You probably want to know the things to do in Baton Rouge if you’re traveling to the wonderful state of Louisiana. You’re in luck- I went to school in Baton Rouge and lived there for years, and I definitely discovered both the obvious things to do and the more secret, off-the-beaten-track activities.
Since Baton Rouge is one of the best places to visit in Louisiana, make sure you read this post and make the most of your trip!
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31 Best Things to Do in Baton Rouge
The State Capitol
Bask in the legacy of past governor Huey P. Long at the tallest state capitol in the United States.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 342-7317 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: Free
The Louisiana State Capitol building is the tallest state capitol in the United States. Since famous ex-governor Huey P. Long was thought of as responsible for the construction of the Capitol, it’s sometimes thought of as a giant monument to Long.
The actual statue and grave of Long can be found in front of the Capitol steps in the garden.
The Louisiana State Capitol is not only a looker–you can go inside and take an elevator to an observation deck at the top of the 34-story building. You can also still see the bullet hole left in the wall from when Huey Long was assassinated in the building. You may have to ask Capitol personnel for directions.
And, don’t miss an opportunity to work out “Rocky style” on the steep steps leading up to the Capitol entrance if you’re an athlete.
Louisiana State University Campus
Enjoy Stanford-like architecture on this college campus right in the heart of Baton Rouge.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 578-3202 | Website
The Louisiana State University Campus is a beautiful place to kill some time wandering. The campus is built with Stanford-style Mission Revival architecture. The buildings are largely stucco with red roofs, with courtyards full of palms, live oaks, ferns, and fountains.
Wander long enough and you may find the sculpture garden behind the geology building, the Native American mounds, or the expansive quad in the center of campus.
Mike the Tiger Habitat
Take a spin around Death Valley and visit LSU’s live tiger mascot.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 578-4823 | Website | Hours: 24 hours, daily | Entrance: Free
A very specific enclave of LSU’s campus is the Mike the Tiger habitat located near Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley. Mike is LSU’s mascot, and the university has a live tiger on display in a large and opulent habitat.
Mike is well cared for, with his own team of veterinarians and personnel devoted to his entertainment and stimulation. Visitors come from near and far to watch Mike bask in the sun, swim, or bat his ball around.
If you’re visiting LSU, it’s well worth a trip down to the stadium to say hello to Mike.
The USS Kidd Veterans Museum
Hit the deck of this supposedly haunted military museum docked in the Mississippi River.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 342-1942 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm daily | Entrance: $14, adults, $12 military and seniors, $10, kids
The USS Kidd is a historic Fletcher-class destroyer from World War II docked on the banks of the Mississippi River. The Kidd is named after a Navy officer who died on the decks of the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Kidd was selected to serve as the memorial to Louisiana veterans in the 1980s and was towed to Baton Rouge from Philadelphia. Visiting the USS Kidd Veterans Museum is great fun for the whole family.
There’s an indoor museum with details about Louisiana Veterans, life aboard a ship, and model ship displays. You then gain access to the decks and below-deck areas of the Kidd. You’re able to explore the whole ship, scampering up and down radios and peeking your head into berths and cabins.
One of the coolest features of the USS Kidd is that volunteers will tell you more about life aboard a destroyer, and many of these volunteers are veterans themselves. It’s a great learning experience for all ages.
The Mississippi Levee
Relax on the shores of the river or walk or bike down the Mississippi Levee path.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24 hours, daily | Entrance: Free
From Downtown Baton Rouge, you can easily climb up some steps to the Mississippi River Levee. The levee is a built-up mound of land that helps keep the river within its banks without spilling over during flood periods. In Baton Rouge, the top of the levee includes a bike trail.
If you climb up on the levee near the Art and Science Museum, you will pass the USS Kidd and the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino during a short walk. There are steps leading down the sides of the levee right to the banks of the river, allowing you to get up close and personal with the Mississippi.
The bike trail is extremely extensive and can be used for a long run or bike ride.
The Old State Capitol Museum
Gawk at the stunning architecture and learn about many eras of Baton Rouge’s history.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 342-0500 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm on Thursday, Friday, Tuesday; 9 am – 3 pm on Saturdays | Entrance: Free
The Old State Capitol Museum is my all-time favorite museum in Baton Rouge–and it’s completely free! From the stained glass windows to the sweeping grand staircase and domed ceiling, this building is sure to impress every visitor with its magnificent architecture.
