Bossier City to Monticello is 254.1 miles and takes about 4h 44m via Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway and US 190, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Louisiana, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its relatively short duration and mostly surface road profile, it's a straightforward drive. You'll find it's a practical option for a day trip or a relaxed start to a longer adventure, with a manageable fuel cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.1 miles from Bossier City, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
186.4 mi
3h 10m
US 190
59.7 mi
1h 18m
Greenwell Springs Road
4 mi
6m
Purple Heart Recipients Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Monticello Boulevard
0.4 mi
1m
Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Salem Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Sunderland Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 186.4 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bossier City, LA and Monticello, LA.
1
Start on Monroe Street
78 ft·4 sec·Monroe Street
2
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
0.2 mi·32 sec·Barksdale Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 20; US 71
1.4 mi·2 min·Purple Heart Recipients Highway
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 South: Alexandria
6
Continue on I 49
186 mi·3 hr 10 min·Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
8
Keep slight left at fork
362 ft·9 sec
Toward US 190 East: Baton Rouge
9
Merge onto US 190
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 190
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 190; LA 1
10 mi·15 min·US 190; LA 1
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Greenwell SpringsUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto LA 37
4.0 mi·6 min·Greenwell Springs Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Monticello Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·Monticello Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Sunderland Avenue
386 ft·18 sec·Sunderland Avenue
15
Turn right onto Salem Drive
0.1 mi·23 sec·Salem Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Salem Drive
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 44-minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for the transition from highway to surface roads. With a fuel cost estimated around $36, keeping your tank topped off is advisable, especially before you leave the main highway segments. Since this route is designed for a single day, you have flexibility; however, plan for your single stop strategically along the 186.4-mile highway section. Watch for changes in speed limits as you move from the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway onto US 190 and then Greenwell Springs Road.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.1 miles from Bossier City, LA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 56 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monticello, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bossier City, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bossier City, LA
This is one driving day of about 254.1 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Bossier City, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 186.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 249.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Barksdale Boulevard
Turn right onto Barksdale Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
189 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 190: Baton Rouge, Opelousas
6
189.6 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|US 190
Merge onto US 190
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
239 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|US 190; LA 1
Keep slight left at fork onto US 190; LA 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
249.3 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward Greenwell Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Greenwell Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.51 one way
$69.03 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$38.52
$77.03
premium
$4.15
$41.52
$83.03
diesel
$3.75
$37.51
$75.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.2
0
$26.68
$12.20
Efficient EV
63.5
0
$22.23
$10.16
EV Truck/SUV
101.6
1
$35.57
$16.26
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Bossier City, LA
Morning
in Bossier City on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Monticello, LA
Morning
in Monticello on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
N 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
89°F
Alexandria, LA
127 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Cane River region is home to a unique culture; the Creoles. Generations of the same families of workers, enslaved and tenant, and owners lived on these lands for over 200 years. The park tells the...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 78.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 24% of this drive is on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch measuring 186.4 miles on the Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. After this significant highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a noticeable change in pace and exit density as you move from the highway to Greenwell Springs Road and other local routes.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Barksdale Boulevard.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 254.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
173 ft108 ft
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
66 ft
Highest Point
173 ft
Elevation Range
66 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bossier City, LA to Monticello, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Opelousas along the way.
Bossier City is the second-largest city in Northern Louisiana and the largest city in Bossier Parish. Home to Barksdale Air Force Base, which hosts several Air Force commands, as well as the backup landing site of Air Force One, Bossier City's recent history revolves largely around the U.S. military. In addition, most of the casinos in the Ark-La-Tex (the three-states region where Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas intersect) are within the corporate limits of Bossier City.
Top landmarks
•Bossier High School — high school in Bossier City, Louisiana, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 254.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.4 miles on Louisiana Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Monticello, LA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Barksdale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 189 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles (US 190): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cane River Creole National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Monticello, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
