Monroe to Chalmette is 272.7 miles and takes about 5h 26m via Seargent Prentiss Drive and I-10, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. With 69% of the drive on highways, it's a route that leans towards efficient travel, making it a straightforward option for a single day's drive. Prepare for a consistent pace as you make your way across the state.
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
136.4 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Chalmette, LA.
1
Start on this road
38 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left
45 ft·5 sec
3
Turn right onto US 80; LA 15
265 ft·8 sec·Louisville Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 165 Business; LA 15
0.2 mi·18 sec·North 5th Street
5
Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15
458 ft·7 sec·North 5th Street
6
Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15
0.7 mi·1 min·Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
8
Merge onto I 20
20 mi·22 min·I 20
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
10
Turn right onto US 425
76 mi·1 hr 28 min·US 425
11
Keep slight right at fork
526 ft·14 sec
12
Merge onto US 61
79 mi·1 hr 34 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 110 South: Baton Rouge
14
Continue on I 110
2.5 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 110
5.7 mi·7 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110
0.5 mi·35 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 10
75 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 610
3.9 mi·4 min·I 610
Toward SlidellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 3Toward LA 3021: Elysian Fields AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto LA 3021
0.6 mi·1 min·Elysian Fields Avenue
21
Continue on LA 3021
0.6 mi·1 min·Elysian Fields Avenue
22
Turn left onto LA 39
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Claiborne Avenue
23
Continue on LA 39
1.6 mi·3 min·North Robertson Street
24
Turn straight onto LA 39
4.5 mi·10 min·LA 39
25
Arrive at destination
LA 39
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 26m estimated duration for this 272.7-mile drive, leaving Monroe in the morning should allow ample time to reach Chalmette before evening. The $39 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to fill up before departing, especially since your longest stretch on surface roads is over 79 miles. There's only one stop suggested, so plan for a single break to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the non-highway portions.
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 136.4 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.4 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chalmette, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monroe, 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 Monroe, LA
This is one driving day of about 272.7 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Monroe, 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 Seargent Prentiss Drive for about 79.3 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 0.1 and 265.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street
Turn right onto US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.5 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 425: Rayville, Archibald
6
186 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
261.3 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|I 610
Keep slight left at fork onto I 610 toward Slidell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Slidell
7
265.2 mi into trip|~5h 9m in
Take the exit toward LA 3021: Elysian Fields Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward LA 3021: Elysian Fields Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.45 one way
$84.90 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.80
$93.60
premium
$4.71
$50.58
$101.16
diesel
$6.18
$66.34
$132.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.8
1
$28.63
$13.09
Efficient EV
68.2
0
$23.86
$10.91
EV Truck/SUV
109.1
1
$38.18
$17.45
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Monroe, LA
Night
in Monroe on Monday
Local time
10:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chalmette, LA
Night
in Chalmette on Monday
Local time
10:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
26 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
5h 26m 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.
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, our park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the le...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 263.3
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an e...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 18.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 69% of your 272.7-mile trip on highways, primarily I-10. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 79.3 miles along Seargent Prentiss Drive, which will feel like a notable shift from highway speeds. Expect a mix of cruising and potentially more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on Seargent Prentiss Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 272.7 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 0.1 miles (US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 186 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
362 ft-4 ft
Total Climb
316 ft
Total Descent
387 ft
Highest Point
362 ft
~136.4 mi in
Elevation Range
366 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 Monroe, LA to Chalmette, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Neville High School — high school in Louisiana, United States
•Bright-Lamkin-Easterling House — historic house in Monroe, Louisiana, United States
•Bynum House — historic house in Monroe, Louisiana, United States
Chalmette is a suburb of New Orleans in Louisiana, USA.
Chalmette is the "Parish seat" (equivalent to a county in other states) of Saint Bernard Parish, known to locals simply as "The Parish".
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 272.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. 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 Chalmette, 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 0.1 miles (US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 186 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Chalmette, LA before the return drive.
