Follow The Mississippi River Along This Scenic Drive Through Louisiana

Did you know that there are 19 scenic byways in Louisiana? Each one showcases a different side of Louisiana's history, ranging from the lumber and gas industry to Zydeco and Cajun music. River Road is probably the most well-known scenic byway in Louisiana, but not the entirety of it. There's actually a little portion of the River Road Byway that's often overlooked, but we're about to change that. This portion of the River Road Byway is one of the most scenic drives in Louisiana, so gas up the car and get ready to head to the tip of the boot.

If you’ve ever driven down to Venice to do a little fishing, then you’ve driven down LA-23.

Connecting Gretna to Venice, the 74-mile road will take you through both Plaquemines and Jefferson Parish, all the way down to what’s basically the end of Louisiana.

Often called the Belle Chasse Highway, Lafayette Street, the West Bank Expressway, or Franklin Avenue … this is a road that has many names.

No matter what you call it (we will call it LA-23) you’re in for one of the most peaceful drives in Louisiana.

The road follows the Mississippi River pretty much the entire drive.

Then, you'll hit the Gulf of Mexico.

As you drive down the historic road, you'll come across several local restaurants.

Don't pass up an opportunity to eat at LA-23, home to some of the best BBQ you've ever tasted.

As you drive away from the bigger cities, you'll start to feel like you're the only one around for miles.

Much of the drive is farmland peppered with the occasional marsh or wetland. Keep an eye out for gators while you're driving, you might catch one sunbathing off the road.

Keep going! As you drive south, you'll be met with lovely views of the Mississippi River.

There are plenty of marinas peppered around, feel free to stop off and see the sights.

This part of Louisiana is a fisherman's paradise, home to some of the best fishing in the entire world, so you might want to bring your fishing rod!

One of the most popular marinas in this area is the Venice Marina.

Every fisherman worth their salt has a photo standing next to this iconic sign. Hopefully, they're also standing next to their huge hauls from the day.

You'll know when you've come to the end of the road. Literally.

Welcome to the Gulf of Mexico!

From here, you'll need a boat to continue on.

Don't worry, that's not actually part of this road trip. But wouldn't that be amazing?

If you can, time your visit so you can watch the sunset.

There's nothing more magical than watching the sunset over the water and this part of Louisiana might just have some of the most stunning waterfront sunsets in the state!

Have you ever driven down this road? Let us know in the comments below! And if you thought LA-23 was impressive, just wait until you take a drive along the 180-mile Creole Nature Trail.