Wanderlust World Wanderlust World New Orleans (Gulf Coast) and Hollywood (Los Angeles metro, West Coast) are ~1,700 air miles / ~2,500 driving miles apart. Travel time depends entirely on mode:
| Mode | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nonstop Flight | 4.5 – 5.5 hours | Flights: MSY → LAX (Burbank/BUR or Long Beach/LGB are closer to Hollywood but fewer flights). Add 1-2 hrs for airport security/transfer. |
| Connecting Flight | 6 – 9+ hours | Common connections: Dallas (DFW), Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), Phoenix (PHX). |
| Driving (I-10 W → I-5 N / I-40 W) | 36 – 42 hours | ~2,500 miles. Pure driving time ~38 hrs. Realistically 3-4 days with sleep, food, fuel stops. Major route: I-10 West across TX, NM, AZ to CA. |
| Bus (Greyhound/FlixBus) | 2 – 2.5 days | Multiple transfers. Exhausting but cheapest. |
| Train (Amtrak) | 3 – 4 days | No direct route. Requires: *Sunset Limited* (NOL→LAX, 3x/week, ~46 hrs) OR *City of New Orleans* to Chicago + *Southwest Chief* to LA. Very scenic, expensive, often delayed. |
Recommendation: Fly. It's vastly faster, often cheaper than driving when factoring hotels/gas/wear, and far less fatiguing.