//
Region in Louisiana, United States
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15308454@N06/ Kniemla, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
North Louisiana, also known as the "Sportsman's Paradise" region, comprises the portion of Louisiana north of Sabine, Natchitoches, Grant, LaSalle, Catahoula, and Concordia Parishes. Bordered by Texas to west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east, this region of Louisiana has a far more rural feel to it than the Acadiana region or southeastern Louisiana.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
By car
Interstate 20 and Interstate 49 are the main highways into northern Louisiana. US Highway 84 enters Louisiana from the west in the city of Logansport, and from the east in the city of Vidalia.
By bus or train
There are bus stations in the cities of Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe.
Traveling by car is the best way to see northern Louisiana. Interstate 20 runs east-west across northern Louisiana, linking Shreveport-Bossier, Ruston and Monroe.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Monroe · Regional · MLU
Loading places around the airport…
Arcadia is a town of 2,700 people (2019) in North Louisiana and the parish seat of Bienville Parish. At 384 feet above sea level, Arcadia has the highest elevation of any town in the state of Louisiana.
Bossier City is the second-largest city in Northern Louisiana and the largest city in Bossier Parish. Home to Barksdale Air Force Base, which hosts several Air Force commands, as well as the backup landing site of Air Force One, Bossier City's recent history revolves largely around the U.S. military.
Coushatta, nestled on the banks of the Red River, is a small, quiet town. Founded in the 1870s, Coushatta serves as the heart of Red River Parish.
Jonesboro is in Louisiana.
Lake Providence is a town of 3,400 people (2019) in the far northeastern corner of Northern Louisiana. It is the parish seat of East Carroll Parish and is one of the major production centers of both Louisiana's historical and modern cotton industry.
Logansport is a small town on the Louisiana-Texas state line in Northern Louisiana.
Mansfield, in Northern Louisiana, is an example of a small town with several big stories, the largest of which revolves around the American Civil War. The parish seat of DeSoto Parish (the Louisiana equivalent of a county), the city is home of several historical sites, including the first women's college in the western United States, and the site of one of the largest Civil War battles west of the Mississippi River (which was also the last major victory of the Southern States during the war).
Minden, the parish seat of Webster Parish and the fifth-largest city in Northern Louisiana, has a healthy dose of both city and country attributes. Driving through the downtown strip on old brick-paved roads and surrounded by the same buildings and structures that existed over 100 years ago, it is easy to get the feeling that you have taken a trip back in time.
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.
Ruston is the fourth-largest city in Northern Louisiana, with a population of about 23,000 people, and is home to Louisiana Tech University.
Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities.
Winnfield is the county seat of Winn Parish in North Louisiana.
Winnsboro is the largest city and parish seat of Franklin Parish in Northern Louisiana. Home to the Franklin Parish Catfish Festival, considered the largest one-day festival in all of Louisiana.
Articles and travel topics about Northern Louisiana and United States.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.
8 min read
InspirationDiscover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.
6 min read
Travel tipsA practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.