Guide to Louisiana's Byways

Take a scenic drive along one of Louisiana’s 19 scenic byways. Each one tells its own unique tale as it weaves through the state. Traveling these Louisiana highways, you’ll get to know a little about the state’s natural beauty, its quaint towns and quirky personality (this is the land of Mardi Gras, mind you), along with food festivals, roadside attractions and historical gems that hint at the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Here’s just a sample of all the byways you’ll find, like the Bayou Teche Scenic Bayway for paddling or the Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway for music. So, get some snacks (we suggest Louisiana-made Zapp’s potato chips and a Swamp Pop soda), buckle up, crank up the tunes and hit the road.

Scenic Byways in North Louisiana

Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway

A field of golden petals shine brightly under the sun during the Sunflower Festival and Trail in Gilliam, Louisiana.

See Gilliam's golden fields of sunflowers on the Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway.

Discover stories of fortunes won and lost as you meander along the dramatic landscape of the Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway. See how one radio show, The Louisiana Hayride, helped launch the careers of star musicians like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash at the KWKH Tower. Or experience Louisiana’s past at the Victorian-era Herbert S. Ford Museum with vintage cars, tales of the 1920s oil rise and more. On your way to these sites, marvel at golden fields of sunflowers, explore stunning state parks or stop along the shores of lakes Claiborne and Caddo.

City Route: Tres—Homer | 137 Miles | Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway

Historic U.S. 80 Byway

Pumpkin-orange leaves and a heron statue welcome visitors to the Masur Museum of Art in Monroe, Louisiana.

Explore incredible works at the Masur Museum of Art on the Historic U.S. 80 Byway.

Following over 100 miles of one of America’s ocean-to-ocean highways, the Historic U.S. 80 Byway is a scenic route through Louisiana that offers a little bit of everything. Stop by Mitcham Farms, known for their succulent peaches (when in season), as well as their ice cream, jellies and jams. Choose from a bevy of museums like the Southern Heritage Air Foundation Museum to see planes, uniforms and weaponry or the Masur Museum of Art for artistic pleasure. Or, explore the outdoors at Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site or the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge.

City Route: Ruston—Delta | 113 Miles |Historic U.S. 80 Byway

Scenic Byways in Central Louisiana

Cane River National Heritage Trail Scenic Byway

A person breaks open a golden-brown pastry filled with tender meat from Lasyone's Meat Pie Kitchen in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Sample pastries filled with tender meat on the Cane River National Heritage Trail.

Dive into local culture on the Cane River National Heritage Trail Scenic Byway as you follow the twists and turns of the Cane River. Spend some time in Natchitoches, touring the historic district’s antique shops, distinct Creole architecture and wonderful cafes, like Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen. This trail also features several elegant houses, like the mansion at the Melrose Plantation or the buildings at the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, formerly known as the Oakland and Magnolia plantations.

City Route: Allen—Lena | 71 Miles | Cane River National Heritage Trail Scenic Byway

Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway

Water cascades down a set of mini waterfalls on a tree-lined river in Louisiana's Kisatchie National Forest.

Hike through forests and along winding rivers on the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway.

While the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway may be the shortest of Louisiana’s byways, this nature-lover’s route is nothing less than spectacular. Cruise along the pine-laden rolling hills of Kisatchie National Forest, stopping for jaw-dropping views of sandstone outcroppings, mesas, buttes and maybe even the Kisatchie Bayou. The only official stops are the Kisatchie Ranger Station and the Longleaf Vista Recreation Area — the rest is yours to explore! Savor for a picnic lunch, hike trails, like the Turpentine Hill Loop Trail and Longleaf Vista Nature Trail, or extend your trip with nights under the stars at nearby campgrounds.

City Route: Bellwood—Gorum | 17 Miles | Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway

Scenic Byways in South Louisiana

Creole Nature Trail All-American Road

A man and woman walk along the shore of Holly Beach in Louisiana.

Stroll soft, sandy beaches along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road.

Stretching across prairies, bayous, marshlands and 26 miles of Gulf-coast beaches, the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is one of the most popular and picturesque drives in Louisiana. Multiple spurs along the route allow you to customize your trip while still experiencing Mother Nature’s wonders. Birders will flock to the Audubon Society’s Peveto Woods Sanctuary for golden-winged warblers and Inca doves, while the sandy shores of Holly Beach call out to sunbathers and swimmers. Wildlife refuges like Sabine, Rockefeller and Lacassine offer opportunities for fishing, paddle exploration and treks beneath Spanish-moss-covered trees.

Various Route Options | 207 Miles | Creole Nature Trail All-American Road

Cajun Corridor Byway

On a table in Louisiana, a silver ladle sits in a blue crockpot ready to scoop out red broth ladened with shrimp, crawfish, okra and spices.

Sample traditional dishes like spicy gumbo on Louisiana's Cajun Corridor Byway.

Experience the culinary seasons of Louisiana on the flavor-forward Cajun Corridor Byway, where you’ll find some of the best locally caught seafood, hearty rice dishes and spiced meats. Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant is known for its sensational gumbos, featuring spoonfuls of shrimp, chicken, sausage and crab. Meanwhile, Herbert’s Specialty Meats offers tasty Cajun cooking to eat there or take home — if you can wait — like their famous turducken. In Delcambre, shrimp is king, especially in August when the town’s shrimp festival kicks off the season and local boats head to the water.

City Route: Gueydan—Delcambre | 34 Miles | Cajun Corridor Byway

Louisiana River Road All-American Road

Step back in time at Laura Plantation on the Louisiana River Road All-American Road.

Winding alongside the Mississippi River, the Louisiana River Road All-American Road showcases the lifestyles and cultures of Louisiana’s past and present. The entire route runs from Delta in the north to Venice in the south. However, the most popular section along the river runs from New Orleans to Baton Rouge (part of the southern leg) and is noted not only for its fabulous food stops, but also for the miles of stately mansions and former plantations. Sites like Laura Plantation and Whitney Plantation give insights into Creole heritage and tell the stories of the people who lived and performed forced labor there.

City Route: Venice—St. Francisville—Delta | 773 Miles | Louisiana River Road All-American Road

Want to learn more? Discover all 19 of Bayou State’s scenic byways with Louisiana byway maps, exciting local attractions and more on Explore Louisiana’s Trails & Byways website.