Trip from Thibodaux, LA to New Orleans, LA

Drive Time

1h 21m

Distance

60.5 mi

97 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 15m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m

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

Downtown Thibodaux, LA, LA

Thibodaux, LA

Monnivhoir Aymar Kouamé

Trip Overview

Traveling from Thibodaux to New Orleans is a straightforward 60.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two Southeast Louisiana locations. You will primarily navigate a combination of Highway 1, US 90, and I-310 to complete the trek. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the logistics are simple enough to allow for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

30.2 miles from Thibodaux, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your route spent on major roads designed for consistent travel. You can expect a mix of local highway driving that eventually transitions into the faster pace of the interstate system. The longest single stretch you will encounter is a 14.8-mile segment on US 90, which provides a steady rhythm before you merge onto I-310. While the drive is efficient, the character of the road shifts from regional corridors to the more heavily trafficked infrastructure approaching the New Orleans area. Expect a functional, direct experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination without unnecessary detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 90 and Highway 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 60.5 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 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 55.6 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

5
34 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward I 310 North, LA 3127 North: Donaldsonville, New Orleans

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 310 North, LA 3127 North: Donaldsonvil...
6
45.2 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: New Orleans

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 1A Toward I 10 East: New Orleans
8
55.6 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway toward New Orleans, Business District

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward New Orleans, Business District
6
59.1 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | I 10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
59.6 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Take the exit toward Poydras Street, Superdome

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 234B Toward Poydras Street, Superdome

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Thibodaux, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Business District along the way.

Business District

55.6 mi in | ~1h 14m | via I 10

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 90 14.8 mi 19m
Highway 1 12.4 mi 17m
I 310 11.1 mi 12m
I 10 10.1 mi 12m
Pontchartrain Expressway 3.5 mi 4m
LA 182 3.5 mi 6m
East Bayou Road 1.9 mi 2m
LA 308 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 90 — 14.8 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thibodaux, LA and New Orleans, LA.

1

Start on LA 1

116 ft · 9 sec · Saint Mary Street
2

Turn left onto LA 1; LA 20

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Jackson Street
3

Continue on LA 20

397 ft · 8 sec · Saint Patrick Bridge
4

Continue on LA 20; LA 308

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Bayou Road
5

Continue on LA 308

1.9 mi · 2 min · East Bayou Road
6

Turn right onto LA 648

428 ft · 12 sec · Percy Brown Road
7

Turn left onto LA 1

12 mi · 17 min · Highway 1
8

Turn left

313 ft · 22 sec
9

Turn right onto LA 308

0.5 mi · 45 sec · LA 308
10

Turn left onto LA 182

3.5 mi · 6 min · LA 182
11

Merge onto US 90

0.3 mi · 22 sec · US 90
12

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
13

Merge onto US 90

14 mi · 19 min · US 90
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 310 North, LA 3127 North: Donaldsonville, New Orleans
15

Continue on I 310

11 mi · 12 min · I 310
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 1A Toward I 10 East: New Orleans
17

Merge onto I 10

9.6 mi · 11 min · I 10
Use the straight lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

3.5 mi · 4 min · Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business District Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 234B Toward Poydras Street, Superdome Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21

Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue

0.3 mi · 40 sec · South Claiborne Avenue
22

Turn right onto Tulane Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Tulane Avenue
23

Arrive at destination

Tulane Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip with no required stops, you have the advantage of planning your departure time around New Orleans traffic patterns to ensure a smooth arrival. With a total duration of just under an hour and a half, you can comfortably make the drive in one go without needing to build in rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Thibodaux, as your $9 budget is based on standard consumption for the 60.5-mile distance. Because the route relies heavily on major highways, check local traffic reports for I-310 specifically, as any congestion there can impact your arrival time. Flexibility is your best asset here, so feel free to time your departure to avoid peak commuter hours.

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 30.2 miles from Thibodaux, LA, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.8 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 60.5 miles or 1h 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.2 miles or 43m 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 9m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Thibodaux, 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 Thibodaux, LA

This is one driving day of about 60.5 miles and 1h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Thibodaux, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 90 for about 14.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.2 mi from Thibodaux, LA · 43m into the drive

Downtown Laplace, LA, LA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Laplace, LA

30 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

Marrero, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laplace, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Thibodaux, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Orleans, LA

The final approach into New Orleans, 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 New Orleans, 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

$9.25 one way

$18.50 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $10.14 $20.29
premium $4.61 $10.98 $21.96
diesel $5.64 $13.44 $26.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.2 0 $6.35 $2.90
Efficient EV 15.1 0 $5.29 $2.42
EV Truck/SUV 24.2 0 $8.47 $3.87

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 13 hours ago

Origin

Thibodaux, LA

Evening in Thibodaux on Sunday

Local time

5:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Orleans, LA

Evening in New Orleans on Sunday

Local time

5:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°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

16 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 21m 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 Thibodaux, LA to New Orleans, LA covers 60.5 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 90, Highway 1, I 310. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.2 miles from Thibodaux, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.25 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 60.5 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 34 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 55.6 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Thibodaux, LA to New Orleans, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Business District along the way.

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