4 Fun and Easy Road Trips to Take From Lafayette

Lafayette is a great town, but sometimes you just need to get away for a day or two. Luckily, there are plenty of great attractions within driving distance that will make for a fun road trip with your family. Next time you’re feeling the call of the road, consider the following stops for either a day or weekend trip.

Downtown Opelousas

Just under a half hour away from Lafayette is the quaint town of Opelousas. To get there, just take I-49 N to LA-182 N. Opelousas is best known for being the birthplace of the king of zydeco, Clifton Chenier. Not sure what zydeco is? Don’t worry; Opelousas has plenty of opportunities to teach you about it. Stop by the Le Vieux Village heritage museum to learn more about this town’s history and the birth of this interesting genre of music.

When you’re finished there, take a stroll over to the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum to see architecture from the 18th and 19th century or gaze at the imposing Delta Grand Theatre on the main street. You’ll need to eat while in town, so be sure to stop at either Mama’s Fried Chicken for a delicious home-cooked lunch.

St. Bernard State Park

If the great outdoors are more your style, then St. Bernard State Park is worth the three-hour drive. Located just outside of New Orleans, this 358-acre park was founded in 1971 after a gracious donation of land. Unfortunately, the area was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina, but has since bounced back.

Today, you can peruse the man-made lagoons and take a journey through various wetlands and woodlands on several different hiking trails. If you’re looking to stay the night, there are 51 different campsites, as well as a pavilion you can rent for a group gathering during the day.

Cajun Boudin Trail

For food connoisseurs, the Cajun Boudin Trail is a must. Luckily, the trail runs right through Lafayette along Highway 10, meaning you won’t have to drive very far to get the tasty sausages you crave. Cajun Boudin is a specially prepared mixture of rice, spices, and pork that can’t be found anywhere else.

With twelve stops on the trail, it’s probably a bit too much for your stomach to handle in one day. Split up the journey over a weekend or several weekends to maximize your appetite.

Shreveport-Bossier Film Trail

About three hours away from Lafayette is the city of Shreveport, which has been used as a backdrop for many films and television shows in recent years. In fact, the town is so popular for filming that the local film office has created the Shreveport-Bossier Film Trail featuring filming locations. Journey to this town to see the places where True Blood, Season of the Witch, Straw Dogs, Olympus Has Fallen, and many other productions have been filmed.

If you’re willing to do some driving, there are plenty of great attractions outside of Lafayette that will keep you entertained for a weekend. Plan your next trip using the four locations above.

Image “Shreveport-Bossier City Skyline over Red River” via Wikipedia Commons by Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side used under CC BY 2.0 /cropped from original

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