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Trip from Terrytown, LA to Central, LA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

90.8 mi

146 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 45m ★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

suburban community and census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States

Terrytown, LA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Central, LA, LA

Central, LA

Jesus Alfonso

Trip Overview

The drive from Terrytown, LA to Central, LA covers 90.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pontchartrain Expressway, Joor Road, Airline Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.4 miles on Pontchartrain Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.71 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.

Midpoint

45.4 miles from Terrytown, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 90.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 90.8 miles, with most of the trip on Pontchartrain Expressway and Joor Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 72.4 miles on Pontchartrain Expressway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pontchartrain Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 72.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pontchartrain Expressway and Joor Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Heritage Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Heritage Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Heritage Avenue

Turn right onto Heritage Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway

Merge onto US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
75.9 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Take the exit toward LA 3246: Siegen Lane

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 163 Toward LA 3246: Siegen Lane
6
81.8 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in

Take the exit toward US 190 East: Hammond

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 190 East: Hammond
6
82.4 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | Oak Villa Boulevard

Turn left onto Oak Villa Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pontchartrain Expressway 72.4 mi 1h 22m
Joor Road 5.2 mi 7m
Airline Highway 4.3 mi 6m
Oak Villa Boulevard 2.1 mi 3m
Westbank Expressway 1.4 mi 2m
Siegen Lane 1.3 mi 2m
Hooper Road 1.1 mi 2m
Terry Parkway 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pontchartrain Expressway — 72.4 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Terrytown, LA and Central, LA.

1

Start on Cedarwood Avenue

418 ft · 16 sec · Cedarwood Avenue
2

Turn right onto Heritage Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Heritage Avenue
3

Turn left onto Terry Parkway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Terry Parkway
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward US 90 Business East: New Orleans
5

Merge onto US 90 BUS

1.4 mi · 2 min · Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Continue on US 90 BUS

0.6 mi · 57 sec · Crescent City Connection
7

Continue on US 90 BUS

72 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Exit 163 Toward LA 3246: Siegen Lane Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto LA 3246

1.3 mi · 2 min · Siegen Lane
10

Turn left onto US 61; LA 73

4.3 mi · 6 min · Airline Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Toward US 190 East: Hammond Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn straight onto US 190

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Florida Boulevard
13

Turn left onto Oak Villa Boulevard

1.2 mi · 2 min · Oak Villa Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on Oak Villa Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Oak Villa Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on LA 946

5.2 mi · 7 min · Joor Road
16

Turn right onto LA 408

1.1 mi · 2 min · Hooper Road
17

Arrive at destination

LA 408

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.4 miles from Terrytown, LA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.4 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 20 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.4 miles or 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 1h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Terrytown, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Terrytown, LA

This is one driving day of about 90.8 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Terrytown, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pontchartrain Expressway for about 72.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 45.4 mi from Terrytown, LA · 54m into the drive

Downtown Shenandoah, LA, LA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Shenandoah, LA

45 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

Metairie, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laplace, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.4 miles from Terrytown, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pontchartrain Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.4 miles.

Arriving in Central, LA

The final approach into Central, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Taqueria 2 Brothers

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Terrytown, Louisiana

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+15045715558

Visit website

NolaKorea Korean Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Metairie, Louisiana

0.8 mi

Tu tierra-Cafeteria, Breakfast & Brunch

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

0.6 mi

Taqueria 2 Brothers

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Terrytown, Louisiana

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+15045715558

Visit website

NolaKorea Korean Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30 mile 13

Metairie, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15047028811

Tu tierra-Cafeteria, Breakfast & Brunch

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 77.8

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

+12252563986

Visit website

Dooky Chase Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15048210600

Visit website

Frank's Restaurant-Baton Rouge

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.3

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 5 am–2:30 pm

+12259265977

Visit website

The Smokey Pit | Smoke House Eatery & Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.3

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: Closed

+12259233998

Visit website

Lizzie's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.3

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+12253008825

Visit website

The Red Maple Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Gretna, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15043670935

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 13

Metairie, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

New Orleans, LA

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Harvey, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

1.8 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 13

Metairie, Louisiana

XCharge Charging Station

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 13

Harahan, Louisiana

Longue Vue House and Gardens

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+15044885488

Visit website

New Orleans Museum of Art

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15046584100

Visit website

The Singing Oak

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17076892985

Louisiana Children's Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm

+15045231357

Visit website

Blue Zoo Aquarium Baton Rouge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 77.8

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+12254165290

Visit website

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+15044906263

Visit website

The National WWII Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 6.5

New Orleans, Louisiana

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15045281944

Visit website

Celebration Station Baton Rouge

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 77.8

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hours: 12–9 pm

+12259247888

Visit website

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 3.1
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.71 one way

$27.43 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $15.05 $30.11
premium $4.56 $16.30 $32.60
diesel $5.61 $20.05 $40.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.2 0 $9.53 $4.36
Efficient EV 22.7 0 $7.94 $3.63
EV Truck/SUV 36.3 0 $12.71 $5.81

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% 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

Terrytown, LA

Late night in Terrytown on Friday

Local time

12:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Central, LA

Late night in Central on Friday

Local time

12:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

86°F

Shenandoah, LA

45 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

6 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

1h 52m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Terrytown, LA to Central, LA covers 90.8 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pontchartrain Expressway, Joor Road, Airline Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.4 miles from Terrytown, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Heritage Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 90 BUS / Westbank Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Terrytown, LA to Central, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

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