Lakeland to New Orleans: Road Trip Guide & Distance

508.2 miles 817.8 km · straight line
609.8 miles estimated 981.4 km · driving distance
12h 16min estimated drive time
$59 - $72 estimated fuel cost
~1h 31min flight time
287° WNW bearing direction

How far is Lakeland from New Orleans?

The distance from Lakeland to New Orleans is 508.2 miles (817.8 km) as the crow flies. New Orleans is located WNW of Lakeland. By car, the driving distance is approximately 609.8 miles, taking about 12h 16min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 31min. Both are located in United States — Lakeland in Florida and New Orleans in Louisiana.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare.

Coordinates come from public place data for Lakeland and New Orleans. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Lakeland to New Orleans

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 12h 16min $59 - $72 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 31min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~14h 43min $49–$91* Budget
Train ~15h 57min $73–$213* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Lakeland & New Orleans

Quick Facts

Lakeland
28.04°N, 81.95°W
America/New_York
60m elevation
New Orleans
29.95°N, 90.07°W
America/Chicago
1m elevation
Explore more routes from New Orleans

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 169 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 42 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 49 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients