Oakdale to Monroe is 134.3 miles and takes about 2 hours 43 minutes via US 165, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Southeast region of Louisiana to another part of the Southeast, staying within the same state. It's a fairly straightforward drive, mostly on established highways, making it a good option for a single-day excursion. You'll find the highway share is around 48%, so expect a mix of driving experiences. This route is manageable for a day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
67.2 miles from Oakdale, LA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 165
63.6 mi
1h 15m
Monroe Highway
62.5 mi
1h 13m
Macarthur Drive
4.6 mi
7m
I 20
1 mi
1m
Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
0.6 mi
<1m
Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
North 6th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East 6th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 165
— 63.6 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakdale, LA and Monroe, LA.
1
Start on East 6th Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·East 6th Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 165
34 mi·42 min·US 165
3
Turn slight left onto Macarthur Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Macarthur Drive
4
Turn right
104 ft·6 sec
5
Turn left onto US 71; US 165
4.0 mi·6 min·Macarthur Drive
6
Continue on US 71; US 165
0.6 mi·43 sec·Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge
7
Continue on US 71; US 165
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·Monroe Highway
8
Continue on US 165; LA 4
23 mi·26 min·US 165; LA 4
9
Turn straight onto US 165
6.1 mi·7 min·US 165
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto I 20
1.0 mi·1 min·I 20
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 165 BUS, LA 15: Civic Center
14
Keep slight right at fork
303 ft·7 sec
15
Turn straight onto US 165 Business; LA 15
0.5 mi·45 sec·Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway
16
Continue on US 165 Business; LA 15
0.3 mi·35 sec·North 6th Street
17
Turn left onto US 80; US 165 Business; LA 15
0.1 mi·17 sec·Louisville Avenue
18
Turn left
45 ft·5 sec
19
Turn right
38 ft·2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 43 minute duration, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. There's one recommended stop, so plan to break up the 134.3 miles accordingly, perhaps around the longest stretch of 63.6 miles on US 165. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $20, so a mid-drive top-off might be wise, especially if you plan any detours. Since it's a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to leave when you're ready.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.2 miles from Oakdale, LA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.6 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.2 miles or 1h 23m 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 Monroe, LA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oakdale, 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 Oakdale, LA
This is one driving day of about 134.3 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Oakdale, 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 US 165 for about 63.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.2 and 134.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
35.2 mi into trip|~44m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
134.2 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.28 one way
$40.56 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.27
$44.53
premium
$4.56
$24.11
$48.21
diesel
$5.61
$29.65
$59.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
10 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Holiday Inn Alexandria Downtown - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.3
0
$14.10
$6.45
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
EV Truck/SUV
53.7
0
$18.80
$8.60
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Oakdale, LA
Afternoon
in Oakdale on Saturday
Local time
1:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Monroe, LA
Afternoon
in Monroe on Saturday
Local time
1:10 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
28 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
2h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 48% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of US 165, Monroe Highway, and Macarthur Drive, providing a varied driving experience. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 63.6 miles on US 165, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. Expect the road to transition between more open highway driving and potentially more local road segments as you approach your destination. It's not an all-interstate grind, nor is it exclusively winding country lanes.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 165 is the longest continuous segment at about 63.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 134.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 35.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 131.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 133.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 134.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Oakdale, LA to Monroe, LA covers 134.3 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 165, Monroe Highway, Macarthur Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.2 miles from Oakdale, LA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.28 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 134.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 131.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 133.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Oakdale, LA to Monroe, LA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
