Origin
Monroe, LA
Evening in Monroe on Wednesday
Local time
5:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
136.3 mi
219 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe, LA
Perry Z
Pine Prairie, LA
Roger Ce
The drive from Monroe, LA to Pine Prairie, LA covers 136.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Louisville Avenue, North 5th Street, Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.58 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
68.1 miles from Monroe, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 44m drive with frequent turns across 136.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Monroe, LA to Pine Prairie, LA is easy. At 2h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Monroe, LA to Pine Prairie, LA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville Avenue | — | — |
| North 5th Street | — | — |
| Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway | — | — |
| US 165 | — | — |
| US 165 South | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive | — | — |
| US 165 North | — | — |
| Pineville Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, LA and Pine Prairie, LA.
Start on the route
Turn left
Turn right onto Louisville Avenue
Turn right onto North 5th Street
Continue on North 5th Street
Continue on Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 165: Bastrop, Columbia
Keep slight right to continue on US 165 South: Columbia
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Turn left onto US 165 North: Monroe
Merge slight left onto Pineville Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 49 South, US 167 South: Opelousas
Merge slight left onto Martin Luther King, Jr Highway
Take the exit slight right toward US 167: Meeker, Turkey Creek
Turn right
Turn left onto Elm Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.1 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pine Prairie, LA than in the middle of the route.
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 136.3 miles and 2h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.1 mi from Monroe, LA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68.1 miles from Monroe, LA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Pine Prairie, 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 Pine Prairie, LA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.58 one way
$41.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $22.60 | $45.19 |
| premium | $4.56 | $24.46 | $48.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.09 | $60.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
| Efficient EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.93 | $5.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Monroe on Wednesday
Local time
5:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Pine Prairie on Wednesday
Local time
5:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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