Parks, beaches and places to go around Baton Rouge
This list covers 77 public places in 19 towns around Baton Rouge: parks, beaches, boat ramps, trails, dog parks, libraries, pools, museums, farmers markets, rainy-day spots and courts. Every row links to the place's official site and shows the day it was last checked.
Hours and fees change during the year, so they are left off this page. The official site has the current ones.
- Parks
- Beaches
- Boat ramps
- Trails
- Dog parks
- Libraries
- Pools
- Museums
- Farmers markets
- Rainy-day spots
- Courts
All 77 places
Showing 77 of 77
Parks
Park · St. Francisville
Afton Villa Gardens
A half mile oak alley leads to 19th century gardens and the ruins of a mansion that burned in 1963.
Outdoors
9047 US Highway 61, St. Francisville, LA 70775
Official site · Checked
Park · St. Francisville
Audubon State Historic Site
John James Audubon spent the summer of 1821 at Oakley House, and a nature trail runs through the woods he painted from.
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Picnic shelter
11788 LA Highway 965, St. Francisville, LA 70775
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo
The parish zoo is on the north side of East Baton Rouge Parish next to Greenwood Community Park, off Highway 19.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
3601 Thomas Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70807
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
About a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks crosses 103 acres of cypress tupelo swamp and beech magnolia forest inside the city.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
10503 N Oak Hills Pkwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
BREC's Farr Park Equestrian Center
The center on River Road keeps 256 stalls, lighted indoor and outdoor arenas, a cross country course and an RV campground.
Outdoors
- Parking
6402 River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70820
Official site · Checked
Park · St. Francisville
Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge
A national champion bald cypress about 1,500 years old stands in this refuge southwest of town, and visitor information is at the historical society address.
Outdoors
11757 Ferdinand St, St. Francisville, LA 70775
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
City-Brooks Community Park
The 154 acre park by LSU carries a nine hole golf course opened in 1928, a fishing lake, a labyrinth and a dog park.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Splash pad
- Fishing
- Paved path
1515 Dalrymple Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Park · Zachary
Doyle Bayou Park
Several small fishing lakes, a playground, a ball diamond and open fields fill this park between Highway 19 and Plank Road.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic area
- Fishing
7801 Port Hudson-Pride Rd, Zachary, LA 70791
Official site · Checked
Park · Zachary
Flanacher Road Park
The Zachary park carries a soccer complex, a recreation center, a fishing pond, a disc golf course and a basketball court.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Picnic area
- Picnic shelter
- Fishing
864 Flanacher Rd, Zachary, LA 70791
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Forest Community Park
Soft peat gravel walking and running paths loop the grounds and boardwalk trails run through a section of the woods.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Playground
13900 S Harrells Ferry Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Highland Road Community Park
The 144 acre park holds a disc golf course, a rugby field, tennis and pickleball courts and the Highland Road Park Observatory.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Splash pad
- Paved path
14024 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Independence Community Park
The 96 acre park carries lighted ball and soccer fields, the parish tennis center and the botanic gardens.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Lights
7500 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Independence Park Botanic Gardens
Rose, camellia, butterfly, Louisiana iris and daylily gardens line about 1.8 miles of walking paths.
Outdoors · Free
- Paved path
7950 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Official site · Checked
Park · Gonzales
Jambalaya Park
The city park beside Gonzales City Hall holds the amphitheater, spray park, public pool, kayak launch and a path along Bayou Francois.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Splash pad
- Restrooms
- Picnic area
- Kayak launch
1015 E Cornerview St, Gonzales, LA 70737
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Laurens Henry Cohn Sr. Memorial Plant Arboretum
More than 300 species of trees and shrubs, a fruit orchard, a butterfly garden and a bamboo collection cover 15 wooded acres.
Outdoors
12056 Foster Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70811
Official site · Checked
Park · Plaquemine
Mark A. Gulotta Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park
Pavilions, overlooks and floating piers line Bayou Plaquemine downtown, a short walk from the lock site and the Iberville Museum.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Picnic area
- Accessible
57845 Foundry St, Plaquemine, LA 70764
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
North Sherwood Forest Community Park
The 133 acre park holds a three acre fishing lake with piers, lighted tennis courts, a spray pad and an indoor walking loop.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Splash pad
- Fishing
- Lights
3140 N Sherwood Forest Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70814
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Perkins Road Community Park
BREC calls this its extreme sports park, with a 30,000 square foot concrete skatepark, a BMX raceway and a velodrome.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Playground
- Fishing
7122 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Park · Zachary
Port Hudson State Historic Site
Trails cross the Civil War siege ground past earthworks, ravines and bluffs, and birders have logged at least 144 species here.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
236 Highway 61, Jackson, LA 70748
Official site · Checked
Park · St. Francisville
Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site
Formal gardens of about 28 acres flank a 660 foot live oak allee that leads to the 1835 house.
