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Capital city of Louisiana, United States
Photo: Chrismiceli, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, USA. Located on the east bank of the mighty Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is Louisiana's second largest city, home of Louisiana State University, major port facilities, and a variety of attractions.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Louisiana's new state capitol building dominates the city's skyline. It's an impressive Art Deco style skyscraper, built as part of the grand vision of Louisiana's colorful political boss of the 1920s and 1930s, Huey P. Long, who met his end by assassination in its halls.
This 19th-century castle serving as the State Capitol before Gov. Huey P. Long built the new skyscraper. It is now a museum.
Near the State Capitol this museum features two floors of exhibits related to Louisiana culture, with such curiosities as Louis Armstrong's first bugle, Huey P. Long's tombstone, and a Civil War Confederate submarine with hand-cranked propeller.
Admission includes access to an indoor museum, an outdoor collection of historical structures and some reconstructions of historical structures, and a botanical garden. Historical structures include slave quarters previously owned by one of the founders of the LSU. Those interested in the history of slavery and the period thereafter should be aware that they may find some of the interpretative signage whitewashes the treatment of African Americans.
These barracks have been used by used by the Republic of West Florida, Spanish, French, British, Confederate States Army, and United States Army over the years.
Veterans memorial and old arsenal museum. Also note Capitol Lake is right behind.
LSU
LSU is a Tier 1 ranked university, and the flagship university for Louisiana. Aside from its academic excellence, the LSU campus in Baton Rouge is over a century old, and a historic delight for visitors. The campus is lush and green, with oaks that are as old as the campus itself. Historical Highland Road runs down a section of LSU, making the campus an easy visit for any tourist. Must sees include Tiger Stadium, the Indian Mounds, the Quad, the outdoor Greek Amphitheater, and the acres of beautiful, pedestrian friendly grounds. Food is available on campus at the Student Union for visitors, or you can eat at The Chimes, which is on Chimes Street running parallel to the LSU campus.
Featuring wildlife and ecology exhibits, a 65-acre (26 hectares) cypress-tupelo swamp, navigable by boardwalk filled with wildlife such as birds, bobcats, foxes, turtles and alligators.
Enjoy the Otter Pond, L'aquarium de Louisiane, Parrot Paradise, the Cypress Bayou Railroad, the Safari Playground & KidsZoo petting zoo.
Where you can visit the live LSU tiger mascot in his habitat.
This is the largest amusement park in the area. The main attraction is the enormous waterslide "Conja".
This park has Botanic Gardens, a tennis facility, the Independence Park Theater, and another water park (called Liberty Lagoon).
The LSU Lakes are an attraction for residents in Baton Rouge. Composed of several lakes near LSU, they are open to the public for fishing. In addition, there are extensive running tracks that run next to the lakes for miles for walking, jogging, and running. You can easily mix and mingle with LSU college students, all of whom consider the LSU Lakes part of their home campus.
Onsite dining includes Tsunamis, Capitol City Grill, PJ's Coffee, and Stroubes. The center also features The LSU Museum of Art's rotating exhibitions, rotating events from the Manship Theatre, and the LSU School of Art Flassell Gallery. This is the city's newest major performing arts complex. It features the Manship Theatre and a rooftop sushi restaurant.
Originally a livestock-judging pavilion, Swine Palace are Baton Rouge's premier professional theater company.
The Red Stick Farmers Market, operated by BREADA (Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance), is a producer only market with over 50 vendors that has been in operation for nearly ten years. Located on Downtown Baton Rouge, the market is open in conjunction with The Main Street Market. Going to the Market is a great way to experience culture and goods from local vendors and farmers.
The USS Kidd, a WWII era US Navy destroyer, offers tours to locals and tourists alike. A real delight if you are a WWII or military enthusiast or if you have children.
LSU has an incredible tailgating scene. It's not uncommon for 100,000+ people to be tailgating in and around LSU--Tiger Stadium has a seating capacity of over 102,000! You'll be amazed at the number and friendliness of the crowd. Plan on arriving hours before the game to be able to park within a reasonable distance (< 2 miles). And *always* feel free to ask for a burger or gumbo from fellow tail-gaters as it's tradition to be friendly and open with fellow fans.
