How far is Ruston, LA from Monroe, LA?

The driving distance from Ruston, LA to Monroe, LA is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
32.41 mi
00h 33m
Flight
30.23 mi
48.65 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ruston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.23 mi
Kilometers
48.65 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
32.41 mi
Kilometers
52.16 km
Drive Time
00h 33m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Monroe
Sat, May 30, 6:39 PM CDT
Return by in Ruston
Sat, May 30, 7:13 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ruston
2026-05-30T18:05
Arrive Monroe
Sat, May 30, 6:39 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:34 AM to 7:34 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:22 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Ruston
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Downsville
LA

Human settlement in Louisiana, United States of America

From Ruston
16.2 mi
00h 16m
To Monroe
16.2 mi
00h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
94°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
94°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 5:00 PM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ruston and Monroe.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ruston and Monroe.

  1. 1

    Start on East California Avenue

    51 m · 8 sec · East California Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Vienna Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · South Vienna Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Service Road West

    529 ft · 12 sec · South Service Road West

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left

    834 ft · 20 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    29.1 mi · 32 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward LA 34

    687 ft · 17 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on LA 34 North

    2072 ft · 50 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Stella Street

    1540 ft · 26 sec · Stella Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Mill Street

    1691 ft · 31 sec · Mill Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Bridge Street

    1595 ft · 31 sec · Bridge Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Louisville Avenue

    2804 ft · 1 min · Louisville Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right

    14 m · 5 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right

    12 m · 3 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ruston and Monroe.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Service Road West
29.4 mi · 91%
South Vienna Street
1.05 mi · 3%
Louisville Avenue
0.53 mi · 2%
LA 34 North
0.39 mi · 1%
Mill Street
0.32 mi · 1%
Bridge Street
0.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

South Service Road West

Merge slight left

29.1 mi · 00h 32m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 33m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.1 mi
30.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Downsville
00h 16m from Ruston
Leave By
7:22 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Ruston and Mostly Cloudy near Monroe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ruston to Monroe?

The road trip is about 32.4 miles (52.2 km) and usually takes 00h 33m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Downsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16.2 miles from Ruston and 16.2 miles from Monroe.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 30.3 miles (48.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:22 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.32 one way or $8.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Ruston and Mostly Cloudy near Monroe.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ruston and Monroe. Straight-line distance: 30.23 mi (48.65 km).

Ruston

#1 Ruston

Small city and parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States

Population21,891
Coordinates32.5232100, -92.6379300
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Monroe

#2 Monroe

The most populous city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Population46,998
Coordinates32.5093100, -92.1193000
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Start: East California Avenue (-92.637902, 32.52365)
End: North 4th Street (-92.119438, 32.509236)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 52 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.14 gal
4.33 L · about $4.32
Round trip
$8.63
2.28 gal · 8.66 L
Estimated CO2
10.1 kg one way
Round trip: 20.3 kg / 45 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $4.32 $8.63
Mid-grade $4.26 $4.86 $9.71
Premium $4.63 $5.27 $10.55
Diesel $5.42 $6.17 $12.35

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Louisiana · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Ruston and Monroe. The current time is 18:05:57.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.