Outdoors
12501 LA Highway 10, St. Francisville, LA 70775
Official site · Checked
Park · Greenwell Springs
Sandy Creek Community Park
BREC runs this community park on Carson Road in the far northeast corner of East Baton Rouge Parish.
Outdoors
21572 Carson Rd, Greenwell Springs, LA 70739
Official site · Checked
Park · Baton Rouge
Sharon Hills Park (Hooper Road Park)
Over five miles of mountain bike trails wind through more than 200 acres of woods and bluffs, and helmets are required.
Outdoors
- Dogs allowed
6261 Guynell Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70811
Official site · Checked
Park · Springfield
Tickfaw State Park
Boardwalks and a suspension bridge cross four habitats here, cypress tupelo swamp, bottomland hardwood, mixed pine hardwood and the Tickfaw River.
Outdoors
27225 Patterson Rd, Springfield, LA 70462
Official site · Checked
Park · Zachary
Zachary Community Park
The 43 acre BREC park in Zachary carries a skate park, a seasonal spray pad and a fenced dog park.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Splash pad
20055 Old Scenic Hwy, Zachary, LA 70791
Official site · Checked
Beaches
Beach · Baton Rouge
Milford Wampold Memorial Park
Locals call this park Baton Rouge Beach; it has a sand beach, an accessible pier and a quarter mile of paved path on University Lake.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Accessible
- Paved path
- Kayak launch
901 Stanford Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Boat ramps
Boat ramp · Port Vincent
Bay Side landing on the Amite River
The landing is on the Amite River in Port Vincent, one of the launches listed for the Amite, Blind and Tickfaw river complex.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
18795 LA Highway 16, Port Vincent, LA 70726
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · New Roads
False River boat ramp at St. Mary's Park
The ramp puts boats on False River, an eleven mile oxbow lake that was the main channel of the Mississippi until the early 1700s.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
807 New Roads St, New Roads, LA 70760
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Gonzales
Jambalaya Park kayak launch
The city launch inside Jambalaya Park puts paddlers on Bayou Francois in the middle of Gonzales.
Outdoors
- Kayak launch
- Parking
1015 E Cornerview St, Gonzales, LA 70737
Official site · Checked
Trails
Trail · Central
Frenchtown Road Conservation Area
About three miles of primitive trails cross 495 acres of bottomland hardwood to the Amite River, where swimming is not advised.
Outdoors
- Fishing
17819 Frenchtown Rd, Greenwell Springs, LA 70739
Official site · Checked
Trail · Baton Rouge
LSU Lakes loop
The loop around University Lake runs close to four miles, with another mile and a half circling City Park Lake.
Outdoors
- Paved path
Lakeshore Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Dog parks
Dog park · Baton Rouge
Raising Cane's Dog Park at City-Brooks Community Park
The dog park at City-Brooks is named for the first Raising Cane's mascot and was paid for by a gift to the BREC Foundation.
Outdoors
- Off-leash area
- Dogs allowed
1515 Dalrymple Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Dog park · Baton Rouge
Raising Cane's Dog Park at Forest Community Park
The 1.2 acre dog park has separate small and large dog areas, a water station, benches and pavilions.
Outdoors
- Off-leash area
- Picnic shelter
- Dogs allowed
13900 S Harrells Ferry Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Official site · Checked
Dog park · Zachary
Raising Cane's Dog Park at Zachary Community Park
Separate small and large dog areas are inside Zachary Community Park on Old Scenic Highway.
Outdoors
- Off-leash area
- Dogs allowed
20055 Old Scenic Hwy, Zachary, LA 70791
Official site · Checked
Libraries
Library · Baton Rouge
Carver Branch Library
The Carver branch serves the neighborhoods just east of downtown Baton Rouge on Terrace Street.
Indoors
720 Terrace St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Library · Central
Central Branch Library
The branch on Joor Road serves the city of Central and the northeast of the parish.
Indoors
- Parking
11260 Joor Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70818
Official site · Checked
Library · Baton Rouge
Fairwood Branch Library
The Fairwood branch is on Old Hammond Highway in the eastern part of Baton Rouge.
