Monroe to Greenwood is 183 miles and takes about 3 hours 40 minutes via US 425 and I-20, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. It's a straightforward drive that offers a mixed experience, combining highway travel with some local road segments. Given its manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without feeling rushed.
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
91.5 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Greenwood, 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
78 mi·1 hr 32 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
13
Take the exit
119 ft·4 sec
14
Turn left onto Thomas Road
3.9 mi·6 min·Thomas Road
15
Continue on Comite Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Comite Drive
16
Turn right onto Foster Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Foster Road
17
Turn left onto Windcrest Avenue
0.2 mi·38 sec·Windcrest Avenue
18
Turn right onto Price Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·Price Avenue
19
Turn left onto Tidecrest Drive
0.2 mi·45 sec·Tidecrest Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Tidecrest Drive
Trip Plan
For this 183-mile trip, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight and take advantage of the 1 stop suggested. With a duration of just under 4 hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 78.3-mile stretch on Seargent Prentiss Drive, as services might be less frequent compared to interstate sections. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is a helpful budget point, but always factor in potential price variations. This route is straightforward enough to tackle without extensive pre-planning, but a quick check for any road advisories before you depart is always wise.
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 91.5 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.5 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, 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 183 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 78.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 80; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue
Turn right onto US 80; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue
Navigation decision point
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
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.13 one way
$56.25 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$31.11
$62.22
premium
$4.65
$33.48
$66.96
diesel
$5.35
$38.55
$77.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.78
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.01
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.62
$11.71
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Monroe, LA
Afternoon
in Monroe on Wednesday
Local time
4:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 5 to 10 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 2:03PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 2 at 2:01PM CDT until June 2 at 2:45PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Greenwood, LA
Afternoon
in Greenwood on Wednesday
Local time
4:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 5 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 2:03PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 2 at 2:01PM CDT until June 2 at 2:45PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
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 18.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed profile, with 53% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 425 before transitioning to I-20. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 78.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. Expect varied driving conditions, moving from potentially more localized roads to faster-paced interstate travel. The character of the drive shifts as you progress, offering a blend of speeds and road types.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.3 mi on Seargent Prentiss Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 80; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
388 ft61 ft
Total Climb
334 ft
Total Descent
350 ft
Highest Point
388 ft
~130.7 mi in
Elevation Range
327 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 Greenwood, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Archibald along the way.
Archibald
21.5 mi in|~24m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.3 miles on Seargent Prentiss Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 80; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Greenwood, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