This is a great place to go for good deli food and classic Italian dishes like spaghetti and meat balls and great muffuletta. Eat at the deli and enjoy the atmosphere and the personalities.
An LSU staple for generations, at the North Gates of campus on Highland. Predominantly frequented by students and faculty, The Chimes serves a mix of standards with Louisiana Cajun/Creole fare, and has one of the best beer selections in town.
Sushi restaurant and bar; fun hip place with an awesome bar and fantastic food.
Southern part of the city, convenient just west of the Essen Ln. I-10 exit, +1 225 769-0600. Good, reasonably priced Indian food; buffet or menu.
A traditional diner right at LSU's North Gate.
Parrain's has established itself as one of the best places to experience traditional Louisiana cuisine, most notably its fried seafood.
A half-century old pizza parlor and bar serving easily the best pizza in the city. Also the home of "Boudin Pizza", a unique South Louisiana concoction representing the collision of Acadian and Italian cultures.
Headquartered in Baton Rouge, the Piccadilly chain has been serving traditional, home-style meals since 1944 at affordable prices. Southern favorites include: Fried Chicken, Crawfish Etouffee, Carrot Souffle and Pecan Pie. Meals include entree, two sides and bread. $5-10.
Home-grown chain of fast-food restaurants that serve only chicken finger meals, and have proven so adept at doing it that they have successfully expanded to other markets in the South and increasingly beyond. Side items available include crinkle-cut fries, Texas Toast, cole slaw, and the mysterious-yet-addictive special dipping sauce.
Sporting News Grill's casual upscale atmosphere encourages everyone to relax and have a great time while catching sports action on high definition flat screen TVs placed strategically throughout the restaurant.
Famous for pork and beef ribs, but also accommodates diners with other eating habits. LSU legend Billy Cannon's Heisman Trophy is on display here, as he exchanged it for lifetime eating privileges.
A sushi restaurant perched high above the city on the roof of the Shaw Center. The establishment has one of the best views in the entire city.
It is one of the best places in town to get soul food. Locally famous for their delicious heaping plate lunches, Zeeland Street Market is a favorite for college students with a hankering for a home cooked meal. The plate lunch menu rotates daily and all of the ingredients are fresh from local markets. Take special note that Zeeland's is only open for breakfast and lunch.
A neighborhood restaurant known for burgers and other bistro-inspired dishes.
The OC
The largest selection of beer, both bottled and on tap, in the Capitol City area and maybe the entire state. They serve practically anything you can think of. Be sure to ask about "Drinking around the world". There are several reports of bottled beer being served past its prime, but anything on draft seems fine.
A newer sister store of the Chimes Restaurant.
"Premium Cigars & Elixirs", also frequently has live music and tastings.
A low-key downtown bar with an eclectic mix of college kids, professionals and everyone in between.
A group of bars just south of LSU for those really into the college bar scene; with student favorites such as Freds, The House, JL's Place, etc. This is also a place fraught with druken bar fights.
Great place to socialize with friends and drink a lot of different beers. They have passable food and cocktails as well. Make sure to have valid ID as they will card.
Offers 127 guest suites, complimentary WiFi, and delicious regional cuisine at the 4964 Restaurant.
The Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center is a historic building and hotel in downtown Baton Rouge. AAA 4-Diamond rated hotel, offering 290 guest rooms, complimentary airport shuttle, and an on-site Viking Cooking School.
With a Y-shaped pool.
formerly Belle of Baton Rouge
Large shopping mall in the south part of town, just off the Bluebonnett exit of I-10. Mall also includes nearby shopping centers, the AMC Movie Theater, and many restaurants.
A new mixed-use development at the corner of Perkins Road and Bluebonnet Blvd. Has many retail shops, restaurants, and Cinemark Movie Theater
Antiques are a pretty serious matter in this town.
By train
While there is no Amtrak train service to Baton Rouge, connecting bus service can be booked with the Sunset Limited between New Orleans and Los Angeles as well as with City of New Orleans, which runs…
By car
From New Orleans, Baton Rouge is an 80-mi (129-km) northwest drive on I-10, which drives into the heart of downtown.
By bus
In town the bus companies have their own separate stations & stops in downtown (Flixbus, Greyhound and Megabus) and in the east side of town (Turimex):
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Baton Rouge · Regional · BTR
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