Tallahassee to Baton Rouge Road Trip Guide
Introduction
Pack up the family and take your RV or holiday trailer on a great weekend road trip from Tallahassee, Florida, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This 443 mile trip is straightforward to navigate; simply take Interstate 10 west, and continue as it becomes Interstate 12, all the way to Baton Rouge, no problem! Along the way there are plenty of beautiful state parks with camping opportunities and great things to do. If you take a holiday trailer you can unhook at campgrounds and proceed to attractions in busy urban areas.
Before leaving Tallahassee, enjoy shopping, restaurants, street art murals, and historic sites, as well as 700 miles of hiking trails and natural areas. The wonderful Tallahassee Museum is set on a 52 acre property with displays highlighting native habitats and wildlife, a zip line adventure course, dinosaurs built from reclaimed auto parts, and historic pioneer buildings. Visitors also enjoy the Tallahassee Automobile Museum which features antique cars and much more.
While staying in Tallahassee, RVers, especially those with families, will enjoy the Tallahassee East Campground, with 66 sites, and many amenities. Amenities include an RV dump station, wifi, full hookups, spacious pull-through sites, restrooms, swimming pool, lake, laundry facilities, convenience store, recreation hall, and game room. Alternate campgrounds at local state and national parks are a little further out of town, and may not have as many amenities, but have beautiful natural features.
Point of Interest
Louisiana Art and Science Museum
Families will enjoy the Louisiana Art and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, which features exhibits from internationally renowned artists, the Pennington Planetarium, and interactive children's exhibits and galleries. The museum encourages discovery and creativity with innovative programming to expose people of all ages to the exciting world of art and science. Check out their events and special programs at Louisiana Art and Science Museum.
Various art exhibits in the museum galleries showcase diverse artistic styles, and permanent displays include an Ancient Egypt exhibit, Planet Tower and Solar System displays, and a Universe Gallery. The museum is open six days a week, and is closed on Mondays and some holidays.
Parking at the museum, which is located in the heart of the city, on the riverfront, is very limited. RVers may want to leave their unit at regional campgrounds, and proceed with a passenger vehicle to the site or use the excellent public transportation system that serves the museum.
Fontainebleau State Park
As you cross into Louisiana, make a stop at beautiful Fontainebleau State Park, set on Lake Pontchartrain. The park is set on a former sugar plantation and occupies 2800 acres with amazing 600-year-old Spanish Oak, covered in moss, that give the wooded areas a unique ambiance.
You're just across from New Orleans, where you can take a quick trip to take in beautiful Garden District architecture, or French Quarter entertainment. A boardwalk at the park allows you to safely spot alligators, and the ruins of the old sugar mill can be explored. For kids, there is also a splash park nearby. Or you can enjoy fishing or crabbing on the lake.
There are several campgrounds that accommodate RVs with everything from RV hookups to primitive, dry campsites. The Old Campground has 45 sites which are ideal for large units up to 150 feet in length. The New Campground has over 100 sites, with many pull-through sites, and there are full hookups and electric/water hookups as well as dry campsites to choose from. RV units up to 155 feet long can be accommodated. Reservations are recommended.
Blue Angels
As you travel west, along Interstate 10, you will pass through Pensacola, Florida, which is home to the famous Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration squad. The Blue Angels practice regularly in the Pensacola area and can be viewed performing their breathtaking maneuvers from the Naval Air Base.
The Blue Angels also hold annual shows, including the Pensacola Beach Air Show that takes place the week following Independence Day. Check out Blue Angels Events to coordinate your stop with a viewing of a Blue Angels show or practice. Practices generally take place starting in March, on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, at 11:30 AM when the squadron is in town. Visitors can arrange to meet the pilots, take photos, and get autographs at meet and greets after practices at the National Naval Aviation Museum.
The museum is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. There are over 4000 artifacts and 150 restored aircraft, along with flight simulators, and the Flight Deck Store for souvenirs. Contact the Blue Angels for information on where to park RV units, to take in practices, the museum, and shows.
Blackwater River State Forest Campground
Just north of Interstate 10, RV campers will find an excellent family campground in the Blackwater River State Forest. The Blackwater River campground has 30 large sites, with plenty of shade, featuring electric, water, and sewer hookups. Pets are welcome.
The campground features amenities like an RV dump station and restrooms with showers. RVs up to 50 feet in length can be accommodated, and reservations are recommended to secure an appropriate spot for your unit.
The Blackwater River State Park has 200 000 acres of natural areas with the dark waters of the Blackwater River running through. This sandy bottom river is great for boating, swimming, and fishing, with sandy beaches, and sandbars. Kids enjoy splashing around in the rivers swimming areas, or tubing down the river, but don't forget the sunscreen in this sunny Florida location!
The climate in this Florida park is amenable to camping all year round. During the winter season, whitewater rafting trips on the Blackwater River are a popular activity. You can also enjoy hiking, cycling, geocaching, and wildlife watching all year long.
Summary
Once you arrive in Baton Rouge, discover all this Louisiana city has to offer. Historical and cultural attractions abound in this state capital city. Explore the vibrant entertainment, shopping, and arts scene during your stay. Tour the new and old state capitol buildings, or Plantation Country, to get a sense of the rich regional history of Baton Rouge.
Families will appreciate the Blue Bayou Water Park which features the “Land of the Giant'', a wave pool, and a lazy river. The park has 16 water attractions and a special separate kids section. Families with children should also visit the Dixie Landin' Amusement Park. The amusement park has almost 30 rides including the Ragin Cajun, the Splinter and Gilbeau’s Galaxy. During your stay, camp at the Baton Rouge KOA or Tickfaw State Park campground which has sites with water and electric hookups and accommodates RVs up to 73 feet in length.
