Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
137.6 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leonville, LA
Vika Glitter
Embark on a relatively short, 137.6-mile journey from New Orleans, LA, to Leonville, LA, with an estimated drive time of 2 hours and 51 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. The majority of your drive, 96%, will be on highways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points within the Southeast region. With a projected fuel cost of approximately $21, this trip is quite budget-friendly. You'll experience a straightforward drive focused primarily on interstate travel.
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
68.8 miles from New Orleans, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 137.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the mileage on main roads like I-10 and State Route 1. Expect long stretches, including an uninterrupted 82.5 miles on I-10, which makes for a consistent pace. While the initial part of the drive will likely feel like a typical interstate journey, the transition to State Route 1 and LA 741 will introduce more local road characteristics as you approach Leonville. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower, winding roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and State Route 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Loyola Avenue.
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 137.6 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: near the start (Loyola Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.7 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward LA 415: Lobdell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward LA 415: Lobdell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 82.5 mi | 1h 34m |
| State Route 1 | 42 mi | 54m |
| LA 741 | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| North Lobdell Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| State Route 31 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Poydras Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Loyola Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Tulane Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans, LA and Leonville, LA.
Start on Tulane Avenue
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
Turn right onto Poydras Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto LA 415
Merge onto US 190; LA 1
Turn left onto LA 741
Turn right onto LA 31
At end of road, turn left onto LA 31
Turn left onto LA 3254
Arrive at destination
Given the 2-hour and 51-minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart New Orleans in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic and have plenty of daylight upon arrival in Leonville. The longest stretch without a break is over 80 miles on I-10, so plan for a fuel or rest stop before or during that segment if needed. With only one primary stop suggested, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the extended highway portions, as service areas can be spaced out.
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.
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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leonville, LA than in the middle of the route.
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 137.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.8 mi from New Orleans, LA · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68.8 miles from New Orleans, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.5 miles.
The final approach into Leonville, 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 Leonville, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.78 one way
$41.56 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $22.81 | $45.62 |
| premium | $4.56 | $24.70 | $49.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.38 | $60.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.45 | $6.60 |
| Efficient EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.04 | $5.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55 | 0 | $19.26 | $8.81 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in New Orleans on Saturday
Local time
7:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Leonville on Saturday
Local time
7:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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