Origin
Monroe, LA
Late night in Monroe on Thursday
Local time
12:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monroe, LA to Kinder, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
159.2 mi
256 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 2m
★
6 AM
3h 14m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Kinder, LA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Monroe, LA to Kinder, LA covers 159.2 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Masonic Drive, Macarthur Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.6 miles on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
79.6 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive | 91.6 mi | 1h 47m |
| Masonic Drive | 60 mi | 1h 14m |
| Macarthur Drive | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| I 20 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
— 91.6 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Kinder, 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
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 165 South: Columbia
11
Merge onto US 165
92 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
12
Continue on US 71; US 165
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
13
Continue on US 71; US 165
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Macarthur Drive
14
Enter roundabout onto US 165
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Masonic Drive
15
Continue on US 165
60 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Masonic Drive
16
Turn right onto US 190
434 ft
·
11 sec
·
3rd Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
US 190
Trip Plan
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 79.6 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.6 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 34m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kinder, 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 159.2 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Martin Luther King Jr Drive for about 91.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.6 miles from Monroe, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Martin Luther King Jr Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2.4 — 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
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 165 South: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 165 South: Columbia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.32 one way
$46.64 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $25.89 | $51.78 |
| premium | $4.49 | $28.12 | $56.23 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $35.09 | $70.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.72 | $7.64 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.93 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.29 | $10.19 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Kinder, LA
Late night in Kinder on Thursday
Local time
12:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Prospect, LA
80 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
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 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
159.2 mi in 3h 14m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.6 mi on Martin Luther King Jr Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 14m drive. You will face about 10 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
214 ft
47 ft
Total Climb
335 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
214 ft
~34.1 mi in
Elevation Range
167 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Monroe, LA
Full guide →Founded 1785
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
Arriving in Kinder, LA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Genius Brothers Building — commercial building in Kinder, Louisiana
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 159.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 91.6 miles on Martin Luther King Jr 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.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Kinder, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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