Stretching 180 Miles, The Creole Nature Trail Offers One Of The Sweetest And Most Scenic Drives In Louisiana
The Creole Nature Trail in Louisiana offers a 180-mile scenic drive through marshes, prairies, and Gulf beaches with numerous wildlife viewing opportunities.
Road trips are a classic when it comes to vacations, and they're often the best way to really see the beautiful state you're traveling through. If you've never taken a road trip along the Creole Nature Trail, you're in for a real treat. Stretching for 180 miles through southwestern Louisiana, this scenic byway offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Gas up the car, because today we're hitting the road along the Creole Nature Trail, easily one of the best scenic drives in Louisiana:
The Creole Nature Trail is a 180-mile All-American Road that meanders through the marshes and prairies of southwestern Louisiana.
As you can see from the map above, you can start and stop your drive anywhere along the route. There are even offshoots of the trail that head further east and west along the Gulf.
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No matter where you begin your journey, be sure to stop off at Adventure Point.
After a long day of driving around and walking through the trails, plop down on the beach, sink your toes into the sand, and watch a sunset over the water for a perfect ending to a Louisiana day.
Have you ever driven the entire 180-miles? What would you say are the best scenic drives in Louisiana? Let us know in the comments!
Americans were built for road trips. We have our road trip essentials memorized; we have our playlists ready and all the best snacks within reach. There are plenty of scenic roads in Louisiana, but few are as rare as the Longleaf Vista Scenic Byway.
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If you think this drive takes you down the boot to the Gulf, think again! This scenic road in Louisiana takes you through central/northern Louisiana. This is an underrated hidden gem of the Bayou State, where you trade the marsh for rolling hills.
It’s fairly equidistant from both Natchitoches and Alexandria (less than an hour). I’d highly recommend packing a picnic to enjoy when you get to the view. If you’re coming from further away, you can always find a remote cabin to book for the night.
There will be times along the drive when you’re surprised you’re still in Louisiana. It does resemble the foothills of the Ozarks at times. Sure, they may be small 400-foot hills, but to a state that doesn’t really have much elevation—we take every little bit that we can!
The Kisatchie National Forest boasts over 600,000 acres of pristine natural wilderness to enjoy. As Louisiana’s only National Forest, you can bet there are hundreds of hiking trails that weave throughout the forest. One of my favorites is the Wild Azalea Trail.
But this adventure is one for the wheels. The Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway takes you through the forest on an incredible drive that ends in a delightful view.
Louisiana doesn’t have too many treetop viewpoints, but this is one of them! The views from Longleaf Vista Recreation Area are just picture-perfect—and you don’t even need to leave your car!
Of course, if you’re inspired to stretch your legs, you’ll find a hiking trail right at the recreation area that will take you further into the forest and underneath a canopy of longleaf pines.
With any primitive trail in the wilderness, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared. These trails are pretty well marked, but an AllTrails+ account never hurts. Cell phone coverage can be spotty in this remote area of Louisiana, and having a trail map downloaded to your phone in advance is always a good idea. It's always better to be safe in these scenarios.
Have you ever taken this scenic drive in Louisiana? Tell me about it!
There's no better way to see the sights of Louisiana than by car, and luckily for us, there are endless road trips in Louisiana available. Since Louisiana is a relatively small state, you can get around the entire state in a day (New Orleans to Shreveport is about a five-hour drive). The added benefit of taking a Louisiana road trip is having the freedom to stop off wherever you'd like, for however long you'd like, and do things at your own pace. If you're ready to see the Pelican State by car, get your playlists ready, because the best road trips in Louisiana are the ultimate getaways for road warriors.
Route: Venice> Barataria Preserve > Woodlands Conservancy > Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge > Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge > Fontainebleau State Park
Distance: 167 miles
Trip Time: 3.5 hours driving time
This quick and easy scenic drive will only take you about 3.5 hours total driving time, which is perfect because then you can take your time and explore each site fully. This is one road trip you’ll want to get an early start on because the sunrises in Venice are easily some of the most beautiful sunsets in Louisiana. On the flip side, if you can time your last stop at Fontainebleau State Park during sunset, you’ll have a mesmerizing view of the sunset over Lake Pontchartrain!
