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

The driving distance from New Orleans, LA to Cullen, LA is about 360.2 miles (579.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 288 miles (463.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
360.21 mi
07h 08m
Flight
287.99 mi
463.47 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from New Orleans.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
287.99 mi
Kilometers
463.47 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
360.21 mi
Kilometers
579.71 km
Drive Time
07h 08m

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 07h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cullen
Wed, May 13, 5:25 AM CDT
Return by in New Orleans
Wed, May 13, 12:34 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave New Orleans
2026-05-12T22:16
Arrive Cullen
Wed, May 13, 5:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
07h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:09 PM to 2:39 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:42 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in New Orleans
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Lecompte
LA

Town in Louisiana, United States

From New Orleans
180.1 mi
03h 34m
To Cullen
180.1 mi
03h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE
Destination
84°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Tulane Avenue

    12 m · 3 sec · Tulane Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Loyola Avenue

    1385 ft · 46 sec · Loyola Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Poydras Street

    2932 ft · 1 min · Poydras Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge

    1865 ft · 46 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    78.5 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 415: Lobdell

    1842 ft · 45 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on LA 415: Lobdell

    97 m · 8 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto North Lobdell Highway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · North Lobdell Highway

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto State Route 1

    49 mi · 1 hr 3 min · State Route 1

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria

    1494 ft · 36 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

    142.6 mi · 2 hr 24 min · Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    2448 ft · 60 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    96 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    8.1 mi · 12 min

  16. 16

    Continue on HWY 84 EAST

    981 ft · 21 sec · HWY 84 EAST

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Ringgold Avenue

    1.3 km · 1 min · Ringgold Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Ringgold Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Ringgold Avenue

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on HWY 371

    34.6 mi · 50 min · HWY 371

  20. 20

    Continue on South Main Street

    4.6 mi · 7 min · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Sibley Road

    130 m · 13 sec · Sibley Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Sibley Road

    832 ft · 19 sec · Sibley Road

  23. 23

    Take the ramp slight right toward West I 20, North US 371: Shreveport

    1457 ft · 36 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    2.2 mi · 2 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward US 371: Cotton Valley, Springhill

    27.3 mi · 41 min

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Henrietta White Boulevard

    2214 ft · 1 min · Henrietta White Boulevard

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henrietta White Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
143 mi · 40%
I 10 West
82.8 mi · 23%
State Route 1
49 mi · 14%
HWY 371
34.6 mi · 10%
US 371
27.3 mi · 8%
South Main Street
4.64 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

Merge slight left onto Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway

143 mi · 02h 24m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 08m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+72.2 mi
288 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lecompte
03h 34m from New Orleans
Leave By
9:42 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving New Orleans and Sunny near Cullen.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 360.2 miles (579.7 km) and usually takes 07h 08m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lecompte is a useful midpoint, sitting about 180.1 miles from New Orleans and 180.1 miles from Cullen.

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

The direct path is about 288 miles (463.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.2 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.13 one way or $96.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 113 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around New Orleans and Sunny near Cullen.

Stop Ideas Near Lecompte

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lecompte, 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 Lecompte.

RAIL

Lafayette

103 mi away
133 East Grant St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between New Orleans and Cullen. Straight-line distance: 287.99 mi (463.47 km).

New Orleans

#1 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Cullen

Town in Louisiana, United States

Population1,056
Coordinates32.9690300, -93.4507300
Altitude75
CountryUnited States
Start: New Orleans (-90.07507, 29.95465)
End: Cullen (-93.45073, 32.96903)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 580 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.71 gal
48.12 L · about $48.13
Round trip
$96.27
25.42 gal · 96.24 L
Estimated CO2
113 kg one way
Round trip: 225.9 kg / 498 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $48.13 $96.27
Mid-grade $4.26 $54.13 $108.26
Premium $4.63 $58.78 $117.57
Diesel $5.42 $68.82 $137.65

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between New Orleans and Cullen. The current time is 22:16:44.

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.