Lafayette Louisiana 2024 Travel & Tour Guide
Lafayette is located in the heart of Cajun Country and Acadiana, on the banks of the Vermilion River, at the junction of Interstate Highways I-10 and I-49. The city is situated midway between Houston and New Orleans, and 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
Lafayette's first settlers were French Acadians ("Cajuns") who came to the area in the 1700s. Originally founded in 1821 as Vermilionville, the settlement was renamed Lafayette in 1884.
The parish seat of Lafayette Parish, the City of Lafayette is located near St. Martinville, Abbeville, Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Scott, Crowley, Rayne and Kaplan. We know the famous streets of Lafayette well, including Evangeline Thruway, Kaliste Saloom, Congress Street, Ambassador Caffery Boulevard, and Johnston Street downtown.
The population of Lafayette was about 121,000 in the 2020 census, while the Lafayette-Acadiana area has a population of over half-million residents.
Lafayette Zip Codes include 70501-9, 70593, 70596, 70598, and the Area Code is 337.
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Major annual events include Festival International De Louisiane held in the spring in Lafayette. Each April, Downtown Lafayette comes alive for a 5-day cultural celebration. Festival International boasts top-notch music from around the world, gourmet food, handcrafted artworks and so much more! People of all ages come from near and far to experience Festival’s magic.
In October, Lafayette enjoys the Festival Acadiens Et Creoles which has been bringing together the music, culture, and traditions of Acadiana since 1974.
Popular attractions include:
Vermilionville
A "must see" Lafayette attraction is called "Vermilionville" which recreates the Cajun lifestyle and folklore in a series of restored buildings. Vermilionville Living History Museum’s mission is to increase appreciation for the history, culture, and natural resources of the Native Americans, Acadians, Creoles, and peoples of African descent in the Attakapas region through the end of the 1800s.
Through historic interpretation and conservation along the Bayou Vermilion, guests are educated on the interactions of these groups and the connections between past and contemporary folklife.
Vermilionville is located at 300 Fisher Road, in the heart of Lafayette, across from the Lafayette Regional Airport off of Surrey Street.
Vermilionville in Lafayette, Louisiana ... A Cajun/Creole Heritage and Folklife Park |
Vermilionville Video ... from Louisiana Travel
Acadian Cultural Center
The Acadian Cultural Center is operated by the National Park Service (NPS). The center provides permanent and special exhibits, an award-winning film, ranger talks, and programs that share the history, customs, language, and contemporary culture of the Acadians who became Louisiana's Cajuns.
Who are the Acadians and how did they become Louisiana's Cajuns? Find out through a film that shares their history from their deportation from Nova Scotia in Canada to their settlement in south Louisiana.
Admission to the center and to most programs is free. It is located at 501 Fisher Road in Lafayette.
Acadian Village
Located at 200 Greenleaf Drive in Lafayette, Acadian Village features a number of restored area homes, a blacksmith shop, general store and chapel. It also serves as an event center for special events.
Scene at Acadian Village in Lafayette |
Swamp Tours in the Lafayette Area
One of the most popular things to do in Louisiana is touring the swamps! Most tours are concentrated in South Louisiana.
The area between Lafayette and Baton Rouge offers a number of swamp tours, operating from communities such as Breaux Bridge, Henderson, St. Martinvile and Plaquemine.
Learn more about Swamp Tours in the Atchafalaya Basin.
Lafayette Cajun Music from resident Cedric Watson: A Mini-Documentary from Louisiana Travel
Lafayette Cuisine and Restaurants
Lafayette is known for its Cajun and Creole culture, and its legendary Cajun cooking.
Dining establishments featuring outstanding cuisine are widely known in Acadiana and nationwide, such as:
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And we can't count the number of times we've had great crawfish at Pat's Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant in nearby Henderson in the Atchafalaya River Basin!
Lafayette Restaurant Listings and ReviewsListings & Reviews for all 450 restaurants in Lafayette from TripAdvisor |
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Lafayette Regional Airport Lafayette Regional Airport is a public use, primary commercial service, and short-haul airport as designated by the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The airport's International Air Transport Association (IATA) code is "LFT". It is located just off Evangeline Thruway, at 200 Terminal Drive. The facility was originally known as Lafayette Municipal Airport, dedicated on November 29, 1930. Since that time, the airport has increased in size to approximately 1,116 acres at present. Commercial flights are offered by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines. Lafayette Regional Airport offers flights to major domestic destinations and connecting service to points around the globe. More than 400,000 thousand travelers utilize LFT annually and that number continues to grow. |
Amtrak in Lafayette Amtrak's station is located at 100 Lee Avenue, and provides service to New Orleans and California via the Sunset Limited. |
Commercial Bus Service Greyhound Bus Lines operates a local station at 315 Lee Avenue in Lafayette. |
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette
 Campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
Lafayette is also the home of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) and its Ragin' Cajuns sports program. ULL is the second largest university in Louisiana, with an enrollment of approximately 16,000.
The university has been located in Lafayette since 1900, and was previously known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and also Southwestern Louisiana Institute. It is one of the top-ranked universities in the south, and has nationally-ranked nursing, architecture, biology and computer sciences programs.
Mardi Gras Parades Around Lafayette
The next Mardi Gras in Lafayette is scheduled for March 4, 2025.
Mardi Gras in Acadiana & Southwest Louisiana |
| Mardi Gras at LafayetteTravel.com and Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association Parishes of Lafayette, St. Landry, Iberia, St. Mary, St. Martin, Acadia, Evangeline, Vermilion and Jefferson Davis |
| St Landry Parish Mardi Gras |
| Iberia Parish Mardi Gras: New Iberia, Jeanerette, Coteau, Loreauville |
| Iota Tee Mamou Mardi Gras Festival |
| Vermilion Parish Mardi Gras: Kaplan and Gueydan |
| Mamou Mardi Gras |
| Eunice Mardi Gras |
| Soileau Mardi Gras in Oberlin |
For More Louisiana Mardi Gras Information, Events and Details |
Earlier Times in Lafayette
Evangeline Hotel |
Evangeline Courts |
Lafayette Parish Courthouse |
St. John's Cathedral |
De Rousselle's Restaurant |
Plantation Court |
| More Travel Destinations near Lafayette | ||
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