Spanning 192.8 miles, this journey from Livonia to Monroe takes approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes of drive time. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via State Route 78, Airline Highway, and I-49 North to reach your destination in the Southeast region of Louisiana. Budgeting about $26 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since you aren't crossing into a new region, the atmosphere remains consistent throughout the drive. This route is ideal if you prefer a direct, no-fuss connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.2 miles from Livonia, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Monroe Highway
82.5 mi
1h 36m
Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
64.6 mi
1h 5m
Airline Highway
30.5 mi
38m
US 165
6.1 mi
7m
US 167
4.8 mi
7m
I 20
1 mi
1m
Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
North 6th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Monroe Highway
— 82.5 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livonia, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on LA 78
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 78
2
Turn right onto US 190
31 mi·38 min·Airline Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
4
Merge onto I 49; US 167
65 mi·1 hr 5 min·Charles I. "Doc" Hudson Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 167
0.2 mi·29 sec·US 167
Toward US 167 North, LA 28 East, LA 1: Pineville Expressway, Casson Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
4.6 mi·6 min·US 167
Toward US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward US 165: Alexandria, MonroeUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
337 ft·8 sec
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
9
Merge onto US 165
83 mi·1 hr 36 min·Monroe Highway
10
Turn straight onto US 165
6.1 mi·7 min·US 165
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto I 20
1.0 mi·1 min·I 20
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
15
Keep slight right at fork
303 ft·7 sec
16
Turn straight onto US 165 Business; LA 15
0.5 mi·45 sec·Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
17
Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 6th Street
18
Turn left onto US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15
0.1 mi·17 sec·Louisville Avenue
19
Turn left
45 ft·5 sec
20
Turn right
38 ft·2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 8-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. While the route is manageable in one go, you should account for at least one stop to break up the local driving. Keep in mind that since the route is entirely non-highway, your travel time can fluctuate depending on local traffic conditions. Make sure to fuel up before you head out, as your estimated $26 cost is based on steady driving conditions. A helpful tip for this route is to prioritize your focus on the turns, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be frequently adjusting your speed and navigating local intersections.
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 96.2 miles from Livonia, LA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.5 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 42 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.2 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
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 Livonia, 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 Livonia, LA
This is one driving day of about 192.4 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Livonia, 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 Monroe Highway for about 82.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 100.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 190 / Airline Highway
Turn right onto US 190 / Airline Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
30.9 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 North, US 167 North: Alexandria
6
96 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 North, LA 28 East: Pineville Expr...
7
100.6 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 165: Alexandria, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 165: Alexandria, Monroe
6
100.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 165 North: Monroe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.06 one way
$58.11 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.90
$63.79
premium
$4.56
$34.53
$69.07
diesel
$5.61
$42.48
$84.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.7
0
$20.20
$9.24
Efficient EV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
EV Truck/SUV
77
0
$26.94
$12.31
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Livonia, LA
Morning
in Livonia on Sunday
Local time
10:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Monroe, LA
Morning
in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
10:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
3h 41m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will be navigating local roads for the entirety of the 192.8-mile distance, meaning you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches on State Route 78, requiring your full attention as you transition between sections. The character of the road is defined by its local pacing rather than high-speed highway travel. Plan for a drive that demands steady focus as you navigate the turns that make up this specific path to Monroe.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.5 mi on Monroe 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 around 0.3 miles in near US 190 / Airline Highway.
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 16 significant decision points across 192.4 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: at 0.3 miles (US 190 / Airline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 192.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.5 miles on Monroe Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Monroe, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 190 / Airline Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Monroe, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
