Monroe to Oakdale is 134 miles and takes about 2 hours 42 minutes via Martin Luther King Jr Drive, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Louisiana, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a route with frequent turns, characteristic of local roads rather than long stretches of highway. It's a straightforward trip, best suited for a single day of travel, with one recommended stop to break up the journey. Consider this if you prefer a more connected, local driving experience over a high-speed interstate.
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
67 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
91.6 mi
1h 47m
Masonic Drive
34.1 mi
41m
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 13th Street
0.6 mi
1m
North 5th Street
0.3 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 Oakdale, 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
34 mi·41 min·Masonic Drive
16
Turn left onto Talamas Drive
0.1 mi·16 sec·Talamas Drive
17
Continue on North 13th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North 13th Street
18
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·East 6th Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East 6th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2 hour 42 minute duration, this is definitely a same-day trip, offering plenty of flexibility. You'll want to leave Monroe with a full tank to maximize your time on the road and minimize stops. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $18, planning is minimal. The longest stretch is over 91 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with extended periods on local roads before setting out. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'Turn-heavy' profile means staying on track requires attention.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 1h 19m 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67 miles or 1h 19m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakdale, 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 134 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 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
$20.24 one way
$40.47 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.22
$44.43
premium
$4.56
$24.05
$48.10
diesel
$5.61
$29.59
$59.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.07
$6.43
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.76
$8.58
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Monroe, LA
Late night
in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakdale, LA
Late night
in Oakdale on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
28 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
2h 42m 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 route leans heavily on local roads, with a 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. While it has a highway share of 1 (meaning it's primarily not highway), you'll encounter a longest stretch of 91.6 miles on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. This suggests a substantial portion of the drive will involve navigating city streets and local thoroughfares. Be prepared for more frequent adjustments to your speed and direction compared to an interstate journey. The character of the drive will likely feel more integrated with the communities you pass through.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 42m drive. You will face about 11 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 134 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oakdale, LA before heading back.
