North Louisiana Scenic Byways

The Scenic Byways of North Louisiana welcome you to explore the history and people who have formed the distinctive culture of the area. You’ll discover shady forests, placid bayous and rich productive farmland. Unlike South Louisiana’s shrimp gumbo or crawfish étouffée, in North Louisiana you’ll feast on local favorites such as fried chicken, catfish, or chicken fried steak with green beans, okra, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. Located near Shreveport, Boom or Bust Byway tells the stories of the oil, agriculture and forest booms and subsequent busts. You’ll learn of the resilient people of the area who not only survived but adapted and thrived with an entrepreneurial and independent spirit.

On the east side of Louisiana near Monroe, you’ll follow the route of the Dixie Overland Road, one of America’s first coast to coast highways. Its motto was "The shortest and only year round ocean to ocean highway." The Dixie Overland Road connected Savannah, Georgia on the Atlantic with San Diego, California on the Pacific. The Dixie Overland Road is older and longer than the more famous Route 66, but then the Dixie Overland never had a TV show or popular hit song to promote it. When the U.S. numbered highway system was developed in the late 1920’s most of the Dixie Overland Highway was designated as U.S. 80.

The Scenic Byways of North Louisiana invite you to take the road less traveled on a trip that in many ways will be a trip through time.