The Scenic Drive In Louisiana That Runs Straight Through The Charming Small Towns Of Cajun Country

The map above only highlights a few of the towns we’ll be exploring in this article. There are a few different routes you can take, plus a few spurs that travel off to other towns like Arnaudville, Krotz Springs, and Palmetto, but I’ve modified this scenic drive in Louisiana to keep it to a short and sweet loop that you can complete in a day or two.

I’d recommend making a weekend out of it, that way you’re not rushed and can take your time. Don’t worry, I’ve got the perfect place to stay included.

Strangely enough, Eunice sits in three different parishes: St. Landry, Acadia, and Evangeline. I guess everyone just wanted a slice of this charming small town in Louisiana!

Here you’ll learn more about the history of Eunice, the rise and fall of the railroads, and the thriving community that lives here today.

Where life is rice and easy. Well, that's Crowley's motto, anyway!

This festival has been going on since 1937, making it the oldest agricultural festival in Louisiana!

There's a lot to love about this quirky town, and the frogs are just one of them! Frog legs were once a major export for this tiny town in Louisiana, and while the demand has plummeted, their love for frogs has only intensified! Rayne is also known for its mesmerizing murals that paint the town, as well as the annual Frog Festival.

...Rayne is home to the only cemetery in the country that faces the wrong direction! Cemetery plots are typically laid out facing an east-west direction to symbolize the rising/setting of the sun and the resurrection of Christ. No one knows the real reason this cemetery faces north-south, but most generally agree that it just boils down to good old human error. By the time they figured it out, it was too late to fix it.

Opelousas is known as the Zydeco Capital of the World, so you better roll up blasting some Zydeco music!

In the 1850s, New York was experiencing a very unique problem. There were thousands of orphaned children living on the streets after their parents had died from the massive influenza outbreak. Two organizations banded together and worked with the Catholic church to get these children into homes across the country. Many of these children traveled by rail and found homes in Louisiana. The Orphan Train Museum has preserved their histories as much as possible.

Switching gears from museums and historic downtowns, Ville Platte is where you can get some fresh air and enjoy some natural scenery.

Chicot State Park also has some dreamy waterfront cabins you can stay in if you're planning on making this a weekend getaway. Louisiana's largest state park is nestled around Chicot Lake, and one of the best ways to experience it is by renting a canoe and setting off on the paddle trail here. I've done it and can personally attest to how incredible it is!

This charming small town in Louisiana is probably best known for its epic Cajun Mardi Gras, but no visit to Mamou is complete without paying a visit to the world-famous Fred's Lounge.

Fred's Lounge is only open on Saturday mornings from about 8 a.m. till 2 p.m. (music starts at 9) but this is where you'll hear some of the most talented local musical legends play, a tradition for Cajun Country that's been around for over 75 years.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!