Baton Rouge Metropolitan, Ryan Field: where to stay, areas and…

Baton Rouge Airport has no direct bus link to the rest of the city: taxis and rideshares remain the only option, even for an early departure. The historic center, on the banks of the Mississippi, is 15-20 minutes by car; the Perkins Road and Bluebonnet Boulevard area, near LSU and the Mall of Louisiana, is a quarter of an hour further. For a short stopover or a very early flight, the properties a few minutes from the terminal, along Harding Boulevard and Howell Boulevard, avoid that drive; anyone staying more than one night finds more to see and eat by heading toward downtown or LSU.

Airport area

5-10 minutes by car or taxi from the terminal, along Harding Boulevard and Howell Boulevard; there's no direct bus from the airport, so you'll need a car, taxi, or rideshare.

Best for: Anyone with a dawn flight or a short stopover who prefers to avoid the drive into downtown.

Pros

The closest zone to the terminal among all the areas in this guide
Free airport shuttle at some properties

Cons

An area of warehouses and commercial strips, with little to do in the evening
Still requires your own transport: no direct bus from the airport

Recommended hotels in this area

Hilton Garden Inn Baton Rouge Airport: About 5 minutes from the terminal on Harding Boulevard, with a free airport shuttle, the Garden Grille & Bar restaurant, and an outdoor pool.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Baton Rouge North/Airport: On Howell Boulevard just a few minutes from the terminal, with an airport shuttle, suites with a kitchenette, and breakfast included.
Days Inn by Wyndham Baton Rouge Airport: The most affordable option in the area, with a free airport shuttle and an on-site laundry.

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Historic center

City centre · 15-20 minutes by car or taxi from the airport (about 13 km); there's no direct bus, so you'll need a taxi or rideshare.

Best for: Anyone who wants the Mississippi riverfront, the Old State Capitol, and downtown restaurants, accepting a reasonable trade-off with the airport.

Pros

The Watermark and the Hilton are a short walk from the riverfront and the Old State Capitol
Downtown restaurants and bars within walking distance in the evening

Cons

Parking is almost always paid
The area is quiet on weekends outside events at the River Center

Recommended hotels in this area

WATERMARK Baton Rouge, Autograph Collection: In the former Louisiana National Bank building, a few minutes' walk from the riverfront and the Old State Capitol; hand-painted murals and marble staircases in the lobby.
Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center: On the banks of the Mississippi, two blocks from the Old State Capitol, with an outdoor pool overlooking the river and downtown.

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Perkins Road and Bluebonnet (LSU and Mall of Louisiana)

Neighbourhood · 20-25 minutes by car or taxi from the airport; there's no direct bus, so you'll need a car, taxi, or rideshare.

Best for: Anyone in town for LSU, working near Bluebonnet Boulevard, or wanting shops and restaurants at the Mall of Louisiana close at hand.

Pros

More restaurant and shopping choices than the other areas, open later
A good base for visiting the LSU campus

Cons

The farthest from the terminal among the areas in this guide
A car-oriented area, not very walkable

Recommended hotels in this area

Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel: On Bluebonnet Boulevard next to the Mall of Louisiana, with the Tallulah restaurant and an outdoor pool with loungers; the city's first Renaissance property.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Baton Rouge: In the Highlands-Perkins neighborhood, a few minutes from LSU, with cooked-to-order breakfast included and an indoor pool.

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