Indoors
- Parking
12910 Old Hammond Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Official site · Checked
Library · Baton Rouge
Jones Creek Regional Branch Library
One of the parish system's regional branches, on Jones Creek Road in the southeast of East Baton Rouge Parish.
Indoors
- Parking
6222 Jones Creek Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Official site · Checked
Library · Baton Rouge
Main Library at Goodwood
The main library on Goodwood Boulevard anchors the fourteen branches of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system.
Indoors
- Parking
7711 Goodwood Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Official site · Checked
Library · Zachary
Zachary Branch Library
The current Zachary branch opened on May 4, 2004 in a 20,000 square foot building on Church Street.
Indoors
- Parking
1900 Church St, Zachary, LA 70791
Official site · Checked
Pools
Pool · Baton Rouge
Anna T. Jordan Community Park pool
One of three BREC community pools that are free and open to the public, inside a 39 acre park in north Baton Rouge.
Outdoors · Free
- Restrooms
- Playground
1750 Stilt St, Baton Rouge, LA 70807
Official site · Checked
Pool · Baton Rouge
Blue Bayou Water Park
The water park is beside the former Dixie Landin rides park on Perkins Road at the southeast edge of the parish.
Outdoors
- Parking
18142 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Official site · Checked
Pool · Baton Rouge
City-Brooks Community Park pool
The pool at City-Brooks is one of three BREC community pools that are free and open to the public.
Outdoors · Free
- Restrooms
1515 Dalrymple Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Pool · Gonzales
Jambalaya Park Pool
Gonzales keeps an Olympic size public pool at Jambalaya Park, with a free spray park beside it.
Outdoors
- Restrooms
1015 E Cornerview St, Gonzales, LA 70737
Official site · Checked
Museums
Museum · Baton Rouge
BREC's Magnolia Mound
The 1791 French Creole house stands on 15 acres with an open hearth kitchen, overseer's house, quarter house, pigeonnier and carriage house.
Indoors
2161 Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
Capitol Park Museum
A branch of the Louisiana State Museum across from the capitol, with two permanent exhibits on state history and culture.
Indoors
660 N 4th St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Museum · Jackson
Centenary State Historic Site
The site preserves the original campus of Centenary College of Louisiana along College Street in Jackson.
Indoors
College St, Jackson, LA 70748
Official site · Checked
Museum · Greensburg
Greensburg Land Office
The 1820s land office stands on Courthouse Square next to the parish courthouse entrance and joined the National Register in 1980.
Indoors
Courthouse Square, Greensburg, LA 70441
Official site · Checked
Museum · Darrow
Houmas House Estate and Gardens
The main house was finished in 1840 and stands in 38 acres of gardens on River Road a mile north of Highway 44.
Indoors
40136 LA Highway 942, Darrow, LA 70725
Official site · Checked
Museum · Albany
Hungarian Settlement Museum
A 1910 schoolhouse moved here in 1928 now holds the record of the Hungarian strawberry farming settlement south of Albany.
Indoors
27455 LA Highway 43, Albany, LA 70711
Official site · Checked
Museum · Plaquemine
Iberville Museum
The Greek Revival building finished in 1848 stands at Church and Main across from the Plaquemine Lock site.
Indoors
57735 Main St, Plaquemine, LA 70764
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
The museum fills a 1925 railroad depot downtown and holds an ancient Egypt gallery with a Ptolemaic era mummy.
Indoors
100 S River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
Louisiana's Old Governor's Mansion
Huey Long built this house in 1930 and lived in it first, and governors used it until a new residence opened in 1963.
Indoors
502 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
Louisiana's Old State Capitol
The Gothic Revival statehouse built between 1847 and 1852 holds a cast iron staircase under a stained glass dome.
Indoors
100 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
LSU Museum of Art
The university art museum is inside the Shaw Center downtown, alongside the LSU School of Art Glassell Gallery.
Indoors
100 Lafayette St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Official site · Checked
Museum · Napoleonville
Madewood Plantation House
The Greek Revival house is a National Historic Landmark set among oaks on 20 acres facing Bayou Lafourche.
Indoors
4250 LA Highway 308, Napoleonville, LA 70390
Official site · Checked
Museum · White Castle
Nottoway
The 1859 main house burned on May 15, 2025 and was called a total loss, and local reporting says reconstruction has since started.
Outdoors
31025 LA Highway 1, White Castle, LA 70788
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
Pentagon Barracks
The barracks complex stands at State Capitol Drive and River Road on the capitol grounds, with a small museum inside.
