Louisiana Travel Guide - 2026
Road Trips & Getaways
2026-02-19 10:01:40
Byways & Flyways
HIT THE ROAD TO DISCOVER NATURE ESCAPES & SCENIC DRIVES
FLYWAY BYWAY
55 Miles
Bask in the beauty of the prairie in southwest Louisiana. Spot more than 160 types of birds (including many migratory species), learn about one of the state’s most legendary foods on a crawfish farm tour (March through May) or pet a baby alligator at Gator Chateau in Jennings.
WETLANDS CULTURAL TRAIL
282 Miles
Uncover the splendor of southeastern Louisiana’s vast marshes and their importance to the state’s ecology and seafood industry. Duck into locally owned restaurants in Houma to experience the bayou’s bounty yourself. Marvel at views of the wetlands at DeFelice Marine Center in Cocodrie or meet egrets, gators and turtles on a swamp tour from Kraemer.
CREOLE NATURE TRAIL ALL-AMERICAN ROAD
207 Miles
This journey through remote terrain showcases the Bayou State’s diverse ecosystems. Look for signs marking alligator crossings and see them up close at Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, a habitat for indigenous gators and birds. From here, take a short drive to walk along 26 miles of beaches outside of Lake Charles, ideal areas for shelling.
BOOM OR BUST NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY
137 Miles
Cotton fields, cattle pastures and oil derricks scattered among northwest Louisiana’s rolling hills and biodiverse bayous tell the story of Western expansion. Learn about the state’s industrial riches at the Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum in Oil City, then go fishing, tubing and boating at Caddo Lake – one of many outdoor playgrounds off the byway.
TOLEDO BEND FOREST SCENIC BYWAY
78 Miles
Toledo Bend Reservoir and the pine and hardwood woodlands that surround its waters are the heart of this byway. Admire blooming wildflowers in the summer, then hike or bike the trails and drop a line in the water any time of the year. Other popular activities include fishing, camping and birding.
LONGLEAF TRAIL BYWAY
17 Miles
Hills and bluffs tower beside longleaf pines in Central Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest. Take in panoramic sights of the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area from the famed “Little Grand Canyon” overlook. Spy on deer, wild turkeys and other critters and gaze at the night sky at a campground.
Find more information and handy interactive maps of our Louisiana Trails & Byways.
100 Years on the Open Road
EXPLORE TOP SITES (AND SIGHTS!) ON US ROUTES 80, 90 & 190, CELEBRATING 100 YEARS IN 2026
Drive through the heart of Louisiana on US Route 190, an east-west highway connecting piney woodlands, historic towns and marshland.
In Mandeville, count sailboats on Lake Pontchartrain from Fontainebleau State Park, a top locale for hiking, biking and camping. Delve into the Bayou State’s pre-industrial past at LSU Rural Life Museum’s 27-building complex, then visit Port Hudson State Historic Site, a Civil War battlefield.
Devour pecan-crusted catfish and other Southern specialties at a waterfront restaurant on the False River.
Test your luck on the 990-plus slot machines at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas, then spot black bears and hawks at Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge in Lottie before zipping over to DeRidder’s Gothic Jail, an early 20th-century cellhouse rumored to be haunted.
Travel US Route 80, a scenic way to soak up the state’s culture and charm.
Start out in Shreveport to explore Native American artifacts and also dioramas depicting life in 1940s-era Louisiana at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. Traveling east, stop for an afternoon of antique shopping in Minden.
Continue east to Ruston to learn about the area’s post-Civil War reconstruction and railroad history at Lincoln Parish Museum. Head over to D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge in Farmerville (north of West Monroe) to fish for largemouth bass or catch sight of waterfowl, then explore both flora and fauna at Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo in Monroe.
Take a detour to Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site in Pioneer, a 3,400-year-old Native American trade and cultural complex.
US Route 90 is a history-rich journey through coastal enclaves and welcoming communities brimming with Cajun and Creole culture.
Wander New Orleans’ French Quarter, where well-preserved architecture reflects the city’s French and Spanish colonial past. Head east to Marrero to watch turtles and alligators sun along Barataria Preserve’s bayou. Gear up for a fishing or swamp tour in Des Allemands, the “Catfish Capital of the Universe.”
In Thibodaux, view exhibits on how Acadian exiles helped shape Louisiana’s Cajun culture at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. Turn up the heat at the TABASCO® Factory and Museum on Avery Island, also home to the lush Jungle Gardens. In Lafayette, explore Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park to see how Native American, Acadian, African and Creole communities once lived in southern Louisiana.
ROAD TRIP Party of One!
TO EXPLORE AT YOUR OWN PACE, TRAVELING SOLO IS THE WAY TO GO
Your starting point is New Orleans, where must-sees include Jackson Square’s nearly 300-year-old St. Louis Cathedral, The National World War II Museum, Vue Orleans, Magazine Street shopping and the lively bars and music clubs of Frenchmen Street. When you’re ready to call it a night, relax in luxe lodging or comfortable inns throughout the city.
Make your way to Baton Rouge to visit the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park, then finish the day in St. Francisville, a vibrant small town with lots of locally owned boutiques and picturesque homes and churches. Rest up for another day of play at the welcoming 11-room St. Francisville Inn, where you can unwind with a glass of bubbly upon arrival.
In Lafayette, explore the Acadian way of life at folk-life museum Acadian Village or check the performance schedule at the Acadian Center for the Arts. Make a stop in Arnaudville to browse pieces by local creatives at NUNU Arts and Culture Collective and then kayak along the peaceful Bayou Teche Paddle Trail.
After looping back to New Orleans, take in sweeping Mississippi River views along the waterfront and book a fully immersive river experience on the historic Steamboat NATCHEZ or Riverboat CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
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