Monroe (Louisiana)

Monroe is the third-largest city in Northern Louisiana, largest city in Northeast Louisiana, and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish. It is also home to the University of Louisiana at Monroe and their sports team, the ULM Warhawks.

Founded as Fort Miro, it took on the name of Monroe after the paddle-wheeler James Monroe that came to town in the early 19th century, and, by extrapolation, the former president James Monroe. An interesting bit of trivia is that Monroe was once the headquarters of Delta Airlines, which got its start as the crop dusting operation Delta Dusters in nearby Tallulah.

Slathered down with highly religious views and the effects of years of racial inequality, Monroe can have a rather gritty appearance imbued with a fragrant aroma from its paper mill, but, well, take heart, Wikivoyage traveler.

Get in

By plane

By car

Monroe is located on Interstate 20, about 100 miles east of Shreveport and 75 miles west of Vicksburg.

Get around

Monroe Transit has several routes to get you around the metro area.

See

Do
  • 🌍 Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, 1405 Bernstein Park Rd, ☏ +1 318 329-2400. 10AM-5PM daily. The zoo can look a bit shabby, but the animals may be happy to see you. Adults $6, Seniors (65+) and Children (3-12) $4.50, Children (2 and under) free. (updated Dec 2021)

Try a Warhawk game at the 🌍 University of Louisiana Monroe

Explore an intriguing forested parkland with pond, covered and suspension bridges, and nature trails at 🌍 Kiroli Park at 820 Kiroli Rd in West Monroe, or check out 🌍 Restoration Park with its impressive swampy boardwalk at 700 Downing Pines Rd nearby.

Or for a real treat, try 🌍 Black Bayou Lake or 🌍 D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge. You'll be able to capture some eerie shots of bald cypresses rising out of a swamp that is quintessential Louisiana, along trails or at various viewpoints, but actually the experience might be enhanced with a boat or at least mosquito spray.

Buy
  • 🌍 Pecanland Mall, 4700 Millhaven Rd. M-Th 11AM-7PM, F Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11AM-6PM. Located near Monroe Regional Airport, and anchored by Belk, Burlington Coat Factory, Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, and a 10-screen movie theatre. 

Eat

Drink
  • 🌍 Enoch's Pub and Grill, 507 Louisville Ave. M-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-2AM. Irish pub with occasional live music. (updated Aug 2021)

Sleep
  • 🌍 Americas Best Value Inn, 310 Thomas Road (I-20 at Exit 114 North Thomas Rd), ☏ +1 318-325-5780. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Air conditioning, restaurants nearby, smoking and non-smoking rooms, pets in some rooms, outdoor pool, cable TV, free fax/copy service, truck and bus park, Internet access, free breakfast, microwaves and refrigerators, hair dryers, in-room coffee in all rooms (updated Mar 2016)
  • 🌍 Comfort Suites Monroe, 1401 Martin Luther King Dr, ☏ +1 318-410-1005, fax: +1 318-410-0145. (updated Mar 2016)
  • 🌍 Hamilton House Inn, 318 Trenton St, ☏ +1 318-366-2412. (updated Mar 2016)
  • 🌍 Quality Inn, 1407 Martin Luther King Junior Dr (I-20 at Exit 118A), ☏ +1 318 361 9944. Not a whole lot of character but it does have a continental breakfast and outdoor pool. (updated Mar 2016)

Go next
Routes through Monroe
Shreveport ← Ruston ←  W  E  → Vicksburg → Jackson
Shreveport ← Ruston ←  W  E  → Vicksburg → Jackson
Alexandria ← Pineville ← Jct W E ←  S  N  → Bastrop → Stuttgart


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