The drive from Metairie Terrace, LA to Ruston, LA covers 291.9 miles and takes about 5h 43m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Samuels Road, I 10, E. E. Wallace Boulevard North for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.7 miles on Samuels Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
146 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 291.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Metairie Terrace, LA to Ruston, LA covers 291.9 miles and takes about 5h 43m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Samuels Road is the longest continuous segment at about 75.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 291.9 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 1.2 miles (LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway
Turn right onto LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~7m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8C
Toward US 61 North: Natchez
5
289.8 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 Metairie Terrace, LA to Ruston, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
73.9 mi in|~1h 27m|via I 110
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Samuels Road
75.7 mi
1h 28m
I 10
70.8 mi
1h 20m
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi
1h 12m
I 20
50.5 mi
55m
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi
12m
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
6.2 mi
8m
Scenic Highway
3.8 mi
5m
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Samuels Road
— 75.7 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metairie Terrace, LA and Ruston, LA.
1
Start on Mayflower Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·Mayflower Drive
2
Continue on Civic Street
396 ft·18 sec·Civic Street
3
Turn right onto Waltham Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Waltham Street
4
Turn left onto West Metairie Avenue North
0.9 mi·2 min·West Metairie Avenue North
5
Turn right onto LA 3152
1.2 mi·2 min·Clearview Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
8
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 110
6.2 mi·8 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 110
2.6 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 8CToward US 61 North: NatchezUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 61
3.8 mi·5 min·Scenic Highway
13
Continue on US 61
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·Samuels Road
14
Turn left
0.1 mi·17 sec
15
Continue on US 84; US 425
2.4 mi·2 min·John R Junkin Drive
16
Continue on US 84; US 425
11 mi·12 min·Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
17
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
18
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
19
Merge onto I 20
51 mi·55 min·I 20
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft·7 sec
22
Turn left onto LA 33
0.7 mi·1 min·Farmerville Highway
23
Continue on US 80
0.4 mi·1 min·East Georgia Avenue
24
Turn left onto North Farmerville Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Farmerville Street
25
Turn right onto LA 146
0.4 mi·54 sec·East California Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
LA 146
Trip Plan
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 146 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.7 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 64 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruston, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Metairie Terrace, 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 Metairie Terrace, LA
This is one driving day of about 291.9 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Metairie Terrace, 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 Samuels Road for about 75.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146 mi from Metairie Terrace, LA
· 2h 54m into the drive
The midpoint is around 146 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Samuels Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.7 miles.
Arriving in Ruston, LA
The final approach into Ruston, 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 Ruston, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 241.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.08 one way
$88.17 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$48.39
$96.79
premium
$4.56
$52.39
$104.79
diesel
$5.61
$64.45
$128.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.6
1
$30.65
$14.01
Efficient EV
73
0
$25.54
$11.68
EV Truck/SUV
116.8
1
$40.87
$18.68
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Metairie Terrace, LA
Late night
in Metairie Terrace on Friday
Local time
2:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ruston, LA
Late night
in Ruston on Friday
Local time
2:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
4 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
5h 43m 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 Metairie Terrace, LA to Ruston, LA covers 291.9 miles and takes about 5h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Samuels Road, I 10, E. E. Wallace Boulevard North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146 miles from Metairie Terrace, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.08 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 demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 291.9 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: at 1.2 miles (LA 3152 / Clearview Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Metairie Terrace, LA to Ruston, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
