An Itinerary for One Day in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

We spent a full month in New Orleans, Louisiana, bopping around town and eating our weight in beignets. It wasn’t until closer to the end of our time there that we decided we had to make time for Baton Rouge.

We’re all about state capitals, but Louisiana’s capital city wasn’t at the top of the list, even when it came to New Orleans day trips we’d done in the weeks prior.

We ended up having a great time digging into the city’s unique history and eating all of the things, including beignet fingers.

Read on for more about what the heck those are and how we decided to spend one day in Baton Rouge.

Is Baton Rouge worth visiting?

Baton Rouge is worth visiting for its multiple state capitol buildings and Louisiana State University, or LSU. This is the home of the Tigers and all kinds of school pride.

This city in the southeast-central part of Louisiana also has a great food scene. Beignet fingers are a great place to start with that.

How many days do you need in Baton Rouge?

You only need one day in Baton Rouge to make it through the highlights. That’s all the time we had and didn’t feel like we left much on the table.

That said, it could be a nice base for a longer visit to the area. We were here on a day trip from New Orleans. Baton Rouge could be a good alternative for more affordable accommodations if you’d like to visit New Orleans at any point.

One Day in Baton Rouge

If you’re traveling to Baton Rouge from New Orleans as we did, start your day early. It’ll take you about an hour and a half to get there with light traffic. It could take you a bit longer to get back depending on when you hit the road for your return.

Once you’re there, parking in Baton Rouge can be a little tricky to navigate. We were able to find free parking downtown within a few blocks of the major sites, but navigating campus was more of a pain. 

Stop 1: Coffee Call

You would think I had my fill of beignets after a month in New Orleans, but that turned out to be incorrect. When I hear about something called “beignet fingers,” I need to answer the call…the Coffee Call, that is. (Don’t hate me.)

They give you a substantial amount of the fingers, which we compared to elephant ears, for an insubstantial amount of money. Brian also got a king cake iced coffee which felt very special. 

The location seems weird. You’ll be around all kinds of big box stores that don’t suggest you’re about to do something awesome, but do something awesome you will!

Stop 1 Alternative: Red Stick Farmers Market

If you’re visiting on a Saturday, you may want to start your morning in Baton Rouge at the Red Stick Farmers Market, instead. You can also bring your beignet fingers to the market as you shop for additional treats. There’s no shame in that game.

From 8am-noon on Saturdays, produce farmers and local vendors sell all kinds of yummy goodies at this downtown Baton Rouge market. Expect live music on nice days, too. It’s a whole scene.

Stop 2: Louisiana State Capitol Building

The tallest capitol building in the United States deserves some time on your Baton Rouge itinerary. Head to downtown Baton Rouge for a gander and walk the grounds at the very least.

If it’s open (it wasn’t on our visit), you can head up to the observation level for what I assume are great views of the city. 

Stop 3: Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park

On a sunny day, stroll around the Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park or any of the pathways along the Mississippi River once you’re done at the capitol building.

If you’re as lucky as we were, you’ll see some very fancy ducks doing what they do best: precarious crossings across the street.

Note: You’ll be within a short walk of the Governor’s Mansion from here, too. You can plan a tour of the place, but it’s by appointment only.

Stop 4: Capitol Park Museum

Take a short walk to the Capitol Park Museum, part of the Louisiana State Museum system.

Expect a colorful history of Louisiana told through exhibits on life along the Mississippi River, the importance of agriculture — and, as a result, slavery — in the city and the state. You’ll also get some history about the state’s musical roots.

Note: If you book more than two museums during your visit to Baton Rouge, you’ll get a decent discount.

Stop 5: Lunch

City Pork is an excellent lunch option for barbecue sandwiches and gator sausages. 

Fun fact: No, really. Brian ate an alligator sausage po’boy and lived to tell the tale.

Make a reservation if you’re visiting during peak lunch hours to avoid a wait. We booked one about an hour before our arrival time with no problems.

If you’re not into delicious barbecue, the same folks also run City Taco, a ghost kitchen on Chimes Street. If you don’t love either of those options, you sound very hard to please. Here are a few more lunch ideas for you anyway:

• The Chimes: You’re likely to see some students, or at the very least alumni, at The Chimes. This one is positively beloved by LSU folks. I’m going to say the extensive beer menu and crawfish mac and cheese have something to do with it.
• MJ’s Cafe: Vegetarians and vegans rejoice. MJ’s Cafe caters almost exclusively to plant-based palates. Choose from light options like chickpea salads and large helpings of daily soups with this option.

Stop 6: Old Governor’s Mansion

The Old Governor’s Mansion is known as Louisiana’s White House, and it’s just as grand as the new mansion near the capitol building. 

Fun fact: The lovely building and gardens are home to the Foundation for Historical Louisiana today, but back in the day it was home to all kinds of wheeling and dealing, I imagine.

Getting married? You can do so here, too.  Pop in for a look at the grand ballroom and marble staircase.

Stop 7: Old State Capitol

The Old State Capitol was a highlight of our Baton Rouge trip. It’s all free, and the exhibits are informative and, at times, a little spicy. 

If you know anything about Louisiana’s political history, you know that Huey P. Long can be a polarizing figure. There’s an exhibit here that embraces that with separate sections that display the pro/anti stances for and against the former governor and state senator.

Long was assassinated, by the way, something they also explore in a mysterious way.

In any case, I loved this stop. The stained glass throughout and impressive dome are worth the visit if you’re not into all of that political backstory I described.

If you have the time in Baton Rouge, you can spend a full afternoon just in the vicinity of the Old State Capitol.

