How Far Is Baton Rouge From New Orleans?

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Going from Baton Rouge to New Orleans seems to be getting shorter and shorter due to housing sprawl, but the distance — and travel scenery of oil refineries, rural parishes and swampland river — has not changed.

This article is going to tell you what you need to know about the trip.

How Far Is New Orleans From Baton Rouge?

New Orleans and Baton Rouge are approximately 80 miles apart. In a vehicle, you can make the trip in about an hour and 10 minutes give or take a few minutes.

The most notable route is to take Interstate 10, which goes right through both cities. You can also take Interstate 12, but it’s 15 minutes longer and you’ll have to curve back through Slidell.

For a more scenic route, you can take Airline Highway from Baton Rouge to New Orleans as well, which will take about one hour.

What is The Halfway Point Between Baton Rouge And New Orleans?

The halfway point between Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA is Denson, Louisiana, which is also known locally as Bear Island.

Between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is several parishes, the Louisiana version of counties.

What Parishes Are Baton Rouge And New Orleans In?

Baton Rouge is in East Baton Rouge Parish, while New Orleans is primarily in Orleans Parish. Nearby is Jefferson Parish, which is considered part of the Greater New Orleans area.

The Fastest Way: I-10

The quickest way to get there is to take Interstate 10, which is the federal highway system’s east-west corridor. If you choose this route, you’ll go over the bayou and several bodies of water. On your way, you’ll cross over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. At 23-miles long, the Causeway is the longest continuous bridge over water in the world.

The I-10 corridor between New Orleans and Baton Rouge also has another distinction. A part of it is known as “Cancer Alley.”

What And Where Is Cancer Alley?

Cancer Alley is a span between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that has gotten the infamous moniker because of the high instances of cancer in the communities along the route.

The nickname especially characterizes St. James Parish, which has a majority of its population living below the povery line.

The area is also known an “environmental sacrifice zone.” That means it’s made up of a geographical area that has been contaminated by dangerous chemicals.

The Street Way: Airline Highway

You can also take Airline Highway to go from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. If there’s an evacuation, you may find that this scenic route is less crowded and makes sense.

On your GPS, all you have to do is input U.S. Highway 61 from New Orleans and take it northwest to Baton Rouge and U.S. Highway 190.

Final Word

If you’re traveling from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, Louisiana, or vice versa, you’ll want to pick the most convenient route between the state’s largest cities.

Traveling around Louisiana to experience the different communities is one of the joys of the South. Make sure you fill up on gas and don’t speed (the cops are watching).

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Keisha Smith

Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.