Monroe

Monroe is the third-largest city in Northern Louisiana and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish. It is home to the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) 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: Monroe was once the headquarters of Delta Airlines, which got its start as the crop dusting operation Delta Dusters in nearby Tallulah. The city has a gritty, unpolished character — shaped by strong religious traditions, the effects of racial inequality, and the lingering scent of its paper mill — but it also has genuine charms, including a surprisingly strong cluster of museums, beautiful parks, and access to the bayou country that defines northeastern Louisiana.

Climate: Hot, humid summers with highs in the mid-90s°F (35°C). Mild winters with highs in the 50s–60s°F (10–16°C). Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons. The area is occasionally affected by severe weather, including tornadoes in spring. The best time to visit is October through April.

By Plane

Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), east of the city, has nonstop flights on American to Dallas/Fort Worth, Delta to Atlanta, and United to Houston. The airport is small and easy to navigate. A rental car is the best option for getting into town.

By Car / Road

Monroe is located on Interstate 20, about 100 miles east of Shreveport (1.5 hours) and 75 miles west of Vicksburg, Mississippi (1 hour 15 minutes). From Baton Rouge: approximately 200 miles northeast via I-20, about 3 hours. From New Orleans: approximately 280 miles north via I-20, about 4 hours. Greyhound bus service connects Monroe with other cities along I-20.

Monroe Transit has several routes to get you around the metro area. However, a car is the most convenient option for exploring the city and its surrounding attractions. Downtown Monroe and the ULM campus area are relatively walkable. Ride-hailing services (Uber, Lyft) have limited availability.

• St Matthews Catholic Church, 121 Jackson St, ☏ +1 318 323-8878. A historic Catholic church worth a visit for its architecture.

• Masur Museum of Art, 1400 S Grand St, ☏ +1 318 329 2237. Tu–F 9AM–5PM, Sa noon–5PM. A local art space with rotating exhibitions.

• Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, 701 Kansas Ln, ☏ +1 318 362 5540. Tu–Sa 9AM–4PM. Learn about General Claire Chennault, WWII stories, and visit a vintage plane out in the yard.

• Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum, 1051 Chennault Park Dr, ☏ +1 318 342 8889. Focuses on Black art and history in the region.

• Biedenharn Museum & Garden, 2006 Riverside Dr, ☏ +1 318 387 5281. Tu–Sa 10AM–5PM. Take a guided tour of this aristocrat's mansion and English garden, plus the Coca-Cola museum — the first bottling of Coca-Cola took place here.

• Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum, 323 Walnut St, ☏ +1 318 361 9611. Tu–Sa 9AM–4PM. A surprisingly good children's museum.

• Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, 1405 Bernstein Park Rd, ☏ +1 318 329-2400. 10AM–5PM daily. Adults $6, seniors (65+) and children (3–12) $4.50, children (2 and under) free.

• Kiroli Park, 820 Kiroli Rd, West Monroe. An intriguing forested parkland with pond, covered and suspension bridges, and nature trails.

• Restoration Park, 700 Downing Pines Rd, West Monroe. Impressive swampy boardwalk.

• Black Bayou Lake or D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge — Eerie shots of bald cypresses rising out of swamp water, quintessential Louisiana. The experience is enhanced with a boat or at least mosquito spray.

• Warhawk game at the University of Louisiana Monroe — Attend a college sports event.

• Trapp's, 113 S Riverfront St, ☏ +1 318 855 6428. Tu–Sa 11AM–10PM-ish. Cajun restaurant on the Ouachita River with dock dining.

• Warehouse No 1 Restaurant, 1 Olive St, ☏ +1 318 322 1340. More upscale restaurant overlooking the Ouachita River.

• Enoch's Pub and Grill, 507 Louisville Ave. M–Th 11AM–midnight, F Sa 11AM–2AM. Irish pub with occasional live music.

• 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, outdoor pool, cable TV, free breakfast, microwaves and refrigerators in all rooms. Budget.

• Comfort Suites Monroe, 1401 Martin Luther King Dr, ☏ +1 318-410-1005. Mid-range.

• Quality Inn, 1407 Martin Luther King Junior Dr (I-20 at Exit 118A), ☏ +1 318 361 9944. Continental breakfast and outdoor pool. Budget.

• Hamilton House Inn, 318 Trenton St, ☏ +1 318-366-2412. A historic bed and breakfast. Mid-range.

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

• Shreveport (100 miles west, ~1.5 hrs) — Northwest Louisiana's largest city, with casinos and a revitalized downtown.
• Ruston (30 miles west, ~30 min) — Home to Louisiana Tech University and the nearby Chalk Bluff area.
• Vicksburg, Mississippi (75 miles east, ~1 hr 15 min) — A Civil War battlefield and National Military Park.
• Alexandria (120 miles southwest, ~2 hrs) — Central Louisiana's hub, with Civil War historic sites and Kisatchie National Forest.
• Baton Rouge (200 miles southwest, ~3 hrs) — The state capital with the Louisiana State Capitol and LSU campus.