on Saturday

Local time

1:18 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°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

6 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

2h 44m 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.

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...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 129.5

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

129.5 mi in 2h 44m, mostly highway — 79.1 mi of that is on I 10.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 79.1 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 190. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near LA 10 / Lafleur Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 129.5 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: at 0.2 miles (LA 10 / Lafleur Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.6 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 129.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 79.1 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at New Orleans, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Orleans, LA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Melville, LA or browse trips ending in New Orleans, LA.

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Trip from Melville, LA to New Orleans, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Pluck Wine Bar & Restaurant

Pluck Wine Bar & Restaurant

Plates Restaurant & Bar

Dooky Chase Restaurant

Please-U-Restaurant

Louisiana Lagniappe Restaurant

NolaKorea Korean Restaurant

Court Street Cafe

Supper Club BR

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

XCharge Charging Station

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

Burden Museum & Gardens

Museum of Death New Orleans

French Quarter Visitor Center

The National WWII Museum

Marie Laveau's House Of Voodoo

The Cabildo Museum

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Melville, LA

New Orleans, LA

Same local time

6 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 44m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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