St. Francisville and West Feliciana: A Plantation-Country Day Trip From New Orleans

Most plantation-country day trips from New Orleans head to River Road, between the city and Baton Rouge. Fewer visitors continue north past the capital to St. Francisville, the seat of West Feliciana Parish. It's worth the extra drive. Set on bluffs above the Mississippi, the town has a compact historic district, a landmark church shaded by live oaks, and a cluster of historic sites in the surrounding countryside, including the house where the naturalist John James Audubon lived and painted. The landscape feels different too: rolling and wooded, unlike the flat sugarcane country downriver. Here's how to plan the day.

How Far Is St. Francisville From New Orleans?

St. Francisville is roughly two hours from New Orleans in normal traffic. The usual route follows I-10 west to Baton Rouge, then heads north on US-61 through the rolling country of West Feliciana. The Baton Rouge stretch of I-10 is the variable: weekday rush hours and accidents can add significant time, so a mid-morning departure often works better than a dawn one on weekdays.

The town sits near the Mississippi, and for many years travelers crossed the river here by ferry to reach New Roads and Pointe Coupee Parish. Today the John James Audubon Bridge, a cable-stayed span that opened in 2011, carries that traffic — a striking sight from the road if your route takes you near it.

The Audubon State Historic Site and Oakley House

In 1821, John James Audubon came to Oakley Plantation to tutor the daughter of the family who lived there. During his stay, he worked on many of the bird paintings that would later appear in his famous Birds of America. Today, the property is the Audubon State Historic Site, operated by Louisiana State Parks.

• Oakley House. The main house, with its distinctive raised design and louvered galleries, has been restored to reflect the period of Audubon's stay.
• The grounds. Woodland trails and gardens surround the house, and birdwatching here feels especially fitting.
• Interpretation. The site also tells the story of the plantation's enslaved people and its outbuildings.

The site has been open daily with posted hours and closes on major holidays. Check lastateparks.com before your visit for current hours, tours and events.

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site

A short drive away, Rosedown Plantation is another state historic site, known for its 1830s main house, its long oak allée and extensive formal gardens. The gardens remain the highlight for many visitors. Like Oakley, the site interprets the lives of the enslaved people whose labor built and sustained the plantation. House tours and hours can change, so check Louisiana State Parks before you go.

Downtown St. Francisville

The town itself is small enough to explore on foot. Its historic district includes 19th-century homes and commercial buildings along Royal and Ferdinand streets, shops, galleries and local restaurants. Highlights:

• Grace Episcopal Church. A historic Gothic Revival church set among moss-draped oaks and an old cemetery, one of the most photographed places in town.
• The bluffs. The town sits above the river, and the setting explains why it grew here — high ground above the floodplain.
• Shops and galleries. Antique shops and local boutiques make for an easy afternoon browse.

West Feliciana also has several privately owned historic homes and plantations that offer tours or lodging. Their schedules vary widely, so check each one directly if it's on your list.

The Landscape: Louisiana's Hill Country

One of the surprises of the drive is the terrain. Most visitors think of Louisiana as flat marsh and sugarcane, but the Felicianas sit on bluffs and rolling hills cut by ravines and creeks, especially toward the Mississippi state line in the area known as the Tunica Hills. Hardwood forests, winding roads and creek bottoms give the countryside a feel closer to the hills of Mississippi than to south Louisiana. Outdoor-minded visitors sometimes add a hike in the area's public lands to their day; trail access and conditions change, so check with the state's wildlife and parks agencies before planning one. Even from the car, the scenery is a big part of the trip's appeal.

A Sample Day

1. 8:30–9 a.m.: Leave New Orleans, after the worst of rush hour toward Baton Rouge.
2. Around 11 a.m.: Arrive at the Audubon State Historic Site and tour Oakley House.
3. 12:30 p.m.: Lunch in downtown St. Francisville.
4. 2 p.m.: Walk the historic district and visit Grace Episcopal Church.
5. 3 p.m.: Rosedown's house and gardens.
6. 4:30–5 p.m.: Head back to New Orleans, arriving in the evening.

It's a full day, about four hours of it on the road. To make it more relaxed, some travelers stay overnight in St. Francisville at a bed-and-breakfast and return the next day.

How It Compares to River Road

River Road's plantation sites — Oak Alley, Laura, Whitney and others along the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge — are closer to the city and easier to do in a half day. Our Oak Alley and River Road tour guide and our River Road plantation tour transportation page cover those trips. St. Francisville is farther, but it offers a different experience: a living small town to walk, rolling wooded hills and a concentration of historic sites in a compact area, with fewer tour buses.

Some travelers combine the two on a long day, visiting one River Road site on the way north and St. Francisville in the afternoon. That's possible but makes for a very long day; for most visitors, choosing one region per day is more enjoyable.

Combining With Baton Rouge

St. Francisville is about 30 to 45 minutes north of Baton Rouge, so it pairs naturally with a visit to the capital — the Louisiana State Capitol, downtown museums or the LSU campus. If you're staying in Baton Rouge or flying into MSY on your way north, our MSY to Baton Rouge route page covers the airport transfer.

Best Times to Visit

• Spring: Azaleas and gardens at their best, mild weather — the most popular season.
• Fall: Comfortable temperatures and a calendar of local events.
• Winter: Quiet, with camellias in the gardens and holiday decorations in town.
• Summer: Hot and humid; plan indoor tours for the afternoon.

Why Book a Chauffeur for This Trip

Four hours of driving, several stops spread across the countryside and narrow rural roads make this an ideal trip for hourly charter service. Your chauffeur handles the I-10 traffic and the back roads, waits at each site and keeps your purchases secure in the vehicle, and everyone in your group gets to enjoy the scenery instead of navigating.

Booking Your St. Francisville Day

For couples, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series makes the long drive comfortable; for families, a Chevrolet Suburban seats five and a Lincoln Navigator six; and a Mercedes Sprinter carries up to thirteen for a group or garden club. Rates are flat and confirmed before you book, with gratuity and any other charges disclosed up front. Call (877) 609-1919 or book online.