Trip from Monroe, LA to Houma, LA

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

5h 30m

Distance

285.6 mi

460 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

25 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 17m ★

6 AM

5h 31m

8 AM

5h 57m

10 AM

5h 40m

12 PM

5h 37m

3 PM

5h 41m

5 PM

5h 56m

8 PM

5h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Monroe, LA

Perry Z

only incorporated city and parish seat of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States

Houma, LA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Monroe, LA to Houma, LA covers 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Martin Luther King Jr Drive, US 90, Martin Luther King, Jr Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.7 miles on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.13 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

142.8 miles from Monroe, LA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 285.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Monroe, LA to Houma, LA covers 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Martin Luther King Jr Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 88.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 0.1 miles in near US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 285.6 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 0.1 miles (US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 28 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street

Turn right onto US 165 Business; LA 15 / North 5th Street

Navigation decision point

2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia

2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 165 South: Columbia

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 165 South: Columbia

95.8 mi into trip | ~1h 54m in | US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

193.7 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in | LA 92-1 / Young Street

At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1 / Young Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Martin Luther King Jr Drive	88.7 mi	1h 43m
US 90	87.8 mi	1h 37m
Martin Luther King, Jr Highway	76 mi	1h 17m
Veterans Memorial Expressway	10.6 mi	11m
West Main Street	7 mi	11m
Pineville Expressway	4.2 mi	5m
Northwest Evangeline Thruway	2.2 mi	3m
North Morgan Avenue	1.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Martin Luther King Jr Drive — 88.7 mi, about 1h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Houma, LA.

Start on this road

38 ft · 7 sec · this road

Turn left

45 ft · 5 sec

Turn right onto US 80; LA 15

265 ft · 8 sec · Louisville Avenue

Turn right onto US 165 Business; LA 15

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North 5th Street

Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15

458 ft · 7 sec · North 5th Street

Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Merge onto I 20

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward US 165 South: Columbia

Merge onto US 165

89 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Martin Luther King Jr Drive

Turn left

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward US 165 North: Monroe

Merge onto US 167

4.2 mi · 5 min · Pineville Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 167

Toward I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas

Merge onto I 49; US 167; US 71 BYP

76 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Martin Luther King, Jr Highway

Continue on I 49; US 167

8.8 mi · 9 min · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Continue on I 49; LA 182

2.2 mi · 3 min · Northwest Evangeline Thruway

Continue on US 90; LA 182

6.1 mi · 8 min · US 90; LA 182

Turn right onto North Morgan Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · North Morgan Avenue

Turn left onto LA 3073

1.5 mi · 2 min · Ambassador Caffery Parkway

Turn right onto East Fairfield Drive

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Fairfield Drive

Turn left onto St Etienne Road

1.0 mi · 4 min · St Etienne Road

At end of road, turn left onto LA 92-1

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Young Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90; LA 92-1

0.5 mi · 31 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 12 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

0.8 mi · 53 sec · Veterans Memorial Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90

82 mi · 1 hr 28 min · US 90

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Keep slight right at fork

394 ft · 9 sec

Turn straight onto LA 24

7.0 mi · 11 min · West Main Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto LA 312

198 ft · 10 sec · Lafayette Street

Turn left onto School Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · School Street

Arrive at destination

School Street

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 142.8 miles from Monroe, LA, or about 2h 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.7 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 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 142.8 miles or 2h 42m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houma, LA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Monroe, 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 Monroe, LA

This is one driving day of about 285.6 miles and 5h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Monroe, 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 Martin Luther King Jr Drive for about 88.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 142.8 mi from Monroe, LA · 2h 42m into the drive

suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette and St. Martin parishes, Louisiana, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Broussard, LA

143 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

Alexandria, LA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Broussard, LA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.8 miles from Monroe, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Martin Luther King Jr Drive if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.7 miles.

Arriving in Houma, LA

The final approach into Houma, LA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Houma, LA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Warehouse No 1 Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Monroe, Louisiana

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13183221340

Visit website

Restaurant Cotton

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Monroe, Louisiana

0.6 mi

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lafayette, Louisiana

0.6 mi

Warehouse No 1 Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Monroe, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13183221340

Visit website

Restaurant Cotton

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour Expensive

Monroe, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13183250818

Visit website

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13375340585

Visit website

Vestal Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $100 or ab mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 4–9 pm

+13375340682

Visit website

Vermilionville Historic Village

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13372334077

Visit website

Bon Temps Grill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13377068850

Visit website

T-Coon's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+13372330422

Visit website

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

West Monroe, Louisiana

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13183255505

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 163.2

Opelousas, Louisiana

+33172676914

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 163.2

Opelousas, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 163.2

Opelousas, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13374826858

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0 mi from route mile 163.2

Opelousas, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 102

Alexandria, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 285.6

Houma, Louisiana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Children's Museum of Acadiana

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13372328500

Visit website

Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 285.6

Houma, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19855807200

Visit website

Regional Military Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 285.6

Houma, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19858738200

Visit website

Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 244.8

Patterson, Louisiana

Hours: 9:30 am–4 pm

+19853991268

Visit website

Lafayette Science Museum

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13372915544

Visit website

The Lafayette Museum

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13372342208

Visit website

Girard Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 183.6

Lafayette, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

Visit website

Kemper Williams Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 244.8

Patterson, Louisiana

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+19853952298

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.13 one way

$86.26 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$47.35	$94.70
premium	$4.56	$51.26	$102.52
diesel	$5.61	$63.06	$126.11

Estimated Tolls: $0.15

Northwest Evangeline Thruway (2.2 mi) $0.15

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

TownePlace Suites Monroe - Tesla Supercharger

Monroe, LA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Holiday Inn Alexandria Downtown - Tesla Supercharger

Alexandria, LA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Stirling Lafayette - Tesla Supercharger

Lafayette, LA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target T1469 (Monroe, LA)

Monroe, LA

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Target T0167 (Alexandria, LA)

Alexandria, LA

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 300

West Monroe, LA

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

BANNER FORD OF MONROE

Monroe, LA

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Hub City Ford

Lafayette, LA

JULE

3 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 9 EV Connect: 4 Tesla: 3 Electrify America: 2 RED_E: 2 eVgo Network: 1 Non-Networked: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 Blink Network: 1 JULE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	85.7	1	$29.99	$13.71
Efficient EV	71.4	0	$24.99	$11.42
EV Truck/SUV	114.2	1	$39.98	$18.28

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Monroe, LA

Late night in Monroe on Friday

Local time

12:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Houma, LA

Late night in Houma on Friday

Local time

12:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

81°F

Broussard, LA

143 mi in

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

21 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 30m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Monroe, LA to Houma, LA covers 285.6 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Martin Luther King Jr Drive, US 90, Martin Luther King, Jr Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 142.8 miles from Monroe, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Monroe, LA to Houma, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Monroe, LA to Houma, LA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Houma, LA

Nearby Places

Warehouse No 1 Restaurant

Warehouse No 1 Restaurant

Restaurant Cotton

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

Vestal Restaurant

Vermilionville Historic Village

Bon Temps Grill

T-Coon's Restaurant

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Nissan Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Children's Museum of Acadiana

Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum

Regional Military Museum

Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum

Lafayette Science Museum

The Lafayette Museum

Girard Park

Kemper Williams Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Monroe, LA

Houma, LA

Same local time

21 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 30m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

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