Louisiana became part of the United States in 1803 when government officials purchased 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. Initially, the state capitol was in New Orleans, but it moved to Baton Rouge in 1849 as state officials feared that people living in New Orleans, the state's largest city, would become too powerful.
You will want to visit the Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Natchitoches. As you learn about the Oakland and Magnolia Plantations, remember that the term Creole refers to anyone who can trace their family's history in the region back to the time before the Louisiana Purchase. You will want to dine at top Creole restaurants, like New Orlean's Commander's Palace, Lafayette's Johnson's Boucaniere, and Baton Rouge's Louisiana Lagniappe.
While many of the 4.7 million people living in Louisiana can trace their roots back to the French colonists who first settled near New Orleans, others trace their family's roots back to the arrival of people exiled from Canada during the Seven Years' War from 1756 to 1763. These settlers brought their cooking style with them, and you will want to sample the best of it by dining at Galliano's Rose's Café, Thibodaux's Fremin's Restaurant, and Shreveport's Marilynn's Place.
Lafayette – This city was founded in 1821 as Vermilionville and renamed Lafayette in 1884. Learn more about the first Cajun settlers by visiting the historical LARC's Acadian Village. Art lovers will want to explore the American, European and Asian galleries at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum.
20+ Restaurants
20+ Gas Stations
2 nearby state parks
5 campgrounds
3 RV dump stations
Lake Charles - You will want to explore the Cypress Swamp, and the Calcasieu River is an ideal spot for fishing. Understand more about local animals and plants by hiking along the Creole Nature Trail. Head to one of the casinos to test Lady Luck.
20+ Restaurants
20+ Gas stations
2 Nearby state parks
20+ campgrounds
5 RV dump stations
Bossier City - Shreveport's twin city, Bossier City, has about 69.000 people. It is home to Barksdale Air Force Base. You can find many things to do in this city, including watching horseraces at Louisiana Downs, hiking at Red River National Wildlife Refuge, and visiting the Mardi Gras Museum.
20+ Restaurants
20+ Gas Stations
7 Campgrounds
5 RV dump station
Mardi Gras – Almost every Louisiana community hosts a Mardi Gras celebration, but the biggest is in New Orleans. This event in February or March celebrates the last eating of fatty foods before Lent begins.
Baton Rouge Blues Festival – Head to downtown Baton Rouge to listen to blues bands and enjoy family entertainment during this late-April weekend festival.
Bossier Night Market – See products from over 200 vendors at the Pierre Bossier Mall on select nights in February, May, September and December.
Chicot State Park near Ville Platte offers anglers a chance to catch near record-size largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and red-ear sunfish. Mountain bikers and hikers will find beautiful trails to hike through the bottomland forest at this 6,400-acre park. One ideal option is the magnolia forest located within the Louisiana State Arboretum. There are campgrounds on the north and south ends of the lake.
Natchez State Park is about 60 miles east of Deville, Louisiana, and this is a beautiful spot to visit. Launch your boat from this park for a day of fishing fun on Natchez Lake. Challenge your traveling companions to a game of disc golf and take a stroll along the nature trails. If you have children along, they are sure to enjoy the playground.
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park near St. Martinville is a great place to launch a canoe to explore the Atchafalaya Basin. There is a small campground, and this is an excellent place to go birdwatching because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico.
St. Louis Cemetery #1in New Orleans, established in 1789, is a fascinating place to explore. Unlike most cemeteries, you can only visit this one on an organized tour. You will love seeing the ornate crypts where people bury their loved ones above ground due to New Orleans' marshy conditions. You can see the final resting spot of Etienne de Bore, who brought sugarcane plantations to Louisiana, William C.C. Claiborne, the first governor of Louisiana, and French Vice-Consul Daniel Clark, who convinced U.S. government officials that buying the Louisiana Purchase was a great idea.
River View RV Park and Resort near Vidalia is a wonderful campground in Louisiana. This campground features a walking path along the Mississippi River, a hot tub, and a swimming pool. Another wonderful choice is 3 Oaks & a Pine, only five miles from New Orlean's French Quarter. This campground has a laundry and bathhouse, and the manager lives on the property. You may also want to consider Lakeside RV Resort at Livingston. As the name suggests, camping spots are around a 17-acre fishing lake at this campground.
On average expect to pay $170 per night in Louisiana.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Louisiana?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Louisiana from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Louisiana?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in Louisiana?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in Louisiana.