The Bayou Teche National Byway is one of the most historic and scenic drives in Louisiana. This winding path will weave you all through the heartbeat of Cajun Country, hugging the iconic Bayou Teche for most of the drive, and putting you at the front door of some of Louisiana’s most historic attractions along the way. All in all, the full drive clocks in at 183 miles, and do to it justice, you’d want to spread the drive over a couple of days so you can have ample time to see the sights. Here are just a few of the iconic attractions you can look forward to along this self-drive tour in Louisiana.

Here's a basic map of the route.
Google Maps
Arnaudville and Morgan City are the endpoints along this scenic drive in Louisiana, and you can pick your starting point based on which direction you're coming from.
Arnaudville
Arnaudville, LA 70512, USA
Melinda Bednar/Google Reviews
Depending on if you drive from north to south or vice versa, you’ll either start or end your journey here. Arnaudville is a tiny little town in both St. Landry and St. Martin parishes that’s one of those old-school towns where you could easily hear folks speaking Cajun French while they’re out and about. Here, Bayou Teche meets up with Bayou Fusilier, making this a perfect town to explore by swamp tour or kayaking around.

The Little Big Cup is a beautiful waterfront restaurant in Arnaudille that’s worth a pit stop. Known for its delicious authentic Cajun fare and beautiful bayou views, The Little Big Cup never disappoints.

Enjoy a review of The Little Big Cup, one of the best stops as you travel the backroads in Louisiana, in this video from DJ Rhett:

Related Stories

The Scenic Drive To The Longleaf Vista Overlook In Louisiana Is Almost As Beautiful As The Destination Itself

The Scenic Drive To The Longleaf Vista Overlook In Louisiana Is Almost As Beautiful As The Destination Itself

 Roll The Windows Down And Take A Drive Down The Longleaf Pine Scenic Byway In Louisiana

Roll The Windows Down And Take A Drive Down The Longleaf Pine Scenic Byway In Louisiana

 The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Beauty Of Louisiana All Over Again

The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Beauty Of Louisiana All Over Again
Breaux Bridge
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517, USA
Bennie Tilbury/Google
You can’t drive through Cajun Country and not swing by Breaux Bridge. The Crawfish Capital of the World is full of small-town charm and local restaurants you’ll want to try. Once you’ve explored the town, head over to Lake Martin to enjoy a little slice of the Atchafalaya. This is an ideal spot for wildlife viewing, especially alligators, and you can drive along the water’s edge, take the walking trail, or take a swamp boat tour from Champagne’s Swamp Boat Tours to see the swamps from an entirely different perspective.

Travel the back roads near you to Breaux Bridge, LA, one of our favorite small towns to explore:
New Iberia
New Iberia, LA, USA
Julmar Shaun Sadicon Toralde/Google Reviews
As you explore New Iberia, you may find that you need more hours in the day to really see all the sights! This charming city is overflowing with things to do, including some of the most popular attractions like Shadows-on-the-Teche, a historic former plantation in Louisiana, and the Conrad Rice Mill, the oldest rice mill in America. From here, you may be inspired to detour slightly to the west to check out Avery Island, the home of Tabasco, or take a stroll through the Rip Van Winkle Gardens. Taking a tour of all four in one day can be a little tricky, but this charming vacation rental is the perfect stopping point if you want to spread this road trip across multiple days, and it's located right on the bayou!
Morgan City
Morgan City, LA 70380, USA
Michael Miller/Google Reviews
In Morgan City, you can learn all about the history of Louisiana’s oil industry at the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition. This unique museum also gives you the opportunity to step on board “Mr. Charlie,” an authentic oil rig! This is the only place in the world where you can walk onto an oil rig, and Mr. Charlie has a fascinating history. The rig was in operation from 1954-1986 and made history as the first oil rig to be transportable and submersible and became a launching pad for future offshore oil rig technology.

Learn more about Morgan City in this video from Louisiana Dread:

We know this is just a brief toe dip into what you can expect along this drive. For more information, check out Louisiana’s official byway website to learn about this scenic drive and all of the other beautiful scenic byways in Louisiana. Then start planning your Louisiana road trip by renting an RV from RVShare.

There are so many scenic drives in Louisiana. Share some of your favorite places to drive in Louisiana with a comment.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

More scenic drives near you in Louisiana

Chris Muras | August 21, 2023

What are some of the best driving roads in Louisiana?

 

Louisiana has plenty of interesting backroads through swamps, along the coast, and through old-growth forests. Here are a few of the best driving roads in Louisiana to explore on a lazy Sunday afternoon:

  • Creole Nature Trail: This 180-mile scenic byway is known as Louisiana's outback. It gives you a unique look at the state's marshes, swamps, and prairies (and perhaps a gator or two). You'll also encounter plenty of small towns to explore along with nature trails, boardwalks, and piers along the coast.
  • San Bernardo Scenic Byway: Imagine a road lined with old-growth oak trees so dense it feels like you are driving through a tunnel. That's what this scenic road is like as you drive along LA 46 to historic destinations like the Chalmette National Cemetery and the De La Ronde Ruins.
  • Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway: A drive along LA Hwy 191 will treat you to 76 miles of rolling Louisiana hills and beautiful views of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. It is actually the fifth largest man-made body of water in the United States.
  • Cane River Scenic Byway: This scenic road will take you from Natchitoches to Alexandria past cotton fields, pecan groves, and historical plantations. You'll also enjoy beautiful views of the 33-mile-long Cane River. If you stop along the way, make sure you spend some time in the Cane River Creole National Historical Park to learn all about the unique Creole culture.

New Orleans alone has plenty of scenic areas to drive. Check out these six beautiful backroads near New Orleans to discover interesting historical sights and scenic views.

Related Articles