Origin
Donaldsonville, LA
Afternoon in Donaldsonville on Saturday
Local time
3:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Donaldsonville, LA to Monroe, LA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 52m
Distance
227.2 mi
366 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 40m
★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
3h 59m
3 PM
4h 3m
5 PM
4h 17m
8 PM
3h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Donaldsonville, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Trip Overview
The drive from Donaldsonville, LA to Monroe, LA covers 227.2 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 1 North, Church Street, Highway 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
113.6 miles from Donaldsonville, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 1 North | — | — |
| Church Street | — | — |
| Highway 1 | — | — |
| I 10 East | — | — |
| Horace Wilkinson Bridge | — | — |
| I 110 North | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway | — | — |
| Martin Luther King | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 1 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Donaldsonville, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on West 10th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 10th Street
2
Continue on Highway 1 North
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Highway 1 North
3
Continue on Church Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
4
Continue on Highway 1
11 mi
·
17 min
·
Highway 1
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East: Baton Rouge
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 10 East: Baton Rouge
6
Merge slight left onto Horace Wilkinson Bridge
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Horace Wilkinson Bridge
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 110 North: Downtown, Metro Airport
8
Merge slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Freeway
9
Continue on Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on US 61 North: Natchez
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 61 North: Natchez
11
Continue on Scenic Highway
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Scenic Highway
12
Continue on Samuels Road
76 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
Samuels Road
13
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
14
Continue on John R Junkin Drive
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
John R Junkin Drive
15
Continue on Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
16
Continue on E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
63 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
E. E. Wallace Boulevard North
17
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
18
Merge slight left
20 mi
·
22 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
20
Keep slight right
305 ft
·
7 sec
21
Turn straight onto Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
22
Continue on North 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 6th Street
23
Turn left onto Louisville Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Louisville Avenue
24
Turn left
46 ft
·
5 sec
25
Turn right
39 ft
·
3 sec
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 113.6 miles from Donaldsonville, LA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
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 50 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
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 Donaldsonville, 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 Donaldsonville, LA
This is one driving day of about 227.2 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Donaldsonville, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.6 miles from Donaldsonville, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.31 one way
$68.63 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $37.67 | $75.33 |
| premium | $4.56 | $40.78 | $81.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.16 | $100.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.86 | $10.91 |
| Efficient EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.88 | $9.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.9 | 1 | $31.81 | $14.54 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Saturday
Local time
3:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live 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
26 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
3h 52m 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?
227.2 mi in 3h 52m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Highway 1 North.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Donaldsonville, LA to Monroe, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 227.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Donaldsonville, LA to Monroe, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Monroe, LA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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