Monroe to Port Sulphur is 313.6 miles and takes about 6h 15m via Seargent Prentiss Drive and US 425, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Southeast region of Louisiana to another part of the Southeast, entirely within the state. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, making it a good option for a single-day drive without feeling rushed. You'll cover a significant distance, but the estimated travel time suggests a manageable pace.
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
156.8 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Port Sulphur, 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 right at fork onto I 10
3.5 mi·4 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Toward New Orleans, Business DistrictUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS
2.4 mi·2 min·Pontchartrain Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 90 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·Crescent City Connection
21
Continue on US 90 BUS
2.7 mi·3 min·Westbank Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 7Toward LA 23 South, LA 18 West: Lafayette StreetUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto LA 23
297 ft·13 sec·Westbank Expressway
24
Turn left onto LA 23
0.4 mi·28 sec·Lafayette Street
25
Continue on LA 23
42 mi·57 min·Belle Chasse Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
LA 23
Trip Plan
For this 6h 15m drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a quick break or a longer meal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the highway portions, as the $46 estimated cost is based on the full 313.6 miles. The longest stretch without a significant break is 79.3 miles, so plan accordingly for that segment. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your stop timing.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.8 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 3h 3m 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 69 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.8 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Sulphur, 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 313.6 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 270.6 — 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
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.
8
261.3 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway toward New Orleans, Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward New Orleans, Business District
6
264.8 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 BUS / Pontchartrain Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
270.6 mi into trip|~5h 16m in
Take the exit toward LA 23 South, LA 18 West: Lafayette Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward LA 23 South, LA 18 West: Lafayette Stree...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.00 one way
$96.01 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$53.16
$106.33
premium
$4.65
$57.40
$114.80
diesel
$6.28
$77.49
$154.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.1
1
$32.93
$15.05
Efficient EV
78.4
0
$27.44
$12.54
EV Truck/SUV
125.4
1
$43.90
$20.07
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Late night
in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
3:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Port Sulphur, LA
Late night
in Port Sulphur on Sunday
Local time
3:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
E 10 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
15 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
6h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 270.4
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 21.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this 313.6-mile drive is on highways. You'll start on Seargent Prentiss Drive for a stretch of 79.3 miles before transitioning to US 425 and then I-10. Expect a mix of cruising on faster roads and navigating surface streets as you approach your destination. The longest continuous highway segment is 79.3 miles, so you'll have ample opportunity for steady driving.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 313.6 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 186 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 261.3 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
364 ft1 ft
Total Climb
315 ft
Total Descent
390 ft
Highest Point
364 ft
~134.4 mi in
Elevation Range
363 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Monroe, LA and Port Sulphur, LA, road signs point toward Archibald, New Orleans and Business District.
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
•Masur Museum of Art — historic house in Monroe, Louisiana, United States
•Neville High School — high school in Louisiana, United States
•Roland M. Filhiol House — house in Monroe, Louisiana
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 15m. Total distance: 313.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Yes — we found about 8 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 Port Sulphur, 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 8 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 186 miles (I 110 / Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 261.3 miles (I 10 / Pontchartrain Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Port Sulphur, LA before the return drive.
