Fly into New Orleans, collect your bags and pick up your hire car for your adventure ahead! Your first stop is Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge, a city that offers a mix of historic charm and modern energy.

On a clear day you can see “a lot of Louisiana” from the observation deck at the top of the State Capitol (the tallest capitol building in the USA). The Louisiana Art & Science Museum has a planetarium and a 2,300 year old Egyptian mummy. The LSU Rural Life Museum has over 30 historic buildings to explore.

In the evening, head downtown for a great selection of bars and restaurants, or see if there’s a game on at the impressive Tiger Stadium.

New Orleans > Baton Rouge | 77 miles

Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Centre, or similar

Get ready for another day of discovery! Visit the Old State Capitol Building or the Old Governor’s Mansion, then enjoy local cuisine like gumbo or crawfish étouffée at a riverside restaurant for lunch.

Stretch your curiosity past the city life and venture to the bayou where you can take a swamp tour and get up close and personal with Louisiana’s reptile residents; alligators.

From Baton Rouge, it’s only an hour’s drive to Lafayette, in the heart of Cajun country. For evening plans, you could indulge in some fabulous food at The Southern Table & Bar followed by a tipple (or two) at Blue Moon Saloon where you can experience local Zydeco music.

Baton Rouge > Lafayette | 55 miles

Doubletree by Hilton or similar

If today happens to be a Saturday, we highly recommend booking the World Famous Zydeco Breakfast at Buck & Johnny’s. Imagine a dance floor packed full of people two-stepping to a Zydeco band, having the time of their lives… at 9am. Afterwards, you can step back into back into 18th Century Cajun life at the Vermilionville Historic Village.

Next, drive to the charming town of Natchitoches, the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Stroll along the Cane River, visit historic homes, and learn about its fascinating history. Be sure to explore the iconic Steel Magnolias film locations and indulge in the town’s signature pies.

Lafayette > Natchitoches | 144 miles

Samuel Guy House or similar

Breakfast

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, continue on to the town of Natchez, the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River.

The town is known for its well-preserved historic homes including Stanton Hall, a Greek revival style mansion, which occupies an entire city block and Longwood, an octagonal mansion that due to the Civil War was never quite finished.

In Natchez Under-the-Hill, you’ll find a selection of bars and restaurants and a riverboat casino.

Natchitoches > Natchez | 130 miles

Monmouth Historic Inn or similar

This morning, follow the Natchez Trace Parkway through picturesque woodland to Port Gibson, before joining Route 61, the Blues Highway, to Vicksburg.

Vicksburg was once the centre for the aristocracy, whose wealth was based around cotton and lumber. A glimpse of its former status is evident in the historic churches and 19th Century government buildings and grand homes found around town

Give yourself an afternoon to explore the battlefields and monuments in Vicksburg National Military Park, a memorial to those who died in the 47-day Siege of Vicksburg, a pivotal point in the Civil War.

On your second day, you could take a trip to Jackson to visit the thought-provoking Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and the modest former home of Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader, assassinated in 1963.

Natchez > Vicksburg | 72 miles

Corners Mansion Inn or similar

Head south today to Biloxi, on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, where it’s easy find a spot to unwind on the town’s 26-mile white sandy beach!

You can hire a paddleboard from the beach, or join a kayaking trip through the coastal marshes of the Wolf River, which flows into Bay St. Louis, then out to sea.

Make sure to grab a photo of the Biloxi Lighthouse (open for tours first thing in the morning) then enjoy freshly prepared southern seafood as you watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

Vicksburg> Biloxi | 207 miles

Hampton Inn or similar

Breakfast

Complete your Mississippi and Louisiana road trip as you head back to New Orleans. Drop off your hire car and venture out for your first taste of this colourful city!

In the famous French Quarter you’ll find a collection of wonderfully eclectic shops, including quirky voodoo boutiques, as well as historic music venues, like Fritzel’s, with live jazz every night of the week.

Hop on a tram to visit the Garden District, which is home to lovely southern houses (some of which are open to tours) and lined with beautiful parks and cafés. On your way back, make sure to visit the World War II Museum, which consistently ranks as one the top attractions in the USA.

If you are feeling adventurous, consider an escapade to the nearby swamps – though keep your hands inside the boat…

If you would like to pre-book a New Orleans city tour just let your Travel Consultant know.

Biloxi > New Orleans | 92 miles

Bienville House or similar

Enjoy a final morning in New Orleans before heading to the airport for your flight home, on which you can plan your next Southern USA road trip…