The museum has a special 4D film about a Civil War resident named Sarah Morgan. The film is phenomenal and really makes 19th Century Baton Rouge life extremely visceral.
The Old State Capitol Museum has a phenomenal exhibit on Huey P. Long that really tells all sides of his story in an unbiased way. It would be a great learning experience to pair with the new State Capitol and Huey’s grave.
It’s also important to note that a pivotal bus boycott occurred in 1953 during the Civil Rights movement just outside the steps of the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.
There is now signage commemorating this significant event as part of the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail. The Baton Rouge Boycott, though less famous, inspired the well-known Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Dr. Martin Luther King.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
See a planetarium and a mummy all in one visit at this cool museum with interactive exhibits.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (255) 344-5272 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 3 pm Wednesday to Friday; 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday; 1 pm – 5 pm, Sunday | Entrance: $15, adults, $12 for kids up to 12 and seniors
One of the great things to do in the city is head to the Louisiana Art and Science Museum downtown. One of the well-known permanent exhibits is the Ancient Egypt Gallery which contains a well-preserved mummy.
The museum also has a planetarium, movies, interactive exhibits, and a kids’ room. The museum occasionally holds special events like a Dark Side of the Moon light show in the planetarium during after-hours.
University Lakes
Run, walk, bike, or paddle around Baton Rouge’s scenic manmade lakes.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 858-2356 | Website | Entrance: Free
Adjacent to LSU’s campus is the University Lakes, which consists of the “Big Lake” and the “Small Lake.” The small lake is easily accessed by parking at City Park in Baton Rouge, which also has tennis courts, a splash pad, and even a meditation labyrinth.
The small lake eventually connects to the big lake, which winds up into LSU’s “Greek Row” of fraternity and sorority houses.
BREC, Baton Rouge’s public recreational organizer, sometimes holds sunset paddling tours on the lakes. They are popular running, walking, biking, and dog-walking routes in town.
Old Arsenal Powder Magazine Museum
Explore a beautiful park and a small but interesting museum at one time.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 9 am – 3 pm Thursday only
The Old Arsenal Powder Magazine Museum is a fun little history museum focused on Baton Rouge’s role in the Civil War after the Powder Magazine and nearby barracks were handed over to state forces in 1861. The building was abandoned as an arsenal in 1869.
The museum itself is interesting, but the grounds it sits upon are also beautiful. It is enveloped by Arsenal Park, which contains landscaped gardens, an Indian Mound, a historic cannon, and several beautiful, tree-lined paths.
The Capitol Park Museum
Take in new information about art, culture, and the maritime industry in this immersive museum.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 342-5428 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Tuesday – Saturday | Entrance: $7, adults; $6 for kids, seniors, military; Free for kids under 6
The Capitol Park Museum is part of the Louisiana State Museum system and features Louisiana art as well as a number of historical exhibits. There is a large exhibit dedicated to the history of the region’s maritime industry, with a particular focus on riverboats like sternwheelers.
There’s also a fantastic, immersive Mardi Gras exhibit. You can climb aboard a mock Mardi Gras float and watch footage that makes you feel like you’re looking down at a crowd below as you pass by.
As compared to the other museums on this list, the Capitol Park Museum does a fantastic job of capturing the nuance of the area’s cultural scene. A visitor can leave feeling much more grounded in the region’s history and culture.
The River Center
See a show at Baton Rouge’s large event space.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 389-3030 | Website
The River Center is one of the largest event and concert spaces in Downtown Baton Rouge. It holds large concerts and events and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s performances. If you’re visiting Louisiana and want to see if any of your favorite artists are playing in the area, the River Center is a hot location to check.
Baton Rouge Zoo
Visit the wide number of animals or catch the annual Christmas lights display.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 775-3877 | Website | Hours: 9:30 am – 4 pm daily | Entrance: $8.75, adults; $7.75 for seniors; $6.75 for kids 2 – 12
The Baton Rouge Zoo is a small but robust zoo that is not usually very crowded. I’ve even used the zoo as a place to sneak in an interesting run.
One of the great things about the Baton Rouge Zoo is its plethora of community events. For example, the zoo decorates with extra agent holiday lights every winter, turning the property into a magical Winter Wonderland.
Shaw Center for the Arts
Explore a quirky performance space, an art museum, or a rooftop restaurant overlooking Downtown.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 389-7171 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 10 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 9 am – 11 pm Friday; 10 am – 11 pm Saturday; 11 am – 5 pm Sunday; 9 am – 4 pm Monday
The Shaw Center for the Arts is a hip collective space in Downtown Baton Rouge. It contains several separate establishments.
