Baton Rouge area
Around Baton Rouge area
Photo: getmahesh · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · Louisiana · 1.0M people
Baton Rouge area
Locals say Capital Area · “Red Stick”, “Capital City”
Where the Mississippi bends and the crawfish boil.
LSU GoldLSU Purple
Welcome to the Capital Area, where the Mississippi runs through our backyard and LSU pride runs deep. Whether you're here for a crawfish boil or a night on Third Street, you'll find a warm Louisiana welcome.
Clubs for Baton Rouge area
No clubs for Baton Rouge area yet.
The room
Baton Rouge area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Baton Rouge's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Baton Rouge. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Baton Rouge area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Tiger Stadium Death Valley, home of LSU football
- LSU Campus Oak-lined quad and historic buildings
- Louisiana State Capitol Art deco skyscraper with observation deck
- Old State Capitol Gothic castle-like building, now a museum
- USS Kidd WWII destroyer docked on the Mississippi
- Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center Swamp boardwalk and wildlife viewing
- Outdoors Kayak or canoe through the swamps
- Outdoors Bike or walk the levee along the Mississippi
- With kids Visit the Baton Rouge Zoo
- With kids Explore the Louisiana Art & Science Museum
- Evenings Catch live music at the Varsity Theatre
- Evenings Bar hop on Third Street downtown
- Locals love Crawfish boils
- Locals love LSU tailgate parties
Through the year
- Baton Rouge Blues Festival April Free outdoor blues performances downtown
- FestForAll May Downtown arts and crafts fair with live music
- Louisiana Book Festival October Writers, readings, and book signings at the State Capitol
- Red Stick International Animation Festival April Screens animated films from around the world
- Baton Rouge Earth Day April Environmental fair with activities and vendors
Baton Rouge has a humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers and mild winters. The best time to be out is spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable. Best: Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are ideal, with mild temps and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Geaux”
- Go (as in 'Geaux Tigers')
- “Where y'at?”
- Hello, how are you
- “Lagniappe”
- A little extra bonus
- “Pass a good time”
- Have a good time
Getaways
- New Orleans Big Easy food, music, and culture
- Lafayette Cajun country and boudin trail
- Hammond Antique shopping and the Strawberry Festival
- New Iberia Historic homes and Avery Island
Local flavour
Teams
- LSU Tigers NCAA Division I
- Southern University Jaguars NCAA Division I
- Baton Rouge Rougarou Texas Collegiate League
Eat and drink
- Gumbo Hearty roux-based soup with okra, meat or seafood, served over rice.
- Crawfish étouffée Crawfish smothered in a rich, spicy sauce, a Louisiana staple.
- Jambalaya One-pot rice dish with meat, seafood, and vegetables.
- Po'boys Crispy fried seafood or roast beef sandwiches on French bread.
- Beignets Fried dough dusted with powdered sugar, common at local coffee shops.
- Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Fast-food chain founded in Baton Rouge, known for chicken fingers and Cane's sauce.
Where people go
- LSU Campus The sprawling university campus with its iconic quad, live oaks, and Tiger Stadium.
- Mississippi Riverfront Levees and parks along the river, offering views of barges and sunsets.
- Swamps and bayous Cypress-tupelo swamps with Spanish moss, alligators, and airboat tours.
- Plantation homes Historic antebellum mansions along the river road, like Oak Alley and Laura.
- Crawfish boils Seasonal outdoor gatherings centered on a pot of boiled crawfish.
- LSU football tailgates Pre-game parties in campus parking lots with food, music, and purple-and-gold attire.
Heritage and traditions
Baton Rouge is proud of its deep Louisiana heritage—a blend of French, Spanish, African, and Creole influences—set along the Mississippi River, and of being home to LSU and Southern University, where traditions like tailgating and the 'Human Jukebox' band bring the community together.
This time of year in Baton Rouge area
- Louisiana State Fair October Carnival rides, livestock, and food.
- Louisiana State Fair October Carnival rides, livestock, and classic fair food at the fairgrounds.
Say it like a local: “Lagniappe” — A little something extra, a bonus.
Festivals
- Spanish Town Mardi Gras February Historic neighborhood parade known for its irreverent, family-friendly chaos.
