Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
82.8 mi
133 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Ringgold, LA
www.kaboompics.com
Monroe to Ringgold is 83 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via I 20 and LA 154, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip entirely within Louisiana, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The vast majority of this route is on highways, making it a quick and efficient option for getting between these two points. If you're looking for a simple, no-fuss drive with minimal time commitment, this is a solid choice.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 53.6 mi | 57m |
| LA 154 | 13.3 mi | 19m |
| LA 516 | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| US 371 | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Louisville Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Stella Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bridge Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Mill Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Ringgold, LA.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn left onto US 80; LA 15
Continue on US 80; LA 15
Continue on LA 34
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto LA 154
Turn right onto LA 154
Turn right onto LA 516
At end of road, turn left onto US 371
Turn left onto Mill Street
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Leaving any time in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Ringgold with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's unlikely you'll need to refuel along the way, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is short, you can easily make this a single-day trip without feeling rushed. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 20 to LA 154, as this marks the point where the highway driving concludes.
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.
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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 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 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ringgold, LA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Monroe, LA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Monroe, LA
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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.
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 41.4 miles from Monroe, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 80; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward LA 154: Athens, Gibsland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 154 South: Gibsland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto US 371
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$12.13 one way
$24.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $13.47 | $26.93 |
| premium | $4.49 | $14.62 | $29.25 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.25 | $36.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Monroe on Friday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 9:05PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Afternoon in Ringgold on Friday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 2 at 9:05PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 53.6 miles on I 20 before transitioning to LA 154 and then LA 516. Expect relatively continuous cruising with few interruptions for the bulk of your travel. The shift to surface roads will happen late in the trip, offering a change of pace as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and LA 154. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m 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 55.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
441 ft
Total Descent
238 ft
Highest Point
408 ft
~53.3 mi in
Elevation Range
331 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Monroe, LA to Ringgold, LA, road signs begin pointing toward Gibsland along the way.
Gibsland
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
Minden, the parish seat of Webster Parish and the fifth-largest city in Northern Louisiana, has a healthy dose of both city and country attributes. Driving through the downtown strip on old brick-paved roads and surrounded by the same buildings and structures that existed over 100 years ago, it is easy to get the feeling that you have taken a trip back in time. Only a mile or so away, name-brand food and motel chains can easily bring you back to the present. In addition to history of the days gone by, the town also has access to outdoor recreation at the nearby Kisatchie National Forest.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 82.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
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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