Origin
Winnsboro, LA
Morning in Winnsboro on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winnsboro, LA to Monroe, LA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
43 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winnsboro, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Trip Overview
Winnsboro to Monroe is 43 miles and takes about 49 minutes via I 20 and US 425, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, straightforward drive connects two points within Louisiana, moving you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a quick trip primarily on well-traveled highways, making it an ideal option for a brief journey or a segment of a larger road trip. The total distance is manageable, allowing for a relaxed pace without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| US 425 | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| Front Street | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North 6th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Louisville Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Prairie Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 20.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winnsboro, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on LA 4
237 ft
·
10 sec
·
Prairie Road
2
Turn left onto US 425; LA 4; LA 15
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Front Street
3
Continue on US 425; LA 15
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 425; LA 15
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
5
Merge onto I 20
20 mi
·
22 min
·
I 20
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
7
Keep slight right at fork
303 ft
·
7 sec
8
Turn straight onto US 165 Business; LA 15
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
9
Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 6th Street
10
Turn left onto US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Louisville Avenue
11
Turn left
45 ft
·
5 sec
12
Turn right
38 ft
·
2 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Winnsboro, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 41.9 and 43 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
41.9 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
5
42 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
42.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue
Turn left onto US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
43 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
43 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.49 one way
$12.99 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.72 | $15.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Morning in Monroe on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
4% chance
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
19 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
49m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 20 and US 425. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for most of the 43 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.3 miles on I 20, offering a chance to settle in and maintain a consistent speed. The drive transitions smoothly between these main arteries, providing a consistent experience for the duration of the trip.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 425. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 41.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 43 miles you will encounter 8 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 41.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42.9 miles (US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Monroe, LA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 43 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 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: at 41.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 42.9 miles (US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15 / Louisville Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Poverty Point National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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