Car Hire in Louisiana

Northwest of New Orleans lies Louisiana's state capital Baton Rouge, which takes its name from the red posts that the Houma and Bayogoula tribes used to mark the boundaries of their hunting territories. Instead of simply taking the direct route along Interstate Highway 10, try cutting up Interstate 55. That way you can visit Maurepas Swamp and Joyce Wildlife Management Areas – both noted nesting spots for bald eagles and ospreys. Adding a satnav to your Alamo Rent A Car will make this slight detour a breeze. Upon arrival in Baton Rouge, be sure to check out the stunning architecture of the Old State Capitol castle and the towering Louisiana State Capitol. Drive from Baton Rouge to Cajun Country across the huge Horace Wilkinson Bridge, which spans the mighty Mississippi river.

Cajun Country – also known as Bayou Country or Acadiana – is picture-postcard Louisiana, the best place to find cayenne-laced food and swampy bayous. A 4x4 SUV certainly comes in handy in these parts. Lafayette, the region's capital, is nicknamed 'the happiest place on earth' – and when you sample the delicious local crawfish, jambalaya and gumbo, you'll know why. Just an hour’s drive from Lafayette is Avery Island, a salt dome that's also the birthplace of Tabasco Sauce. Drive through the three-mile Jungle Gardens here for a whistle-stop tour of exotic flora and fauna. For a typical taste of the Bayou, Houma is the perfect option – the Intercostal Waterway and several bayous flow through here, making it ideal for swamp tours.