I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love road trips. They don’t have to be all-day adventures, but even just a few hours of driving through small towns and back roads with the windows down and the tunes up can do wonders for your soul. If you’re looking for a gorgeous drive to fill up your weekends, I’ve got just the thing for you. I’ve found some beautiful scenic drives in Louisiana that are sure to bring you straight to some gorgeous views that you just won’t see anywhere else. Don’t forget to pack some epic road trip snacks before you take off, we all know the snacks are a very important piece of the road trip puzzle. Here are the most beautiful byways in Louisiana:

1. Jean Lafitte Scenic Byway
scenicbyways.info
To continue your exploration of Louisiana’s Cajun country, hop onto Hwy 82 south from Abbeville. This road is also known as the "Hug-the-Coast Highway", and you’ll see why when you experience the gorgeous marshlands all around this road. Spring is an especially great time to explore here, where you’ll be amazed by the blooming water hyacinths and Louisiana irises.
2. Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway
scenicbyways.info
This scenic drive in Louisiana leads you on some loops around the Zydeco center of the world, touring some of the most culturally rich areas in Louisiana. You’ll drive through the parishes of Acadia, St. Landry, and Evangeline as you soak in the beauty of some of my favorite Louisiana towns including Crowley, Eunice, Washington, Opelousas, and Church Point. Take a day and soak it all in!
3. San Bernardo Scenic Byway -- LA Hwy 46
visitstbernard.com
The San Bernardo Scenic Byway starts at the border of Orleans and St. Bernard parishes and continues for 29 miles of gorgeous driving that will lead you to the fishing towns of Delacroix island and Yscloskey. Many of St. Bernard’s greatest attractions, including the Islenos Museum & Village Complex.
4. Bayou Teche Scenic Byway
usgulfcoaststatesgeotourism.com
One of my favorite Louisiana scenic routes, this 125-mile route will take you through three gorgeous parishes: St. Mary, Iberia, and St. Martin. You’ll discover both the traditions of French Cajun life as well as the Lower Teche Anglo-Saxon culture. There are more than 100 historic properties on this route, many of them on the National Register of Historic Properties. ROUTE: Hwy. 182 from New Iberia to Morgan City

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5. Colonial Trails Scenic Byway
vimeocdn.com
Take a journey through the center of the state by starting off in Leesville and taking LA Hwy 28, through the beauty of Kisatchie National Forest, Alexandria, and eventually on through Catahoula Lake. You’ll soak in some of the most gorgeous views of forest pines in all of Louisiana.
6. Great River Road -- Great River Road Hwy. 23 to mouth of Mississippi River
fhwa.dot.gov
This national scenic byway ends at the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana, and our portion of the road in Louisiana offers some of the most beautiful views throughout the length of the road. There are some truly gorgeous areas from the north and the south of the road, and as the delta continues to lose land, some of the stops along Plaquemines Parish really should be seen as soon as possible!
fhwa.dot.gov
The north also offers gorgeous areas to check out, both on the Louisiana and Mississippi side as you are exploring the area.
7. Cajun Corridor -- Hwy. 14 from Delcambre to Gueydan
Wikicommons / Chris Litherland
This cozy drive along Hwy 14 will take you through the communities of Delcambre, Erath, Abbeville, Kaplan, and Gueydan, giving you a real taste of rural Cajun life in this area. To continue your journey, hop onto Hwy 167 and stop by Maurice, home of the Vivian Alexander Gallery & Museum.

How many of these scenic drives in Louisiana have you taken? Plan on taking any of these scenic drives in Louisiana anytime soon? Let me know in the comments below!

If you are feeling adventurous, don’t forget to check out this spooky Louisiana drive that will take you somewhere you just won’t expect. After all, Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get in the spirit than by chasing a few spirits?

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More to Explore

Scenic Drives In Louisiana

Jackie Ann | August 17, 2023

What is the most popular scenic drive in Louisiana?

In addition to the scenic Louisiana byways listed above, there’s one that deserves special attention: the Creole Nature Trail. The Creole Nature Trail is a 180-mile scenic road in Louisiana that takes you on a huge loop from Lake Charles/Sulphur all the way down to the Gulf Coast. You’ll have many opportunities to get out and stretch your legs and admire the beautiful scenery along the way, including the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. When you get to the coast, be sure to stop at Holly Beach, one of Louisiana’s most beautiful beaches. You can even drive right onto the beach!

What are some of the best hiking trails in Louisiana?

Some of the best hiking trails in Louisiana include:

Longleaf Vista Trail

Wild Azalea Trail

Tammany Trace

There are also several boardwalk trails within the Barataria Preserve that are great for kids, and many Louisiana State Parks also offer kid-friendly trails, like Fontainebleau State Park, Palmetto State Park, and Chicot State Park. 

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