Indoors
702 River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Museum · Plaquemine
Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site
The lock house museum explains how Bayou Plaquemine worked as a navigable link off the Mississippi River.
Indoors
57730 Main St, Plaquemine, LA 70764
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Roads
Pointe Coupee Parish Museum
A rare notched log Creole house from about 1800 stands on the bank of False River, three and a half miles from New Roads.
Indoors
8348 False River Rd, New Roads, LA 70760
Official site · Checked
Museum · Jackson
Republic of West Florida Historical Museum
The museum in Jackson keeps the story of the short lived Republic of West Florida of 1810 and local history around it.
Indoors
3406 College St, Jackson, LA 70748
Official site · Checked
Museum · Donaldsonville
River Road African American Museum
Founded in 1994, the museum tells Black history in the River Parishes and reopened in March 2026 after two years of renovation.
Indoors
406 Charles St, Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Official site · Checked
Museum · St. Francisville
The Myrtles
The 1796 house built by General David Bradford runs tours and also operates as an inn with a restaurant.
Indoors
7747 US Highway 61, St. Francisville, LA 70775
Official site · Checked
Museum · Baton Rouge
USS KIDD Veterans Museum
The Fletcher class destroyer USS KIDD is berthed in a cradle built for the river's rise and fall, with a museum ashore.
Indoors
305 S River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Museum · Port Allen
West Baton Rouge Museum
The campus keeps the 1830s Aillet House, 1850s Allendale cabins, a 1904 sugar mill and an 1880s plantation store.
Indoors
845 N Jefferson Ave, Port Allen, LA 70767
Official site · Checked
Farmers markets
Farmers market · Denham Springs
Livingston Parish Farmers Market
Growers set up on Saturdays in the New Covenant Church parking lot on Florida Boulevard in Denham Springs.
Outdoors
- Parking
190 Florida Blvd, Denham Springs, LA 70726
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · Baton Rouge
Red Stick Farmers Market
BREADA runs this producer only market at Main Street Market downtown, with more than 50 member farmers.
Outdoors
501 Main St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spots
Rainy-day spot · Denham Springs
Denham Springs Antique Village
More than 25 antique and specialty shops line North Range Avenue between Centerville Street and Railroad Avenue.
Indoors
100-239 N Range Ave, Denham Springs, LA 70726
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Baton Rouge
Highland Road Park Observatory
The public observatory is on the south side of Highland Road Community Park and runs viewing and science programs.
Indoors
- Parking
14024 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Baton Rouge
Irene W. Pennington Planetarium
The planetarium inside the art and science museum runs sky shows, large format films and space science galleries.
Indoors
100 S River Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Baton Rouge
Knock Knock Children's Museum
Eighteen hands on learning zones fill 26,000 square feet on the rise above City-Brooks Community Park.
Indoors
- Parking
1900 Dalrymple Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Gonzales
Lamar Dixon Expo Center
The parish expo center holds a 6,600 seat arena, a 24,000 square foot gymnasium and outdoor arenas used for rodeo and shows.
Indoors
- Parking
9039 S St Landry Ave, Gonzales, LA 70737
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Baton Rouge
Louisiana State Capitol
The tallest state capitol in the country rises 450 feet, and an observation deck on the 27th floor looks out at 350 feet.
Indoors
900 N 3rd St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Baton Rouge
Manship Theatre
The 325 seat theatre inside the Shaw Center runs films, concerts and stage shows downtown.
Indoors
100 Lafayette St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · Baton Rouge
Shaw Center for the Arts
The 125,000 square foot center opened in 2005 and holds the LSU Museum of Art, the Glassell Gallery and the Manship Theatre.
Indoors
100 Lafayette St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Official site · Checked
Courts
Courts · Baton Rouge
Forest Community Park Tennis Center
BREC runs a staffed tennis center inside Forest Community Park, with courts lined for pickleball.
Outdoors
- Parking
13900 S Harrells Ferry Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Official site · Checked
Courts · Baton Rouge
Highland Road Community Park Tennis Center
The staffed tennis center inside Highland Road Community Park hosts weekend pickleball open play and takes court reservations by phone.
Outdoors
- Lights
14024 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Official site · Checked
Courts · Baton Rouge
Independence Community Park Tennis Center
The center keeps a pro shop, lighted courts, two indoor courts, a hitting wall and racquet stringing.
Outdoors
- Lights
- Parking
7500 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Official site · Checked
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This directory was last checked as a whole on September 22, 2026.
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