Route: Cypremort Point State Park> Louisiana State Arboretum > Wild Azalea Trailhead > Driskill Mountain
Distance: 245 miles
Trip Time: 5 hours driving time
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This road trip is perfect for a long weekend and takes you all over the Pelican State. Starting at Cypremort Point State Park, you’ll travel north through Cajun Country and into the Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana’s only National Forest. Here, you can take a hike on Louisiana’s longest primitive trail, the Wild Azalea Trail. This trail clocks in at around 30 miles, and if you’d like to do the entire trek, just know that you’re welcome to pitch a tent and camp along the trail. The final destination on this Louisiana road trip takes you to Driskill Mountain, where you can take the one-mile trail to the summit where you can proudly claim that you’re standing tall at 535 feet—Louisiana’s tallest natural summit. This is easily one of the best road trips in Louisiana.
Route: Rip Van Winkle Gardens > Avery Island > Lake Martin > Vermilionville > Breaux Bridge > Barn Hill Animal Preserve > Bogalusa
Distance: 288 miles
Trip Time: 6 hours driving time
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Even though you could technically take this road trip in a day, extending it over the course of a week will really allow you ample time to see all of the sights. Starting off at the Rip Van Winkle Gardens, this
Louisiana road trip weaves through Cajun Country, stopping off at some of Louisiana’s most famous attractions including Avery Island, Breaux Bridge, Lafayette, and more. There are plenty of local restaurants serving up both Creole and Cajun cuisine, and this is an area of Louisiana with a rich Acadian history that’s worth learning more about. As you make your way through the Atchafalaya, there are plenty of places to stay for the night, including the cabins at the final destination in Bogalusa. Bogalusa is a sleepy little town in Washington Parish right on the Mississippi border, and these cabins offer a peaceful and relaxing setting to enjoy for a day or two
Route: Lake Charles > Sulphur > Sabine National Wildlife Refuge > Holly Beach > Rutherford Beach
Distance: 180 miles
Trip Time: 5 hours driving time
One of Louisiana’s most scenic drives, the Creole Nature Trail is an epic, 180-mile All-American Road that takes you through Louisiana’s Cajun Country, weaving through prairies, marshes, wildlife refuges, and more. Starting off in Lake Charles, the drive takes you deep into the southern portion of Louisiana, all the way to Louisiana’s beaches! Both Holly Beach and Rutherford Beach are picturesque beaches that are wonderful for finding seashells, so keep your eyes peeled! These beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are unique in that you’re allowed to drive right on the beach, and you’re also allowed to camp here.
Route: Louis Armstrong Park > Bayou St. John > City Park > Lakefront > Longue Vue House and Gardens > Audubon Park > Barataria Preserve
Distance: 42 miles
Trip Time: 1 hour driving time
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While New Orleans is known for its busy nightlife scene (and Mardi Gras), you may be surprised to learn that there are plenty of natural spots outside of the French Quarter. Though it only clocks in at 42 miles, this is one road trip around New Orleans that can easily fill the entire day. Both City Park and Audubon Park deserve a full day to explore, but if you’re short on time, you can still visit some of the most popular attractions within these parks and still feel like you did it justice. You can also go kayaking down the bayou, which is a popular pastime in the warmer months.
Route: Covington > Baton Rouge > St. Martinville > Lafayette > Ville Platte > Alexandria > West Monroe > Homer
Distance: 429 miles
Trip Time: 8.5 hour driving time
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Spring is one of the best times of year to spend your time outdoors, so this epic pizza and parks road trip is just perfect for this time of year. This road trip takes you to all the best pizza joints in Louisiana and nearby parks where you can enjoy them. Both smaller city parks and state parks make the list, so you can get a feel for the natural beauty found in those charming small-town parks and the larger parks like the Louisiana State Arboretum. Feel free to pair this road trip itinerary with the 7-day road trip for an awesome adventure.
