Day Trippin' › Louisiana › From Baton Rouge
From Baton Rouge, the State Capitol, the Old State Capitol and the USS Kidd are minutes away, the LSU Rural Life Museum about 10, Port Hudson under half an hour, Houmas House about 30, St. Francisville and Rosedown about 35, and Breaux Bridge under 50. The best day trips from Baton Rouge, by drive time.
153 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Historic site · 56 min southeast
Famous for its quarter-mile tunnel of 300-year-old live oaks leading to the big house. The site also covers the lives of the people enslaved there.
Wildlife · 59 min west
A cypress lake near Breaux Bridge famous for alligators and huge wading bird rookeries. Swamp tours run from the landing.
Museum · 48 min southeast
A museum focused fully on the history of slavery, with original buildings and memorials. A moving, important visit.
Small town · 33 min northwest
A pretty hill-country river town with historic homes, cafes and shops, close to Rosedown, Audubon and other plantation sites.
Food town · 47 min west
The crawfish capital, with a small downtown on Bayou Teche, antique shops and Cajun food and dancing.
State park · 48 min east
Boardwalks wind through cypress swamp, pine woods and river bottoms, with a nature center aquarium and canoe rentals on the Tickfaw River.
Garden · 30 min southeast
A grand river estate with about 38 acres of gardens, a mansion tour and several restaurants. Good for a slow afternoon.
Historic site · 27 min north
The site of the longest siege in American history, with a museum, earthwork forts on a boardwalk and a 6-mile trail through the woods.
Small town · 1 hr 35 min north
Historic river town with antebellum homes, river bluff views and great food.
Historic site · 1 hr 18 min southeast
The oldest part of New Orleans, with Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Royal Street galleries and the French Market all in easy walking distance. You can cross the whole Quarter on foot in about 20 minutes.
Scenic drive · 1 hr 58 min west
An All-American Road through marsh, wildlife refuges and Gulf beaches south of Lake Charles. Gators and birds by the hundreds.
Zoo · 1 hr 20 min southeast
A big, shady zoo in Uptown with a Louisiana swamp area, giraffes, jaguars and plenty of room for kids to roam. Ride the St. Charles streetcar to get close.
Island · 1 hr 30 min southwest
The home of Tabasco sauce, with a factory tour and museum, a restaurant and Jungle Gardens all on a salt dome island.
Museum · 1 hr 16 min southeast
One of the best history museums in the country, with planes, personal stories and big immersive exhibits about World War II. Plan more time than you think.
National park · 1 hr 32 min southeast
The site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, with a tall monument, cannons and a national cemetery along the river. Part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.
Hike · 1 hr 40 min west
Over 5 miles of trails through beech and magnolia forest on rolling hills next to Chicot State Park. Free and peaceful.
Small town · 2 hr 17 min east
Artsy, walkable downtown under live oaks, with galleries, cafes and shops. One of the best small towns on the coast.
National park · 2 hr 49 min north
16-mile tour road past the siege lines, monuments and the ironclad USS Cairo.
Small town · 2 hr 45 min northwest
Louisiana's oldest town, founded in 1714, with brick Front Street on Cane River Lake, meat pies and the famous Christmas Festival of Lights.
Island · 2 hr 14 min east
A ferry ride from Gulfport to clear water, white sand and Fort Massachusetts. The best beach day on the Mississippi coast.
Family fun · 2 hr 4 min west
A free hands-on visitor center in Sulphur that gets you ready for the Creole Nature Trail drive.
Wildlife · 2 hr 27 min east
Wet pine savanna that protects rare Mississippi sandhill cranes. Short trails and an observation deck near Gautier.
Food town · 2 hr 30 min northeast
College town with a walkable downtown, a brewery scene and nearly 200 local places to eat.
Museum · 2 hr 34 min northeast
The state's main art museum, with a sculpture garden downtown. General admission is free.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 70801 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.