Orleans Parish, LA to Monroe, LA is 287 miles and takes about 5h 22m via E. E. Wallace Boulevard North and US 84, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface roads on this route. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under six hours, this is a manageable one-day trip.
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
143.5 miles from Orleans Parish, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63.2 mi
1h 12m
Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
56.4 mi
1h
US 84
47.3 mi
55m
West Florida Republic Parkway
46.8 mi
50m
US 98
30.1 mi
34m
I 20
20.3 mi
22m
I 10
19.7 mi
21m
Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
— 63.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~597 veh/hr typical
· worst 922
Quietest
1 AM
~83 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 88 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orleans Parish, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on I 10
20 mi·21 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
2
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
0.3 mi·21 sec·I 59
3
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 267BToward I 12 West: HammondUse the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Merge onto I 12
47 mi·50 min·West Florida Republic Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 38BToward I 55: JacksonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 55
56 mi·1 hr·Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 98
29 mi·33 min·US 98
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 98; MS 184
0.8 mi·53 sec·US 98; MS 184
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
10
Merge onto US 84
28 mi·32 min·US 84
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.0 mi·7 min·US 84
12
Take the exit onto US 84
13 mi·15 min·US 84
13
Continue on US 425; LA 15
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
14
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
15
Merge onto I 20
20 mi·22 min·I 20
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
17
Keep slight right at fork
303 ft·7 sec
18
Turn straight onto US 165 Business; LA 15
0.5 mi·45 sec·Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
19
Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 6th Street
20
Turn left onto US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15
0.1 mi·17 sec·Louisville Avenue
21
Turn left
45 ft·5 sec
22
Turn right
38 ft·2 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 22m estimated duration, leaving in the morning from Orleans Parish will give you ample time to reach Monroe before evening. This route is designed for a single day, so you can be flexible with your departure and any brief stops you might need. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 63.2 miles, so plan for your fuel or a quick break around that point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $41, and it's always wise to top off before heading into longer stretches on surface roads.
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 143.5 miles from Orleans Parish, LA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.2 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 63 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.5 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monroe, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Orleans Parish, 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 Orleans Parish, LA
This is one driving day of about 287 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Orleans Parish, 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 E. E. Wallace Boulevard North for about 63.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 285.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
20 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 12 West: Hammond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 267B
Toward I 12 West: Hammond
5
20.7 mi into trip|~22m in|I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway
Merge onto I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38B
Toward I 55: Jackson
5
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Merge onto I 55 / Congressman Jimmy Morrison Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
285.9 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.04 one way
$84.09 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$46.68
$93.35
premium
$4.49
$50.69
$101.38
diesel
$5.60
$63.26
$126.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.1
1
$30.14
$13.78
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.11
$11.48
EV Truck/SUV
114.8
1
$40.18
$18.37
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Aug 14, 2026
Origin
Orleans Parish, LA
Late night
in Orleans Parish on Wednesday
Local time
3:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 14 at 11:30AM CDT until August 14 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 14 at 11:30AM CDT until August 15 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Monroe, LA
Late night
in Monroe on Wednesday
Local time
3:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
101°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 14 at 11:30AM CDT until August 14 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 14 at 11:30AM CDT until August 15 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles 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
6 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
5h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
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...
25 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 267.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 57% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 287 miles on faster roads. The longest stretch without a break on the highway is 63.2 miles on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North. After the highway segments, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your drive, which will likely involve more local traffic and a lower average speed.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.2 mi on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 20 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 287 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 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Way down yonder in New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans), you'll find the roots of jazz and a blossoming culture that is unlike anything else on Earth. Here, the laid-back atmosphere of the riverfront South has mixed with French sophistication, Spanish style, and African-American energy to create something greater than the sum of its parts. "NOLA" is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the top tourist destinations in the United States.
"Laissez les bons temps rouler" is what they say here in the Big Easy, and you too can "let the good times roll" with a cool stroll down Bourbon Street, a hot Dixieland band, and even hotter Creole cuisine. Mardi Gras may be the city's calling card, but that's just one day out of the hot and muggy year in New Orleans.
Go ahead, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, munch on some beignets, and watch the Saints go marchin' in.
Top landmarks
•Six Flags New Orleans — abandoned theme park in New Orleans, Louisiana
•Fort Macomb — fort at outskirts of New Orleans, Louisiana
•Fort Pike — fort at outskirts of New Orleans, Louisiana
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 5h 22m. Total distance: 287 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.2 miles on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North. 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.
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 Monroe, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 20 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (I 12 / West Florida Republic Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Monroe, LA before the return drive.