One is the Manship Theater on the first floor. The Manship contains several small event spaces. It has a small movie theater that tends to play niche, arthouse, or foreign films. It also has a small cabaret-like space.
A few floors up is the LSU art museum, which has frequently rotating exhibits. On the roof, you’ll find Tsunami, a Japanese restaurant with an amazing rooftop patio overlooking all of downtown and the Mississippi River.
The LSU Rural Life Museum
Walk expansive trails and boardwalks through the woods and see architecture from days gone by.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 765-2437 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $12, adults; $11, seniors; $10, kids, military
While the LSU Rural Life Museum is a bit outside both Downtown Baton Rouge and the LSU campus area, it’s certainly worth a visit if you have access to a car.
The property has countless walking trails with labeled plants and informational signs. The museum itself is dedicated to the preservation of deep south working-class life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The LSU Rural Life Museum is totally immersive, with historical buildings and grounds that you can enter and explore. The museum might be tough for some in the summer heat, but there are also plenty of indoor exhibits to break up the outdoor exposure if needed.
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Learn first-hand about the animals and plants that live in Louisiana’s swamps
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 757-8905 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tuesday – Saturday; 12 – 5, Sunday | Entrance: $3, adults; $2, kids
For those who would like to experience the treacherous beauty of a Louisiana swamp but would like to do so in a safe and controlled manner, I’d like to introduce you to Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center.
The Nature Center is owned by BREC (the Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission) and is extremely well-maintained. The trails are mostly boardwalks over swampy land. An indoor nature center usually has local snakes and other creepy crawlies on display.
While Bluebonnet Swamp is not big enough to explore for an entire day, it’s a safe way to become acquainted with swampy terrain or to take young children or elderly family members.
Magnolia Mound Plantation
Visit a preserved property built back in 1791 that’s a rare example of vernacular architecture.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 343-4955 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Monday – Saturday; 1 pm – 4 pm Sunday | Entrance: $12, adults; $9, seniors; $5, kids
Magnolia Mound is a preserved plantation museum located near LSU. It is a 16-acre property that was built in 1791. The property existed through the Colonial Era and Louisiana’s statehood, and it’s a rare example of vernacular architecture.
The property contains the main house, an open-hearth kitchen, slave quarters, and an overseer’s house.
If your family would like to delve deeper into the lives of enslaved people in the region, LSU’s Rural Life Museum has some sobering exhibits on this subject. Furthermore, the Whitney Plantation (about an hour east of Baton Rouge) is the only plantation in the state entirely dedicated to honoring enslaved people.
Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’
Escape the heat or catch some thrills at the local water park and amusement park.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 753-3333 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 6 pm daily (seasonal) | Entrance: $49.99, above 48”; $39.99, 48” and lower
⚠️ Closure Note: This attraction is temporarily closed until May 24, 2024.
Blue Bayou is a waterpark with 20 water attractions including slides and a lazy river. Some of Blue Bayou’s slides hold world records as the biggest in their respective classes. The park also has a 90-foot free-fall slide for those who are really brave.
Dixie Landin’ is the amusement park right next door. It has three major roller coasters and countless other thrill rides.
Spanish Town
Explore Baton Rouge’s most funky and artistic neighborhood with beautiful trees and shaded sidewalks.
Spanish Town is a funky little Baton Rouge neighborhood within walking distance of downtown. The neighborhood hub is Capitol Grocery (long called “Spanish Town Market”), which has been operational since 1914.
Spanish Town is worth strolling through because of its beautiful trees, shady sidewalks, and quirky and colorful Creole cottages. There’s also an annual Mardi Gras Parade held in Spanish Town, and it has a reputation for its free-wheeling raunchiness and edgy humor.
Independence Park and Gardens
Spend some time in a free botanic garden and then cool off in the amazing local library.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 928-7860 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 10 pm Monday to Thursday, 8 am – 8 pm Friday & Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm Saturdays | Entrance: Free
Independence Park is a community park near the library with free botanical gardens. The gardens are relatively small, but they’re still a great place to relax or enjoy a picnic. While you’re there, you can swing into the public Goodwood Main Library, which was recently remodeled and is truly a pride of the city.
