Monroe, LA to Ossun, LA is 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 31m via Martin Luther King Jr Drive, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, so it's less about high-speed travel and more about navigating through communities. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a straightforward, single-day excursion.
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
91.9 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
88.7 mi
1h 43m
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
76 mi
1h 17m
North University Avenue
4.6 mi
6m
Pineville Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
West Gloria Switch Road
4 mi
7m
State Route 93
1.6 mi
2m
I 20
1 mi
1m
US 167
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
— 88.7 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Ossun, 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
89 mi·1 hr 43 min·Martin Luther King Jr Drive
12
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 165 North: Monroe
13
Merge onto US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·Pineville Expressway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
0.8 mi·1 min·US 167
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
15
Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP
76 mi·1 hr 17 min·Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
16
Continue on I 49; US 167
0.7 mi·43 sec·Veterans Memorial Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward LA 182
18
Turn slight right onto LA 182
4.6 mi·6 min·North University Avenue
19
Turn right onto LA 98
2.5 mi·4 min·West Gloria Switch Road
20
Enter roundabout onto West Gloria Switch Road
117 ft·2 sec·West Gloria Switch Road
21
Continue on West Gloria Switch Road
1.5 mi·2 min·West Gloria Switch Road
22
Enter roundabout onto LA 93
207 ft·3 sec·State Route 93
23
Continue on LA 93
1.6 mi·2 min·State Route 93
24
Turn right onto LA 723
19 ft·0 sec·Wyman Road
25
Arrive at destination
LA 723
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 31m estimated drive time, leaving Monroe, LA in the morning allows ample time to reach Ossun, LA before evening. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 183.9 miles, this is a manageable one-day trip. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so factor that into your budget. Since the majority of the route is on surface roads, pay close attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, especially as you pass through towns. Starting your drive on Martin Luther King Jr Drive will set the tone for the rest of the trip.
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 91.9 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.7 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.9 miles or 1h 49m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ossun, 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 183.9 miles and 3h 31m.
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 Martin Luther King Jr Drive for about 88.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 182.2 — 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
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
6
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
5
182.2 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|LA 93 / State Route 93
Enter roundabout onto LA 93 / State Route 93
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.98 one way
$49.96 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$27.87
$55.75
premium
$4.15
$30.05
$60.09
diesel
$3.75
$27.15
$54.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Monroe, LA
Morning
in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
9:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ossun, LA
Morning
in Ossun on Sunday
Local time
9:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
NE 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans 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
20 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 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with only about 5% of the drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 88.7 miles on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Since most of the trip is on surface roads, be prepared for more frequent intersections and lower average speeds compared to highway driving. You'll notice the transition from any highway segments to these local roads relatively early in your drive.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.7 mi on Martin Luther King Jr Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 183.9 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.7 miles on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 Ossun, 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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Ossun, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
