Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
65.6 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Donaldsonville, LA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from New Orleans, LA to Donaldsonville, LA covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, LA 70, Crawford Leblanc Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.2 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| LA 70 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Crawford Leblanc Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| LA 3089 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Poydras Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| LA 22 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Loyola Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tulane Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Donaldsonville, LA.
Start on Tulane Avenue
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Turn right onto Poydras Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Turn left onto LA 22
Enter roundabout onto LA 70
Continue on LA 70
Turn straight onto LA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 3089
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from New Orleans, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 62.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Poydras Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward LA 22: Sorrento, Donaldsonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto LA 3089 toward LA 3009: Donaldsonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$9.91 one way
$19.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.88 | $21.75 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.77 | $23.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Donaldsonville on Saturday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
65.6 mi in 1h 19m, mostly highway — 51.2 mi of that is on I 10.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and LA 70. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Loyola Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 19m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Loyola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Poydras Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 65.6 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 (91%). Straightforward navigation.
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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