New Orleans to Washington DC: Road Trip Guide & Distance

965 miles 1553 km · straight line
1084.5 miles actual route 1745.4 km · driving distance
19h 57min estimated drive time
$104 - $128 estimated fuel cost
~2h 26min flight time
47° NE bearing direction

How far is New Orleans from Washington DC?

The distance from New Orleans to Washington DC is 965 miles (1553 km) as the crow flies. Washington DC is located NE of New Orleans. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1084.5 miles, taking about 19h 57min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 26min. Both are located in United States — New Orleans in Louisiana and Washington DC in District of Columbia.

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. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for New Orleans and Washington DC. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from New Orleans to Washington DC

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 19h 57min $104 - $128 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 26min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~23h 56min $87–$163* Budget
Train ~25h 56min $130–$380* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between New Orleans & Washington DC

Quick Facts

New Orleans
29.95°N, 90.07°W
America/Chicago
1m elevation
Washington DC
38.91°N, 77.04°W
America/New_York
7m elevation
Explore more routes from Washington DC

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 322 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 80 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 25.8 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM