How far is Benton, LA from New Orleans, LA?
The driving distance from Benton, LA to New Orleans, LA is about 340.8 miles (548.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 287.5 miles (462.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 05h 18m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Benton and New Orleans.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton and New Orleans.
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1
Start on Simpson Street
27 m · 7 sec · Simpson Street
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2
Turn left onto Highway 3
4.6 mi · 7 min · Highway 3
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3
Continue on Benton Road
6.3 mi · 9 min · Benton Road
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4
Turn slight right
72 m · 9 sec
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5
Turn straight onto Walter O. Bigby Carriageway
1 km · 1 min · Walter O. Bigby Carriageway
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Walter O Bigby Carriageway
47 m · 4 sec · Walter O Bigby Carriageway
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7
Exit the roundabout onto Walter O Bigby Carriageway
1163 ft · 28 sec · Walter O Bigby Carriageway
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8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hamilton Road
68 m · 6 sec · Hamilton Road
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9
Exit the roundabout onto Hamilton Road
1 mi · 2 min · Hamilton Road
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10
Take the ramp slight right
1152 ft · 28 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.9 mi · 3 min · Purple Heart Recipients Highway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 South: Alexandria
1.3 km · 2 min
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13
Continue on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186.4 mi · 3 hr 10 min · Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
2681 ft · 1 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on US 190 East: Baton Rouge
110 m · 10 sec
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16
Merge slight right
49.5 mi · 1 hr 3 min
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17
Keep slight right
3.6 mi · 5 min
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18
Turn left onto I 10 East: Baton Rouge
1512 ft · 37 sec
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19
Merge slight left
78.6 mi · 1 hr 30 min
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on Pontchartrain Expressway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Pontchartrain Expressway
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21
Keep slight right
2544 ft · 36 sec
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22
Take the exit slight left toward Poydras Street, Superdome
1368 ft · 37 sec
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23
Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue
1555 ft · 41 sec · South Claiborne Avenue
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24
Turn right onto Tulane Avenue
1639 ft · 42 sec · Tulane Avenue
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Tulane Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Benton and New Orleans.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Continue on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186 mi · 03h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Benton and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near New Orleans.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Benton to New Orleans?
The road trip is about 340.8 miles (548.5 km) and usually takes 05h 18m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Bunkie is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169.8 miles from Benton and 171 miles from New Orleans.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 287.5 miles (462.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:22 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.56 one way or $91.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Benton and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near New Orleans.
Stop Ideas Near Bunkie
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bunkie.
Lafayette
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Iberia
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Benton and New Orleans. Straight-line distance: 287.51 mi (462.7 km).
#1 Benton
Suburb town of Shreveport, located in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States of America
| Population | 2,092 |
| Coordinates | 32.6948700, -93.7418500 |
| Altitude | 63 |
| Country | United States |
#2 New Orleans
The most populous city in Louisiana and the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area.
| Population | 389,476 |
| Coordinates | 29.9546500, -90.0750700 |
| Altitude | 0 |
| Country | United States |
End: Tulane Avenue (-90.07507, 29.954633)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 549 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 48m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 40m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 52m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $45.56 | $91.12 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $51.24 | $102.47 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $55.64 | $111.28 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $65.14 | $130.28 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Louisiana · May 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.