Dallas to New Orleans Road Trip Guide
Introduction
Distance: ~505 miles | Drive Time: 7-8 hours | Recommended Duration: 2-3 days
This 505-mile journey from Dallas to New Orleans delivers Southern charm, Cajun culture, and unforgettable food across two states. The best time to travel is March through May and September through November, when humidity is manageable and Louisiana's vibrant festivals are in full swing. Key highlights include Shreveport's riverboat casinos, Baton Rouge's LSU Rural Life Museum, Oak Alley Plantation, and New Orleans' legendary French Quarter—perfect for first-time RV renters seeking an easy interstate route with big cultural payoffs. Plan 2-3 days for a relaxed exploration with plenty of time for swamp tours, beignets, and live jazz.
Ready to roll? Start your Southern adventure with Dallas RV rentals and discover why this route is a family-favorite weekend escape.
Point of Interest
Buc-ee's
Before leaving Texas, make a pilgrimage to Buc-ee's—yes, the gas station, but hear us out! This Texas institution offers 100+ fuel pumps, spotless bathrooms (they're seriously proud of them), and a massive store stocked with fresh-made kolaches, dozens of jerky flavors, and just about anything you could need for the road. Easy in-and-out access makes it perfect for RVs, and kids love the beaver mascot photo ops. It's become a required ritual for this route, and you'll understand why after your first visit.
Orlandeaux’s Café
Step into history at Orlandeaux's Café, the oldest continuously operating African American family-owned restaurant in the United States (since 1921). This cozy Shreveport institution serves authentic Creole classics in a down-home atmosphere that makes everyone feel like family. Try the smothered pork chops or seafood gumbo—both are local favorites. Less adventurous eaters can opt for excellent fried chicken and burgers. It's the perfect introduction to Louisiana's rich culinary heritage.
The nearby Shreveport/Bossier City area offers multiple RV-friendly campgrounds if you're planning an overnight stop. This makes an ideal midway point to break up the drive.
LSU Rural Life Museum
The LSU Rural Life Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century Louisiana life through a collection of historic buildings set in a park-like campus. Explore authentic log cabins, a church, and working buildings where costumed interpreters demonstrate period crafts and farming techniques. Kids love the hands-on approach, and it's a welcome stretch-your-legs break before tackling the final leg into New Orleans. Allow 2-3 hours to fully appreciate the exhibits and beautiful grounds.
Baton Rouge RV rentals and campgrounds provide excellent staging points for exploring Louisiana's capital city before continuing to New Orleans.
Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation stands as one of Louisiana's most photographed landmarks, and for good reason. The quarter-mile approach lined with 300-year-old live oaks creates an unforgettable entrance. The antebellum mansion tells the complex story of plantation life, including detailed exhibits about the enslaved people who built and maintained the estate. The grounds feature a blacksmith shop, sugar cane exhibits, and Civil War artifacts. Dedicate at least 2-3 hours—the combination of natural beauty and historical significance deserves your full attention.
Located just 60 miles west of New Orleans, Oak Alley makes an excellent final stop before reaching your destination. The nearby community of Vacherie offers limited RV parking, so arrive early during peak season.
Swamp Tours
No Louisiana road trip is complete without a swamp tour! Several operators near New Orleans offer authentic bayou experiences where you'll spot alligators basking on logs, great blue herons hunting in the shallows, and cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Tours range from small boats for intimate wildlife viewing to larger pontoons perfect for families. Most last 90 minutes to 2 hours and provide fascinating insight into wetland ecology and Cajun culture.
Popular tour operators include Cajun Encounters, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours, and Honey Island Swamp Tours. Reserve ahead during busy season—these tours fill up quickly, especially on weekends.
Summary
New Orleans is a unique place and a true southern treasure. Located below sea level and protected by a series of levies, this large metropolitan area feels very compact and movement around the city involves traveling over a lot of bridges and/or the use of ferries. The weather here is warm nearly year-round so there is no real bad time to visit, although many of the events during the latter part of Mardi Gras are not kid-friendly. If you have kids with you during that time, just avoid the downtown events after 5PM and you should be OK.
The city is known for its history, culture, and food. When visiting with kids, the best downtown activities will be located in the French Quarter between Canal Street and the French Market. Here you'll find the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the Audubon Insectarium, The French Market, and Jackson Square. The aquarium and insectarium are excellent and you can purchase discounted tickets covering both facilities at the aquarium. Note that the insectarium is located in a federal building and you have to go through security to enter, so make sure you don't bring anything with you that would be prohibited.
Food is a big part of the New Orleans Experience. There are a number of great restaurants in the city, but many are not necessarily family-friendly. If you want great food at family-friendly places that cover the essence of New Orleans try Seither's Seafood, Deanie's Seafood Restaurant in the French Quarter, and R & O Restaurant in Metairie. Seither's is a tiny place in an industrial area on the city's west side. They have a raw bar and sit down restaurant that serves amazing shrimp po'boys and plates of crawfish. Deanie's in the French Quarter is the most upscale of the three and is known for their killer traditional cajun BBQ shrimp - a dish that was featured on the Man Vs. Food TV series. Finally, R & O's is a great place for po'boys. It is kind of out of the way, but their roast beef po'boy is amazing and would be worth the drive even if you were coming from Anchorage.
The best place to stay is Bayou Segnette State Park. It is located on the south side of the city and provides an affordable and surprisingly quiet and safe place to stay. From the park, the best way into the city is to drive to the Algiers Ferry Terminal, park in the guarded lot just northeast of the terminal and take the ferry over. The ferry is cheap, quick (a 10-minute trip) and drops you off at the Canal Street terminal right next to the aquarium and a block or two from the insectarium.
