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

The driving distance from New Orleans, LA to Gretna, LA is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 3 miles (4.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
5.38 mi
00h 09m
Flight
3.04 mi
4.89 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from New Orleans.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
3.04 mi
Kilometers
4.89 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
5.38 mi
Kilometers
8.66 km
Drive Time
00h 09m

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 00h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gretna
Wed, Apr 15, 4:07 AM CDT
Return by in New Orleans
Wed, Apr 15, 4:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave New Orleans
2026-04-15T03:57
Arrive Gretna
Wed, Apr 15, 4:07 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:10 AM to 7:10 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
8:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in New Orleans
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Terrytown
LA

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

From New Orleans
2.7 mi
00h 04m
To Gretna
2.7 mi
00h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
84°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Tulane Avenue

    12 m · 3 sec · Tulane Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Loyola Avenue

    2882 ft · 1 min · Loyola Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Howard Avenue

    624 ft · 27 sec · Howard Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Oretha C Haley Boulevard

    650 ft · 27 sec · Oretha C Haley Boulevard

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Calliope Street

    66 m · 8 sec · Calliope Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left

    1398 ft · 34 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Pontchartrain Expressway

    1.1 km · 45 sec · Pontchartrain Expressway

  8. 8

    Continue on Crescent City Connection

    1.1 km · 1 min · Crescent City Connection

  9. 9

    Continue on Westbank Expressway

    2 mi · 3 min · Westbank Expressway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Stumpf Boulevard

    1396 ft · 34 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Westbank Expressway

    2603 ft · 60 sec · Westbank Expressway

  12. 12

    Turn right

    759 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 11th Street

    20 m · 5 sec · 11th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Richard Street

    52 m · 7 sec · Richard Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Richard Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
15 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
277.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westbank Expressway
2.46 mi · 46%
Pontchartrain Expressway
0.7 mi · 13%
Crescent City Connection
0.68 mi · 13%
Loyola Avenue
0.55 mi · 10%
Calliope Street
0.31 mi · 6%
Stumpf Boulevard
0.26 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Westbank Expressway

Continue on Westbank Expressway

1.96 mi · 00h 03m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 09m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.4 mi
3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Terrytown
00h 04m from New Orleans
Leave By
8:10 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving New Orleans and Mostly Sunny near Gretna.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km) and usually takes 00h 09m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Terrytown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 2.7 miles from New Orleans and 2.7 miles from Gretna.

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

The direct path is about 3 miles (4.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.72 one way or $1.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around New Orleans and Mostly Sunny near Gretna.

Stop Ideas Near Terrytown

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

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

UNK

New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

6 mi away
1001 Loyola Avenue
RAIL

Slidell

47 mi away
1827 Front Street
RAIL

Picayune

76 mi away
US 11 at Tate Street
RAIL

Schriever

77 mi away
Hwy 20 and Hwy 24

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between New Orleans and Gretna. Straight-line distance: 3.04 mi (4.89 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
Gretna

#2 Gretna

Suburb city of New Orleans

Population17,615
Coordinates29.9146500, -90.0539600
Altitude0
CountryUnited States
Start: New Orleans (-90.07507, 29.95465)
End: Gretna (-90.05396, 29.91465)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 9 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.19 gal
0.72 L · about $0.72
Round trip
$1.44
0.38 gal · 1.44 L
Estimated CO2
1.7 kg one way
Round trip: 3.4 kg / 7 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $0.72 $1.44
Mid-grade $4.26 $0.81 $1.62
Premium $4.63 $0.88 $1.76
Diesel $5.42 $1.03 $2.06

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between New Orleans and Gretna. The current time is 03:57:16.

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.