Coushatta to Monroe is 101.5 miles and takes about 2h 12m via Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip primarily stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The drive offers a mixed experience, not a straight shot on a major interstate, so expect some variation in road types and speed. It's a manageable distance for a single day's travel, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.8 miles from Coushatta, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway
53.7 mi
58m
LA 154
16.5 mi
23m
HWY 371
10.5 mi
15m
LA 507
7.2 mi
10m
Highway 507
6.7 mi
11m
Ringgold Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
HWY 514
2.1 mi
3m
Louisville Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway
— 53.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coushatta, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on Front Street
38 ft·5 sec·Front Street
2
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi·25 sec·East Carroll Street
3
Turn right onto US 371
0.8 mi·1 min·Ringgold Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 71; US 371
1.4 mi·2 min·Ringgold Avenue
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 371
10 mi·15 min·HWY 371
6
Turn right onto LA 514
2.1 mi·3 min·HWY 514
7
Continue on LA 507
6.7 mi·11 min·Highway 507
8
Turn left onto Lodge
354 ft·12 sec·Lodge
9
Turn right onto LA 507
7.2 mi·10 min·LA 507
10
Continue on LA 154
13 mi·17 min·LA 154
11
Turn left onto LA 154
4.0 mi·6 min·LA 154
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward I 20 East: Monroe
13
Merge onto I 20
54 mi·58 min·Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward LA 34
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward LA 34 North
16
Turn straight onto LA 34
0.3 mi·25 sec·Stella Street
17
Continue on LA 34
0.3 mi·30 sec·Mill Street
18
Continue on LA 34
0.3 mi·31 sec·Bridge Street
19
Continue on US 80; LA 15
0.5 mi·1 min·Louisville Avenue
20
Turn right
45 ft·5 sec
21
Turn right
38 ft·2 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 12m duration, you can comfortably leave Coushatta in the morning and arrive in Monroe with plenty of daylight remaining. There are no specific stops suggested, so you have flexibility to add breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 53.7-mile stretch on Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $15, which is quite reasonable for this distance, so don't stress too much about budget on this leg.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.8 miles from Coushatta, LA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 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 22 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.8 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monroe, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coushatta, 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 Coushatta, LA
This is one driving day of about 101.5 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Coushatta, LA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway for about 53.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.7 — 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|US 84 / East Carroll Street
Turn right onto US 84 / East Carroll Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 371 / Ringgold Avenue
Turn right onto US 371 / Ringgold Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
2.5 mi into trip|~3m in|US 371 / HWY 371
Keep slight right at fork onto US 371 / HWY 371
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
12.9 mi into trip|~19m in|LA 514 / HWY 514
Turn right onto LA 514 / HWY 514
Navigation decision point
5
99.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 34 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.33 one way
$30.66 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.83
$33.65
premium
$4.56
$18.22
$36.44
diesel
$5.61
$22.41
$44.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.5
0
$10.66
$4.87
Efficient EV
25.4
0
$8.88
$4.06
EV Truck/SUV
40.6
0
$14.21
$6.50
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Coushatta, LA
Late night
in Coushatta on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Monroe, LA
Late night
in Monroe on Tuesday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Arcadia, LA
51 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
2h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 42% highway share, meaning you'll encounter a blend of faster roads and more local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 53.7 miles along Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway, giving you a significant segment of consistent travel. As you progress, the road character will likely shift, moving between more direct highway sections and potentially slower, more winding local roads. Expect the driving experience to be varied rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.7 mi on Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 84 / East Carroll Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101.5 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 84 / East Carroll Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 371 / Ringgold Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 371 / HWY 371): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Monroe is the third-largest city in Northern Louisiana, largest city in Northeast Louisiana, and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish. It is also home to the University of Louisiana at Monroe and their sports team, the ULM Warhawks.
Founded as Fort Miro, it took on the name of Monroe after the paddle-wheeler James Monroe that came to town in the early 19th century, and, by extrapolation, the former president James Monroe. An interesting bit of trivia is that Monroe was once the headquarters of Delta Airlines, which got its start as the crop dusting operation Delta Dusters in nearby Tallulah.
Slathered down with highly religious views and the effects of years of racial inequality, Monroe can have a rather gritty appearance imbued with a fragrant aroma from its paper mill, but, well, take heart, Wikivoyage traveler.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 101.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.7 miles on Powell, Barnes, and Deal Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 84 / East Carroll Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 371 / Ringgold Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 371 / HWY 371): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Monroe, LA before heading back.
