Asked by a high schooler
ReportIf you don’t have a car, I’ll admit that it can be a little boring. You’ll be relying on friends or LSU’s Tiger Trails bus system. Baton Rouge also has its own bus system, however I haven’t exactly heard stellar things. Baton Rouge as I describe it is like a small big city, if you’re someone like me who’s from a much larger metropolitan area it can seem a little boring at first. It can be a bit spread out, but don’t get me wrong, there’s lots to do! If you’re into live music, there’s at least 7 venues I can think of that are less than fifteen minutes from campus. It’s anything from local bands to big time stars, and you can usually find tickets from $10- $30. There’s a lot of great places to eat, and if you like coffee there’s a ton of chain and local coffee shops around. Downtown can seem quiet, but there’s a ton of events that happen year round. Farmers market is every Saturday morning, 225 Day, Night Market, the parades during the Mardi Gras season, and the museums there have first free Sunday activities every month. If you like art, there’s the Baton Rouge Gallery that has a show opening every first Wednesday (also, free food!), the LSU Museum of Art, and LSU’s downtown gallery Glassell will have figure drawing and other activities relatively often. If you like nature, Baton Rouge has some great parks and if you’re willing to drive, you can get to the Atchafalaya Basin in around 30-45 minutes. If you have concern about safety, I’m not going to say all of Baton Rouge is safe, but I will say you have to be actively putting yourself in unsafe positions. I’ve never felt truly afraid anywhere in Baton Rouge, and the really ‘rough’ parts you’re most likely not going to be in anyways. Just be smart, and if you’re going to be out late stick with a friend.
Want the real, unfiltered answer?
Book a 30-min call with a verified Louisiana State University student.
Find a Louisiana State University guide →