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Celebrate Mardi Gras on a road trip from New Orleans to Lake Charles
By Shivani Dubey | 4 March 2025 | Food & Drink, Travel
This Mardi Gras, embrace the Cajun and Creole culture of America with a road trip through Louisiana
As Mardi Gras rolls in on 4 March, there is no better time to explore Louisiana. New Orleans is home to the party of all parties: the largest Mardi Gras parade in the USA. On Fat Tuesday (4 March), revelers descend upon the city as the streets fill with spectacular floats, stunning costumes, marching bands and throws (ranging from beads to handmade collectables) to celebrate the final day of Carnival Season.
However, the entirety of the Pelican state has a rich cultural heritage that can now be more easily explored in what is arguably the best way to explore America: through a 10 day self-drive road trip.
Louisiana’s four leading cities — New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles — have come together to create a road trip that celebrates the best of Cajun and Creole cultures and takes in the hedonism of New Orleans and small town Americana.
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Begin in New Orleans’ historic cobblestoned French Quarter and enjoy live music from the city’s vibrant street corners all the way to its intimate jazz venues — all the while, sampling the food of some truly incredible restaurants. Make sure to stop by some NoLa staples like Peche (their crab rice is divine) and Jewel of the South (for award-winning cocktails). Follow this by indulging in the beignets at Cafe du Monde or Criollo and the fabled Hotel Monteleone.
Next up is the state capitol Baton Rouge for a spot of vintage shopping and cookery classes. And if it’s game day, there is no better time to learn about the world of American football by throwing yourself into the All-American tradition of college football and cheering for the LSU Tigers.
Then, keep heading west to Lafayette and explore the haunting beauty of the Atchafalaya Swamp by going on a swamp tour. Spot alligators and egrets as you glide along the mystical bayous. Lafayette also has a selection of fantastic dining from the rustic to the elegant. One restaurant to check out while here is Vestal — a great fine dining restaurant for anyone who loves a good steak.
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The final destination of the trip is Lake Charles, also known as Louisiana’s Playground, where locals will immediately make you feel like you’re family. Here, visitors can enjoy 26 miles of the natural Gulf of Mexico beaches and Cajun culture, luxury pontooning down the lake and live music and dancing at Panorama in downtown Lake Charles.
Louisiana is a haven for life and culture in the US. There is so much history attached to this state, and Mardi Gras is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the Cajun and Creole culture of the south. Whether it is partying it up in New Orleans or lounging luxuriously on the beaches of Lake Charles, this is one state you certainly need to have on your radar.