The Coolest College Towns in Louisiana
Nestled along the banks of the Red River about an hour’s drive south of Shreveport, Natchitoches blends old-world charm with vibrant student life as home to Northwestern State University. Strolling through the historic district, visitors are drawn to the brick-lined streets and quaint shops that echo the city’s French colonial roots. The Cane River National Heritage Area offers scenic trails and riverboat tours that connect visitors with the region’s rich Creole history. In autumn, the mild weather accentuates the vivid foliage along the river, making it an ideal time to explore the nearby Fort St. Jean Baptiste, a faithfully reconstructed colonial fort that immerses guests in 18th-century Louisiana life. The café culture around the university buzzes with energy, offering a delightful mix of traditional Cajun flavors and contemporary fare.
Heading southeast, Baton Rouge’s Downtown is a lively hub centered around Louisiana State University, just a short drive from the Mississippi River’s winding paths. The LSU Rural Life Museum, located on the university’s campus, transports visitors into Louisiana’s antebellum past with its collection of authentic farmhouses, tools, and artifacts spread across pastoral grounds. The museum’s exhibits paint a vivid picture of the diverse cultures that shaped the region—from Acadian settlers to enslaved African Americans. LSU’s Tiger Stadium, affectionately known as “Death Valley,” electrifies in the fall with fierce collegiate football battles, drawing fans from all over the South. For a quieter afternoon, the LSU Hilltop Arboretum offers peaceful woodland trails just a few miles from the campus, blooming spectacularly in spring and early summer.
In Lafayette, about two hours west of Baton Rouge, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette anchors a city steeped in Cajun and Creole traditions. The nearby Vermilionville Historic Village showcases preserved homes and buildings that reveal the daily lives of Acadian and Native American communities. Visitors can wander trails along the Vermilion River or catch traditional music performances that celebrate the region’s lively heritage, often held in the village’s open-air pavilions. Lafayette’s bustling downtown district hums with vibrant cafés and bistros where the famous gumbo and boudin sausage are local staples, served with a side of zydeco beats that keep the cultural spirit alive year-round.
Traveling south to New Orleans, Tulane University and Loyola University sit in the Uptown neighborhood, about a 15-minute drive from the French Quarter’s historic heartbeat. Strolling along St. Charles Avenue, lined with centuries-old oak trees and stately mansions, visitors can hop on the iconic streetcar that evokes a bygone era. The Audubon Park nearby is a beloved green oasis offering gentle walking trails, a lagoon, and striking views of the city skyline. For an afternoon escape, the Audubon Zoo features naturalistic habitats and a renowned Louisiana Swamp exhibit, spotlighting native wildlife like alligators and black bears. The city’s unique blend of jazz music, Creole architecture, and vibrant street festivals creates an atmosphere unlike any other college town in the state, especially magical during the spring and fall when festivals and mild weather coincide.
About an hour west of New Orleans lies Houma, home to Nicholls State University, nestled amid the evocative landscapes of Terrebonne Parish. The nearby Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the Cajun way of life, focusing on fishing, trapping, and swamp ecology. Visitors can venture on guided swamp tours departing from nearby docks, where boardwalks lead through cypress knees and Spanish moss swaying above the water. These tours give ample chances to spot herons, turtles, and even elusive swamp alligators. The best time to visit is in late winter or early spring when the weather is cool, and the bayou is at its most serene, allowing for a peaceful encounter with Louisiana’s unique wetland environment.
North of Baton Rouge, in the small town of Grambling, Grambling State University stands as a pillar of African American education and culture. The university’s Eddie G. Robinson Museum celebrates the legendary football coach whose tenure helped put the school on the map. Visitors can attend lively football games at the Eddie Robinson Stadium, which pulse with school spirit and community pride. Just outside town, the Kisatchie National Forest offers expansive wilderness trails and scenic overlooks about a 30-minute drive away, providing a refreshing natural escape that contrasts with the town’s collegiate bustle. The forest is especially inviting in spring, when wildflowers carpet the forest floor and migratory birds enliven the canopy.
Down the bayou near Thibodaux, Nicholls State University’s vibrant student population blends with the rhythms of Cajun country. The nearby Bayou Lafourche serves as a scenic waterway perfect for kayaking or fishing excursions. The historic downtown district, a brief drive from campus, showcases charming Creole cottages and the Lafourche Parish Courthouse, a striking example of classic architecture. Thibodaux’s annual music and food festivals, often centered around the bayou, invite visitors to savor crawfish boils and dance to live Cajun bands, best experienced in late spring or early summer when the weather is warm and the community spirit shines brightest.