Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
CautionChance of thunderstorms near LaPlace around 12:45 PM CDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Cloudy67°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Mostly cloudy66°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Cloudy70°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Mostly cloudy76°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Mostly cloudy81°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers81°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms81°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms81°F - SunOct 4
CautionChance of thunderstorms near LaPlace around 12:45 PM CDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Cloudy67°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers64°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers69°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers73°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers76°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Chance of rain showers78°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms81°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms82°F - MonOct 5
CautionChance of thunderstorms near New Orleans around 1:15 PM CDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Sunny59°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny57°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny63°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny70°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Partly sunny74°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Mostly cloudy77°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers79°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms81°F - TueOct 6
CautionChance of thunderstorms near New Orleans around 1:15 PM CDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Sunny54°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Sunny53°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Sunny59°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Partly sunny77°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers79°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Chance of thunderstorms80°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–79°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny57°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny56°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Sunny60°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Sunny69°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny74°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Partly sunny77°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Partly sunny78°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Partly sunny79°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 55–79°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Sunny58°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Sunny55°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Sunny60°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Sunny67°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Sunny74°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny77°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Partly sunny78°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Partly sunny79°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 56–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Memphis7 AM CDT Sunny59°F Senatobia7:45 AM CDT Sunny56°F Grenada8:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny60°F Canton9:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Jackson10:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny75°F Mississippi–Louisiana line11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny79°F LaPlace12:45 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers79°F New Orleans1:15 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers81°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Memphis (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Memphis, TNStart 270 ftelevation
- Senatobia, MSMile 38 · 38 min 274 ftelevation
- Grenada, MSMile 98 · 1 h 31 min 216 ftelevation
- Canton, MSMile 183 · 2 h 48 min 229 ftelevation
- Jackson, MSMile 207 · 3 h 11 min 292 ftelevation
- Mississippi–Louisiana lineState line · Mile 303 · 4 h 38 min 308 ftelevation
- LaPlace, LAMile 368 · 5 h 38 min 6 ftelevation
- New Orleans, LAMile 395 · 6 h 10 min 11 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rain, at Memphis, Jackson and New Orleans.
| Month | Memphis 254 ft | Jackson 296 ft | New Orleans New Orleans Airport station · 4 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Precip (in) | High / low °F | Precip (in) | High / low °F | Precip (in) | |
| Jan | 51° / 33° | 4.1 | 57° / 37° | 5.4 | 63° / 46° | 5.2 |
| Feb | 56° / 37° | 4.5 | 62° / 40° | 5.1 | 66° / 50° | 4.1 |
| Mar | 64° / 44° | 5.7 | 69° / 46° | 5.7 | 72° / 55° | 4.4 |
| Apr | 73° / 53° | 5.9 | 77° / 53° | 5.8 | 79° / 62° | 5.2 |
| May | 82° / 62° | 5.3 | 84° / 62° | 4.4 | 85° / 69° | 5.6 |
| Jun | 89° / 70° | 4.0 | 90° / 69° | 4.4 | 90° / 75° | 7.6 |
| Jul | 92° / 74° | 4.8 | 92° / 72° | 5.0 | 91° / 77° | 6.8 |
| Aug | 92° / 73° | 3.4 | 92° / 72° | 4.7 | 91° / 77° | 6.9 |
| Sep | 86° / 66° | 3.0 | 88° / 66° | 3.5 | 88° / 74° | 5.1 |
| Oct | 75° / 54° | 4.0 | 78° / 54° | 3.8 | 81° / 64° | 3.7 |
| Nov | 63° / 43° | 4.7 | 67° / 44° | 4.4 | 71° / 54° | 3.9 |
| Dec | 53° / 36° | 5.5 | 60° / 39° | 5.1 | 65° / 48° | 4.8 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: MEMPHIS INTL AP (USW00013893, 254 ft); JACKSON INTL AP (USW00003940, 296 ft); NEW ORLEANS INTL AP (USW00012916, 4 ft). Precipitation is the monthly total of rain and melted snow, in inches. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana rather than repeat them.
- Tennessee · TDOTSmartWay road conditions
- Mississippi · MDOTMDOTtraffic road conditions
- Louisiana · DOTD511LA road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Memphis to New Orleans with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Memphis to New Orleans?
395 miles, about 6 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-55. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the wettest month in New Orleans?
June. The nearest long-term NOAA station, New Orleans Airport (4 ft), averages 7.6 inches of rain and melted snow that month (1991–2020 normals).
How cold is New Orleans in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, New Orleans Airport (4 ft), averages a high of 63°F and a low of 46°F in January (1991–2020 normals).