Yoga On Tap
You can get buzzed and get zen at the very same time – for free.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 377-7022 | Website | Hours: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Wednesday | Entrance: Free
Louisiana has no shortage of great breweries, and one of them, Tin Roof Brewing, is located right in Baton Rouge. Tin Roof has a tasting room right in its brewery building on Nicholson in Baton Rouge. It’s got a laid-back atmosphere inside and a large patio outside. Then there’s a large lawn right next to the patio.
Every Wednesday evening, a free yoga class is taught on the lawn at Tin Roof (it moves inside if the weather is terrible). The classes are always fun, taught by a variety of knowledgeable teachers, and pair very nicely with a Saison on tap.
Trivia at the Chimes
Show off your skills at a hip local restaurant that’s popular with University students.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 383-1754 | Website | Hours: Mondays at 10 pm
You might want to check out the free trivia night at the Chimes if you’re willing to burn the midnight oil. The Chimes is a famous establishment near LSU’s Northgate, and it draws in locals, students, and visitors alike. They serve fabulous Cajun food (don’t miss out on the blackened alligator or boudin balls).
At 10 pm, the Chimes holds a weekly trivia night that’s one of the best pub trivia events I’ve ever been to. If your team wins a round, the prize is usually a free pitcher for the table.
L’Auberge Casino and Hotel
Try your luck in a Baton Rouge casino housed in a large riverboat.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 215-7777 | Website
L’Auberge is a top-service hotel and casino on the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. The hotel features a rooftop pool, cabanas, and views of the Mississippi River.
The casino is 74,000 square feet in a riverboat off the levee. The hotel and casino have four dining locations and are known for their excellent food. The restaurants at L’Auberge might be an excellent choice for a couple on a date night.
Oh, by the way, need a hotel for your trip? Check out my guide to the best places to stay in Baton Rouge.
Happy’s Running Club
Go get a runner’s high on the streets of Baton Rouge and follow it up with a nice, cold beer.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: Tuesday at 6 pm. | Entrance: Free
Here’s a suggestion fine-tuned for my runners reading this post. Happy’s Running Club is the best club running I’ve ever been part of. The routes are varied and interesting (and pass by interesting locations like the Capitol building and the levee).
The club often draws about 100 participants for a single group run, and the local police will often direct traffic like they would at a road race.
And, best of all, the run begins and ends at Bengal Tap Room in downtown Baton Rouge. You can cool off afterward with a drink and great company.
LSU Arboretum
Relax amongst nature at this small arboretum that’s perfect for bird watching.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 767-6916 | Website | Hours: Daylight hours, 7 days/week | Entrance: Free
The LSU Hilltop Arboretum is a fourteen-acre preserve that highlights native trees and shrubs. The property is extremely tranquil, featuring a footbridge over a ravine, a meadow, and a cloister of trees known as the “cathedral” because of the way they seem to enclose the visitor in protection.
The Arboretum is not particularly big, but it would be a great destination for anyone interested in ecology or bird-watching. It also offers a place of respite if you’re just seeking out a free place for some downtime.
The Knock Knock Children’s Museum
An interactive space where the whole family can play and learn.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 388-3090 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat, 10 am – 4 pm Thursdays, 11 am – 4 pm Sundays | Entrance: $15
The Knock Knock Children’s Museum is a relative newcomer to the Baton Rouge museum scene. It features 18 different hands-on learning areas with interactive exhibits.
Kids will learn by immersing themselves in exhibits like the Art Garden and Maker Space. They can also blow off some steam by playing in the three-story Storybook Climber playground. There’s a separate crawl playspace for very young children.
Families who would like to ensure their children won’t get bored on vacation should certainly factor in a day or afternoon to explore Knock Knock.
Red Stick Farmers Market
Sample local products and the results of Louisiana’s strong agricultural industry.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 267-5060 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 12 pm, Saturday | Entrance: Free
The Red Stick Farmers Market is truly a heartwarming slice of local culture. Louisiana has a strong agricultural industry, and farmers come from surrounding towns to sell their veggies, fresh meat, eggs, milk, honey, wine, soap, and other goods.
I could not have gotten by in graduate school without the Red Stick Farmers Market, where I’d bring a twenty dollar bill once a week and then make a stew or a jambalaya that could feed me for a week. I even briefly worked at a pickle stand selling pickles.
Maybe you’d like to cook yourself a local meal one night if you have a hotel with a mini-fridge. Alternatively, the Farmer’s Market is just a great place to observe locals doing local things, make some friends, and try some free samples.
