Origin
New Orleans, LA
Afternoon in New Orleans on Sunday
Local time
1:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Orleans, LA to Jonesboro, LA
Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
273.9 mi
441 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
Trip Overview
Traveling from New Orleans to Jonesboro covers 273.9 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 23 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a full day of travel rather than a quick sprint. Budget roughly $37 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Louisiana, you will remain in a familiar geographic context throughout the trip. Whether this works as a day trip depends on your tolerance for local navigation, but it is entirely doable in a single day if you start early.
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
136.9 miles from New Orleans, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a departure defined by urban navigation as you navigate Loyola Avenue and Poydras Street before transitioning toward I-10 West. This route is characterized by its turn-heavy local nature, meaning you will spend very little time on long, straight interstate stretches. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs right at the start on Loyola Avenue, after which the road profile shifts to a winding, local-focused experience.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Loyola Avenue 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 5h 23m 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 New Orleans, LA to Jonesboro, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Loyola Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Poydras Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| LA 415 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Lobdell Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 1 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Charles I | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Loyola Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Jonesboro, LA.
1
Start on Tulane Avenue
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
Tulane Avenue
2
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Loyola Avenue
3
Turn right onto Poydras Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Poydras Street
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 10 West: Baton Rouge
5
Merge slight left
79 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
6
Keep slight left
3.9 mi
·
4 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward LA 415: Lobdell
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
LA 415: Lobdell
8
Keep slight right to continue on LA 415: Lobdell
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
LA 415: Lobdell
9
Merge slight left onto North Lobdell Highway
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lobdell Highway
10
Merge slight left onto State Route 1
49 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
State Route 1
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
12
Merge slight left onto Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
65 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 167 North, LA 28 East, LA 1: Pineville Expressway, Casson Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 167 North, LA 28 East, LA 1: Pineville Expressway, Casson Street
14
Keep slight left to continue on US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expressway
72 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expressway
15
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Main Street
16
Continue on Chatham Highway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Chatham Highway
17
Turn right onto Allen Avenue
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
Allen Avenue
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To keep your 5-hour and 23-minute drive manageable, aim for a morning departure to avoid the fatigue of navigating local turns after dark. You only need to plan for about one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, which fits well within your $37 budget. Because this route involves significant local road travel, keep your GPS updated to handle the frequent turns accurately. Since you aren't tied to high-speed interstates, stay flexible with your pace and take advantage of the ability to pull over easily if you encounter traffic. Prioritizing consistent focus on the road is the best way to handle the technical nature of this specific Louisiana trek.
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 136.9 miles from New Orleans, LA, or about 2h 41m 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.9 miles or 2h 41m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonesboro, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Orleans, 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 New Orleans, LA
This is one driving day of about 273.9 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New Orleans, 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 136.9 mi from New Orleans, LA · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 136.9 miles from New Orleans, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jonesboro, LA
The final approach into Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, 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
$41.87 one way
$83.74 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $45.93 | $91.85 |
| premium | $4.61 | $49.71 | $99.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.85 | $121.70 |
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: 95.8 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 | 82.2 | 1 | $28.76 | $13.15 |
| Efficient EV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.97 | $10.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.35 | $17.53 |
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
Jonesboro, LA
Afternoon in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
1:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
65°F
Newton, TX
137 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 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 23m 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 New Orleans, LA to Jonesboro, LA covers 273.9 miles and takes about 5h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Loyola Avenue, Poydras Street, I 10 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.9 miles from New Orleans, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.87 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 5h 23m 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 New Orleans, LA to Jonesboro, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from New Orleans, LA to Jonesboro, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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