How far is New Orleans, LA from Ruston, LA?
The driving distance from New Orleans, LA to Ruston, LA is about 296 miles (476.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 41m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 233.3 miles (375.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 22m 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 04h 41m.
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.
Largest city and the parish seat of Concordia Parish, Louisiana, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between New Orleans and Ruston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Orleans and Ruston.
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1
Start on Tulane Avenue
12 m · 3 sec · Tulane Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Loyola Avenue
1385 ft · 46 sec · Loyola Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Poydras Street
2932 ft · 1 min · Poydras Street
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4
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: Baton Rouge
1865 ft · 46 sec
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5
Merge slight left
78.5 mi · 1 hr 30 min
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
6.2 mi · 8 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
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7
Continue on Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
2.6 mi · 3 min · Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on US 61 North: Natchez
1227 ft · 17 sec
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9
Continue on Scenic Highway
3.8 mi · 6 min · Scenic Highway
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10
Continue on Samuels Road
75.7 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Samuels Road
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11
Turn left
566 ft · 18 sec
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12
Continue on John R Junkin Drive
2.4 mi · 3 min · John R Junkin Drive
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13
Continue on Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
10.6 mi · 12 min · Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
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14
Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min · E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
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15
Turn left
1459 ft · 36 sec
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16
Merge slight left
50.5 mi · 56 min
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17
Take the exit slight right
803 ft · 20 sec
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18
Keep slight left
59 m · 8 sec
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19
Turn left onto Farmerville Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Farmerville Highway
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20
Continue on East Georgia Avenue
2281 ft · 1 min · East Georgia Avenue
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21
Turn left onto North Farmerville Street
2856 ft · 2 min · North Farmerville Street
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22
Turn right onto East California Avenue
2145 ft · 54 sec · East California Avenue
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East California Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between New Orleans and Ruston.
Straightforward drive
The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.
I 10 West
Merge slight left
78.5 mi · 01h 30m
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.
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving New Orleans and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ruston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from New Orleans to Ruston?
The road trip is about 296 miles (476.4 km) and usually takes 04h 41m 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?
Vidalia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 148.9 miles from New Orleans and 147.1 miles from Ruston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 233.3 miles (375.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.7 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 7:38 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.57 one way or $79.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around New Orleans and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ruston.
Stop Ideas Near Vidalia
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 Vidalia.
Brookhaven
Vicksburg, MS
McComb
Hazlehurst station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between New Orleans and Ruston. Straight-line distance: 233.26 mi (375.39 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Ruston
Small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States
| Population | 21,891 |
| Coordinates | 32.5232100, -92.6379300 |
| Altitude | 102 |
| Country | United States |
End: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 476 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 56m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 41m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $39.57 | $79.15 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $44.51 | $89.01 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $48.33 | $96.66 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $56.59 | $113.17 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.