Tiger Stadium (Death Valley)
Can you say Geaux Tigers? Experience the energy and exhilaration of an LSU football game!
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 578-2184 | Website
Tiger Stadium–home of the Louisiana State University Tigers–is pretty infamous in the sports world and is also known as Death Valley.
If you’re a football fan, catching a Tigers game might be high on your bucket list. But even if you’re not into college football, seeing a game is still an exhilarating experience. The energy of an SEC game is virtually unrivaled.
If you do attend a game, make sure you leave plenty of time to wander and tailgate beforehand. If you’re not going to be in town for football season or can’t catch a game, it’s still worthwhile to explore the front of Tiger Stadium.
There are plenty of interesting commemorative plaques and statues, and it will situate you within close proximity to Mike the Tiger’s habitat.
Teddy’s Juke Joint
Sway to some real-deal jazz at this locally popular music spot.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 658-8029 | Hours: 1 pm – 2 am Friday and Saturday; 2 pm – 12 am Sunday; 3 pm – 10 pm Monday; 1 pm – 10 pm Tuesday; 3 pm – 12 am Wednesday | Entrance: Free
A “juke joint” is a slang term for a bar with dancing and music, often operated within the African American community. Teddy’s Juke Joint is the real deal, and it’s been a stalwart of the community for decades.
Teddy’s Juke Joint is technically located right outside Baton Rouge in the city of Zachary, but it’s worth a trip and could be easily combined with the Baton Rouge Zoo. You can catch up-and-coming blues performers at Teddy’s and also order some excellent fried chicken.
Live After Five
Enjoy free live concerts in the spring and fall in Downtown Baton Rouge.
📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 5 pm – 8 pm on Friday, fall and spring | Entrance: Free
Live After Five is a free concert series in Downtown Baton Rouge in the spring and fall when the weather tends to be tolerable. The concerts are held outside on a lawn near the River Center.
Attending Live After Five is a great way to relax, spread out on a picnic blanket, and listen to local artists play. It’s not uncommon to see kids running around or throwing a ball while parents relax and take in the tunes.
White Light Night/Hot Art, Cool Nights
Take to the streets and the antique shops and art galleries of the Arts District.
📍 Google Maps | Hours: One Friday night every November and one Friday night in May
White Light Night in November (and its counterpart event in May, Hot Art, Cool Nights) takes place in the funky arts corridor of Government Street in Mid-City Baton Rouge. Local businesses–especially the eclectic and artsy ones like art galleries and antique shops–stay open later into the evening and night than usual.
Vendors take to the streets, and many of the hosting establishments will serve complimentary wine and snacks to visitors. The events are more geared towards adults but make for a fun, artsy, and buzzy night.
The Old Governor’s Mansion
Learn more about Louisiana history in this opulent mansion.
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (225) 342-9778 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily | Entrance: Free
Constructed in 1930, the Old Governor’s Mansion housed several governors, beginning with Huey P. Long. The mansion is built in the Georgian style and somewhat resembles the White House.
The Old Governor’s Mansion offers tours of the house and admission is free. This is a cool activity to pair with the Old State Capitol to really capture what government life was like in the olden days of Baton Rouge. It is also a popular site for weddings and events.
👉 Read Next: Best Day Trips from Baton Rouge
FAQs About What to Do in Baton Rouge
How do I spend a day in Baton Rouge?
You can spend a day in Baton Rouge by exploring Downtown Baton Rouge and visiting all the museums downtown (the USS Kidd,Capitol Park Museum,Art and Science Museum, and the Old State Capitol). Then, you can explore the campus of Louisiana State University, see the Mike the Tiger habitat, and take a photo at Tiger Stadium. At night, you should see if there are any free local events like White Light Night or Live after Five.
What’s Baton Rouge famous for?
Baton Rouge is famous for its state capitol building (the tallest in the country), its swampland like you can find at Bluebonnet Swamp, for football games at Tiger Stadium, and for Louisiana State University’s mascot, Mike the Tiger.
What can couples do in Baton Rouge?
There are lots of great things to do in Baton Rouge for couples, including taking photos at the picturesque Old Arsenal Museum, exploring Downtown Baton Rouge, sitting along the banks of the Mississippi River or strolling the University Lakes, or trying your luck at the L’Auberge Casino.
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You now know a lot more about the best things to do in Baton Rouge! If you have time on your vacation, make sure to check out these great things to do in New Orleans as well!