Optional Stop 8: Louisiana Art and Science Museum

This museum is across the street from the Old State Capitol, so it’s an easy add-on if you’re being efficient or working with a full weekend in Baton Rouge.

The arts portion includes pieces from Louisiana and European artists and photography exhibits. The science portion includes the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium for my space nerds out there.

I say this with love. Brian is a big space nerd.

Stop 9: Louisiana State University Campus (LSU)

If you’re visiting LSU at any point during your trip to Baton Rouge, check to see whether there are any events, sporting or otherwise, happening during your visit. 

There was something going on when we were there, and it was a pain to sit in traffic on some of those narrow lanes.

Now that that’s out of the way, that doesn’t make the campus any lovelier. Find your favorite green space and do some people-watching.

If you’re working with a sunny day, check out the Memorial Tower first. The 175-foot clock tower is actually a memorial to Louisianians who died in World War I. Set against some impressive open green space, it’s a lovely place to start on a visit to LSU.

Stop 10: Mike the Tiger

I have mixed feelings about this one, but you’re already here, so let’s get on with it.

It started to rain just before we got to him, so we drove to the Mike the Tiger Habitat and parked right up front. Do NOT follow Apple maps to get to his habitat. You can park right along Stadium Drive, seriously right out front. It’s free to visit. 

If he’s feeling saucy, he’ll come right up to where you’re standing against the 15,000-square-foot space and give you a little purr. Take a look at the large LSU Tiger Stadium next door if you’re a college sports fan. 

READ MORE: There are animal experiences out there that don’t give me the ick. Here’s a great example involving elephants.

Stop 11: Baton Rouge Breweries

It’s time to ponder all of the fun you had today with a beer or two at Tin Roof Brewing Co. This is the city’s largest brewery featuring pours like their King Cake Cream Ale or the Parade Ground Porter, a coffee porter.

Interested in a brewery crawl? Here are a few more to try:

• Agile Brewing: The name of this microbrewery is a nod to the brewery’s response to changing beer styles. You can expect them to embrace the flavors of the moment with whatever they have going on during your visit.
• Cypress Coast Brewing Co.: This smaller operation is one of the newer kids on the block, but that doesn’t mean their brewers aren’t passionate about their craft. Expect small-batch and experimental pours at this one.
• Rally Cap Brewing Company: This one is another newbie, but the brewers have just as much passion for sports as they do for beer. I’ll allow it, especially when superstitions are involved.

Stop 12: Dinner

This is where we started our return trip to New Orleans, but you don’t have to. Here are a few more Baton Rouge restaurants that were on our list:

• Beausoleil: Experience contemporary Louisiana cuisine with delights like pumpkin and crawfish bisque, deviled lobster, and truffled fried oysters. Make reservations via OpenTable.
• The Overpass Merchant: This gastropub serves up elevated favorites like spicy chicken sandwiches alongside inventive fare like their “semi-world famous” chicken skins and Wisconsin cheese curds. Book a table online.
• UMAMI Japanese Bistro: It’s true. Baton Rouge has good sushi. Chef Cong Nguyen comes to town with a background in Japanese cuisine and Louisiana fishing. Order à la carte or go with their omakase option. Call 225-768-8808 for reservations.

If you’re not done after dinner, Third Street is the heart of downtown Baton Rouge and the city’s nightlife. Head to the cocktail bar at The Gregory for a bespoke evening.

Things to Do in Baton Rouge With More Time

Let’s say you have a full weekend here. Check out a few more places to go in Baton Rouge: 

• Tour the USS Kidd Veterans Museum. The ship was decommissioned by 1946 but returned to active duty during the Korean War. By 1964, it was chosen as the site of a new memorial for Louisianians who served in World War II. 
• Check out the Red Stick Sculpture. It commemorates the moment French explorers around in town and noticed a pole sticking out of a bank at Scott’s Bluff. was bloodied from recent hunting, so the French called it “le bâton Rouge.”
• Find hidden sculptures at the LSU Rural Life Museum. The museum is dedicated to the architecture and agricultural materials of rural Louisiana. Explore historic outbuildings and the Windrush Gardens.
• Explore the Shaw Center for the Arts. The center is a full city block made up of multiple venues for you to experience. Those include The Manship Theatre, the LSU Museum of Art, the Glassell Gallery, and The River Terrace.
• Tour the Magnolia Mound Plantation. I’m not a huge fan of plantation tours, but from what I’ve read, they do address the enslaved population that worked the grounds here when it was a working plantation. 
• Stroll the boardwalks of the BREC’S Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. It’s a great spot for wildlife like snakes, turtles, and maybe an armadillo or two. The Hilltop Arboretum at LSU is just south of the nature center.

READ MORE: If you’re on a road trip throughout the American South, steal my detailed itinerary exactly that.

How to Get to Baton Rouge

To get to all the things to see in Baton Rouge, you’ll likely fly into Baton Rouge or New Orleans. New Orleans offers you a better chance at budget-friendly flights.

From there, it’s about an hour-and-a-half drive to Baton Rouge.

If you’re traveling from a city with an Amtrak line, you can take a train to New Orleans and connect via bus or car from there. Greyhound runs a bus service from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

Where to Stay in Baton Rouge

We were in New Orleans for a month during our day trips to Baton Rouge, but that doesn’t mean the city doesn’t have great accommodation options.

Use the map below to browse Baton Route hotels and apartment-style stays:

Baton Rouge is a great day trip.

A day in Baton Rouge is a day rich in history and scenic Mississippi River views. I’ve also never met a beignet that I didn’t like, so the town’s take on the sweet treat could be reason enough to visit for those with a sweet tooth.