Origin
Minden, LA
Afternoon in Minden on Saturday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Minden, 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
1h 21m
Distance
72.4 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Minden, LA
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Trip Overview
Minden to Monroe is 72.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via I 20 and Louisville Avenue, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Louisiana, connecting two points in the Southeast region. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, making for a straightforward and efficient journey. Given the short duration, this is a perfect option for a quick trip or an add-on to a longer adventure in the area.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 67.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| Sibley Road | 1.8 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 |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 67.8 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minden, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on US 79; US 80; LA 159
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto LA 159
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Sibley Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward East I 20, South US 371: Monroe
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward North LA 159: Minden
5
Merge onto I 20
68 mi
·
1 hr 13 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Minden, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.8 miles.
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 2 and 72.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward East I 20, South US 371: Monroe
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward East I 20, South US 371: Monroe
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward North LA 159: Minden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward North LA 159: Minden
4
70.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward LA 34
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward LA 34
5
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward LA 34 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward LA 34 North
4
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.93 one way
$21.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.00 | $24.01 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.99 | $25.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.99 | $31.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Saturday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Arcadia, LA
36 mi in
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
30 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
1h 21m 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 drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 94% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 20. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, including a longest stretch of 67.8 miles on I 20. Expect a smooth ride with minimal interruptions for most of the route. The final leg may involve more local road navigation as you approach Monroe, but the bulk of the mileage is on the interstate.
94% 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: 67.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Sibley Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 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 72.4 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 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.8 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 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 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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