Origin
Ruston, LA
Afternoon in Ruston on Sunday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ruston, LA to Monroe, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ruston, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across Northern Louisiana, the 32.4-mile trip from Ruston to Monroe is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 38 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical route that connects these two Southeast hubs without requiring an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, ensuring a consistent pace throughout the drive. Whether you are commuting for work or heading over for a brief visit, this route offers a reliable, no-fuss connection between these two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 29.1 mi | 31m |
| South Vienna Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Louisville Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mill Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bridge Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Stella Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Service Road West | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East California Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 29.1 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruston, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on LA 146
167 ft
·
8 sec
·
East California Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 80; US 167; LA 146
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Vienna Street
3
Turn right onto South Service Road West
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
South Service Road West
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
5
Merge onto I 20
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 20
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward LA 34
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward LA 34 North
8
Turn straight onto LA 34
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Stella Street
9
Continue on LA 34
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Mill Street
10
Continue on LA 34
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Bridge Street
11
Continue on US 80; LA 15
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Louisville Avenue
12
Turn right
45 ft
·
5 sec
13
Turn right
38 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.4 — 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
|
US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street
Turn right onto US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street
Navigation decision point
4
30.5 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward LA 34
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward LA 34
5
30.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 34 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 North
4
32.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
32.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.89 one way
$9.79 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $5.37 | $10.74 |
| premium | $4.56 | $5.82 | $11.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.15 | $14.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Monroe, LA
Afternoon in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 90% of the journey taking place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-20, which accounts for a 29.1-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The experience is primarily a highway-focused transit, moving away from local roads like South Vienna Street and Louisville Avenue to prioritize speed. Once you merge onto the interstate, the drive settles into a predictable, fast-paced rhythm. It is a functional, point-to-point road experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination as quickly as possible.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and South Vienna Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 7 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 (US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 30.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 32.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.1 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 80; US 167; LA 146 / South Vienna Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 30.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Monroe, LA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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