- Louisiana State Fair October Carnival rides, livestock, and classic fair food at the fairgrounds.
- Bayou Country Superfest May Country music stars perform at Tiger Stadium over Memorial Day weekend.
- Baton Rouge Greek Festival May Greek food, music, and dancing at the Hellenic Center.
- St. Patrick's Day Parade March Downtown parade with Irish heritage, green beer, and beads.
- Baton Rouge Celtic Festival November Celebrates Celtic music, dance, and heritage.
Landmarks with a story
- Magnolia Mound Plantation A restored 1791 French Creole plantation home.
- Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion A 1930s mansion built for Huey Long, now a museum.
- Capitol Park Museum Tells the story of Louisiana's history and culture.
- Louisiana State Archives Holds historic documents and exhibits, including the Louisiana Purchase.
- St. Joseph Cathedral The mother church of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, with stunning stained glass.
- The Baton Rouge Mosque Serves the Muslim community in the capital area.
Food traditions
- King cake during Mardi Gras A sweet braided pastry with a hidden baby, eaten from Epiphany to Fat Tuesday.
- Crawfish boils in spring A social gathering where crawfish are boiled with corn and potatoes, often at LSU tailgates.
- Plate lunch at local diners A daily changing menu of meat, sides, and gravy, a working-class tradition.
- Dressed po'boys A po'boy with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise, the standard way to order.
- Boudin links Though more associated with Acadiana, boudin is a staple at gas stations and meat markets in the Baton Rouge area.
Music and arts
- Baton Rouge blues scene Home to a thriving blues tradition, celebrated at the annual Blues Festival.
- Southern University's 'Human Jukebox' marching band Known for high-energy performances and distinctive style.
- LSU's Golden Band from Tigerland The marching band that performs at football games.
- Visual arts at the Shaw Center A hub for contemporary art, theater, and film.
A little history
- 1849 Baton Rouge becomes the state capital, moving from New Orleans.
- 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge during the Civil War.
- 1935 Huey Long assassinated in the Louisiana State Capitol.
- 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott, a precursor to the Montgomery boycott.
- 1960 Southern University becomes a major historically black university.
Rivalries
- LSU vs Alabama football Annual SEC showdown with national stakes
- LSU vs Ole Miss football Magnolia Bowl rivalry
- Southern vs Grambling (Bayou Classic) HBCU football classic in New Orleans
- LSU vs Florida football Gator rivalry with wild games
- Game day LSU football tailgating
- Game day Geaux Tigers chant
- Outdoors Swamp tour in the Atchafalaya Basin
- Outdoors Walk the levee at sunset
- With kids See Mike the Tiger at LSU
- With kids Ride the ferris wheel at the State Fair
Baton Rougeans speak with a Southern accent tinged with French and Cajun influences. They often say 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and the city name is pronounced 'BAT-uhn ROOZH' with a soft 'zh' at the end.
Only here
- The Louisiana State Capitol is the tallest capitol in the US.
- The 'Red Stick' name comes from a red pole that marked a Native American boundary.
- Tiger Stadium is known as 'Death Valley' and holds over 100,000 fans.
- The USS Kidd is a Fletcher-class destroyer open to tours.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'Baton Rouge' as 'BAT-uhn ROOZH'.
- Be ready for heat and humidity; stay hydrated.
- Avoid I-10 during rush hour; use I-12 or side streets.
- On LSU game days, expect heavy traffic and packed restaurants.
- Try a po'boy 'dressed' and a plate lunch at a local diner.
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Areas in Baton Rouge area
Nearby
Every areaBogalusaLouisianaWhere the piney woods whisper Louisiana stories.NorthshoreLouisianaLake breezes, piney woods, and good food.New OrleansLouisianaWhere life moves to a jazz beatWoodvilleMississippiWhere the pines meet the riverNew IberiaLouisianaWhere the bayou runs with spice and sweetnessPicayuneMississippiWhere the pines meet the PearlMcCombMississippiWhere the pines meet southern hospitalityMorgan CityLouisianaCajun culture, fresh off the boat.
Baton Rouge-Hammond, LA CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.