How far is Minden, LA from New Orleans, LA?

The driving distance from Minden, LA to New Orleans, LA is about 332.9 miles (535.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.1 miles (425 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
332.9 mi
05h 15m
Flight
264.1 mi
425.02 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Minden.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.1 mi
Kilometers
425.02 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
332.9 mi
Kilometers
535.75 km
Drive Time
05h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in New Orleans
Wed, Apr 22, 11:48 PM CDT
Return by in Minden
Thu, Apr 23, 5:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Minden
2026-04-22T18:33
Arrive New Orleans
Wed, Apr 22, 11:48 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:15 AM to 1:15 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Minden
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Bunkie
LA

City in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States

From Minden
166.2 mi
02h 37m
To New Orleans
166.8 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Minden and New Orleans.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Minden and New Orleans.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1360 ft · 51 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Sibley Road

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Sibley Road

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    38.6 mi · 56 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on HWY 371

    1270 ft · 22 sec · HWY 371

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Ringgold Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Ringgold Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right

    40 m · 2 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1.2 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto HWY 84 EAST

    981 ft · 17 sec · HWY 84 EAST

  9. 9

    Continue on US 84

    6.6 mi · 10 min · US 84

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Take the ramp left

    1534 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    142.5 mi · 2 hr 24 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas

    2681 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 190 East: Baton Rouge

    110 m · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    49.5 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    3.6 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto I 10 East: Baton Rouge

    1512 ft · 37 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    78.6 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Pontchartrain Expressway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Pontchartrain Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    2544 ft · 36 sec

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight left toward Poydras Street, Superdome

    1368 ft · 37 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Claiborne Avenue

    1555 ft · 41 sec · South Claiborne Avenue

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Tulane Avenue

    1639 ft · 42 sec · Tulane Avenue

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tulane Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Minden and New Orleans.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 84
151 mi · 45%
I 10 East
78.9 mi · 24%
US 190 East
53.1 mi · 16%
Sibley Road
40.5 mi · 12%
Pontchartrain Expressway
4.03 mi · 1%
Ringgold Avenue
2.17 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 84

Merge slight left

143 mi · 02h 24m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+68.8 mi
264.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bunkie
02h 37m from Minden
Leave By
6:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Minden and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Orleans.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Minden to New Orleans?

The road trip is about 332.9 miles (535.7 km) and usually takes 05h 15m 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 166.2 miles from Minden and 166.8 miles from New Orleans.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 264.1 miles (425 km), while the road route adds roughly 68.8 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 6:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.50 one way or $88.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Minden and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near New Orleans.

Stop Ideas Near Bunkie

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Bunkie, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bunkie.

RAIL

Lafayette

82 mi away
133 East Grant St.
BUS

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

111 mi away
1253 Florida St.
RAIL

New Iberia

111 mi away
West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Minden and New Orleans. Straight-line distance: 264.1 mi (425.02 km).

Minden

#1 Minden

Small city and parish seat of Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population11,575
Coordinates32.6154300, -93.2868400
Altitude78
CountryUnited States
New Orleans

#2 New Orleans

The most populous city in Louisiana and the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Population389,476
Coordinates29.9546500, -90.0750700
Altitude0
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-93.28684, 32.61543)
End: Tulane Avenue (-90.07507, 29.954633)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 536 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.75 gal
44.47 L · about $44.50
Round trip
$88.99
23.5 gal · 88.94 L
Estimated CO2
104.4 kg one way
Round trip: 208.8 kg / 460 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $44.50 $88.99
Mid-grade $4.26 $50.04 $100.09
Premium $4.63 $54.34 $108.69
Diesel $5.42 $63.63 $127.25

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 · Apr 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Minden and New Orleans. The current time is 18:33:13.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.