Find cheap flights to Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, sits on the banks of the mighty Mississippi river, about an hour’s drive from New Orleans. Its sub-tropical climate means that it’s warm or hot for much of the year, with only a couple of months of cool weather and occasional snowy or icy conditions. The most popular time to visit is during the early summer. Temperatures in June and July peak around 92 degrees Fahrenheit so be sure to pack your sunscreen and hat. Spring is the next busiest tourist season, and the city is particularly lovely with spring blossoms and daily high temperatures of 74 – 86 degrees Fahrenheit. If you visit during the fall, you’ll find that fewer tourists means you can find good deals on rooms and flights to Baton Rouge. From December – February, with high temperatures averaging between 62 – 66 degrees Fahrenheit and lows around the freezing mark, it can be quite chilly. Baton Rouge even experiences the occasional snow or sleet storm, and icy conditions that can make roads treacherous. Visitors from the north may scoff at these temperatures, but as a city unaccustomed to this kind of weather, with a little snow on the ground Baton Rouge grinds to a standstill. February usually sees a spike in tourism around Mardi Gras, when the city is bursting with parades and parties.

Downtown Baton Rouge is quite compact and walkable, and you may enjoy strolling around historic neighborhoods like Spanish Town and Beauregard. When you need a rest, hop on to a CATS bus or the free downtown trolley. Here are some details about your options for Baton Rouge transportation.

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Taxis usually charge a meter drop of $4.00 USD, and $2.00 USD per mile, with a surcharge after midnight. Uber and Lyft both operate in the city and usually offer a cheaper alternative, with rates starting at $1.25 USD for the meter drop, then $0.90 USD per mile, with a minimum fare of $5.00 USD.

Public Transportation

The local CATS buses serve all of Baton Rouge, with a single ride fare costing $1.75 USD. You may purchase a day pass for $4.00 USD, or a 7-day pass for $19.00 USD. There is also a free trolley service running between many of the tourist attractions downtown. The Capitol Park trolley operates weekdays from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, approximately every 8 minutes.

Things to do and places of interest in Baton Rouge

The famous ‘Red Stick’ offers many interesting historical and cultural sights and events. Here are a few suggestions for your itinerary, when you travel to Baton Rouge.

• Check out the stunning Old State Capitol building, now the Museum of Political History. Standing high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river, the 1847-dated Gothic Revival castle was burned by the Union Army, and then repaired in 1882. It then served as the state capitol until 1932.
• Tour the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial, a nautical center consisting of the destroyer USS Kidd, an observation tower and museum. Come aboard the USS Kidd, nicknamed the Pirate of the Pacific, and learn about the ship’s long and fascinating history before it was decommissioned in 1964.
• If you visit during Mardi Gras, go to Spanish Town to take part in the celebrations – widely considered some of the most spectacular in the country. Spanish Town is the most bohemian area of the city, full of hip bars packed with patrons.
• Take your children to see the Baton Rouge Zoo, where they can admire exotic animals like rhinos, parrots, Chilean flamingos, Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises, and Mike the tiger. At the Kids Zoo, they’ll see domestic barnyard animals and can burn off some steam in the tunnels and play equipment.
• Visit the 1791-dated Magnolia Mound Plantation, sitting close to the banks of the Mississippi river. The plantation, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, covers 16 acres and is open to the public for tours.
• Culture vultures will enjoy the art scene in Baton Rouge, with most of the museums clustered around the downtown core. Stop by the Shaw Center, featuring the Manship Theatre and two galleries.

Tips and tricks for visiting Baton Rouge

If the weather is stormy during your visit, you should know that because Baton Rouge is so flat and drainage is poor, there is a danger of encountering flash floods. Places you should be wary of, due to urban flash flooding, include along River Road under the Mississippi River Bridge, some areas in the Garden District, and Brightside in south Baton Rouge.

Mardi Gras is a ton of fun, but watch out for the beads! They can give you a good whack if you aren’t paying attention. Sometimes the streets are a bit crowded as well, so if you are unsteady on your feet, you’d best stay away from the busiest areas.