Summertime was just meant for road trips, and this one will take you from the rolling hills of Northern Louisiana all the way down to the wetlands in the south, bringing you to some of the best campsites in Louisiana. Whether you prefer the comfort of a cabin, your own RV, or an old-school tent, these campgrounds offer a chance to experience the natural landscape in Louisiana like never before, and the hiking trails featured in the road trip offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The summer is the best time of the year to see Louisiana’s most famous swamp critter, the alligator, and you can often find them soaking up the sun on the banks of bayous, swamps, and marshes.
Now, Louisiana may not have the stunning fall foliage that places like New England are known for, but we do indeed have some opportunities to go leaf-peeping. If you can time it right, you can catch
Louisiana’s fall foliage, especially in Northern Louisiana. There’s something very magical about seeing a bayou transform into brilliant shades of red and orange that will just make you fall in love with Louisiana all over again. This road trip will take you to some of our favorite state parks in Louisiana to see the fall foliage, which typically has a late start down here. Try to time this drive towards the end of October or early November for the peak colors.
Route: Minden > Natchitoches > Alexandria > Lafayette > Baton Rouge > Lutcher > New Orleans
Distance: 409 miles
Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
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Nothing says winter road trip quite like a Christmas lights road trip, and Louisiana does not disappoint in this department. Turn on your favorite holiday music and enjoy driving through some of the best holiday light displays in Louisiana, including the world-famous Natchitoches Christmas Lights Display. Many of these displays have options to stay in your car and drive through, while others require you to get out and stretch your legs, so be sure to check ahead to know what type of holiday light show you’re heading to.
The entire house will enjoy this family-friendly road trip across northern and central Louisiana, stopping off at incredible attractions like Kiroli Park, Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, and even a stop off at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. This road trip includes one of our favorite waterfront restaurants, Mariner’s, where the views are just as good as the food.
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Road Trip to Louisiana Landmarks & Natural Wonders
Route: New Orleans > Baton Rouge > Atchafalaya Region
Distance: 226 miles
Trip Time: 3 hours driving time
History buffs and nature lovers alike will enjoy this quick road trip in Louisiana that hits all the most historic sites in southern Louisiana. Starting off in New Orleans, you’ll visit iconic sights like Jackson Square in the French Quarter before heading west to Baton Rouge to step on board a decommissioned WWII-era Destoyer, the USS-KIDD which overlooks the Mississippi River. From there the journey westward continues, as you drive over the Atchafalaya River Basin, the nation’s largest river swamp. One of the best ways to admire the natural beauty of this area is to take a swamp tour of the Atchafalaya and see this incredible wetland from an entirely different perspective while learning about the rich history of the basin from knowledgeable tour guides who have grown up here. Doesn't this sound like one of the best road trips in Louisiana?
If you really want to get a feel for what it’s like to live in Louisiana, you’ve got to explore small-town life. Even though this road trip starts off in Natchitoches, which wouldn’t normally be considered a small town, the historic downtown area has a distinctive small-town charm about it, and with its 33-blocks of historic landmarks, it’s sure to keep you entertained. As you weave throughout southern Louisiana, you’ll arrive at the charming towns of DeRidder, Eunice, Breaux Bridge, and other delightfully charming small towns in Louisiana that are all full of history, some mystery, and delicious local restaurants that will welcome you with open arms.
Have you taken any of these road trips? What do you consider to be the best road trips in Louisiana? Do you prefer quick road trips or full weekend road trips? Let us know in the comments below! And don't forget to stock up on snacks, they're the best part of the trip! Check out our Road Trip Essentials Guide which features all of our favorite must-haves for road trips.
This donut trail in Louisiana will give you the perfect sugar rush to drive through the Pelican State.
