Boom or Bust Byway
Louisiana Highway 2 across the pine hills of northwest Louisiana, from Caddo Lake and Oil City through Plain Dealing and Minden to Homer.
Also known as LA 2
- Length137 miles[1]Same figure on the Louisiana Byways page.
- Drive timeHalf a day to a full day for a self-guided tour[2]
- RoadsLA 2, with LA 3049 to the west and LA 518/146 to the east[3]
- Start and endAcross northwest Louisiana on LA 2, from LA 3049 on the west side to LA 518/146 on the east side[3]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesSome attractions have no pull-offs, or have narrow shoulders along the road.[3]
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Boom or Bust Byway follows LA 2 across northwest Louisiana through Caddo, Bossier, Webster and Claiborne parishes. Its name comes from the region's ups and downs in oil and gas, lumber, railroads, farming and even radio.
In the west are Caddo Lake, which straddles the Texas line, the old drawbridge at Mooringsport, and the oil history museum in Oil City. Farther east, small towns such as Plain Dealing and Sarepta lead to the Germantown Colony near Minden and the courthouse square in Homer.
The state byway office suggests half a day to a full day. Some stops have no pull-off or only a narrow shoulder, so take care when parking.
Stops along the way
-
Vivian
Town with the Vivian Railroad Station Museum in its old depot.
-
Oil City
Home of the Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum.
-
Historic Caddo Lake Drawbridge
Lift bridge over Caddo Lake at Mooringsport.
-
Minden
Town near the Germantown Colony State Museum.
-
Homer
Historic district around the Claiborne Parish Courthouse, plus the Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum.
-
Lake Claiborne State Park
Lake park near Homer.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Shreveport Farmers' MarketShreveport, LA · about 17.7 mi from the route
- Jefferson Farmers MarketJefferson, TX · about 22.3 mi from the route
- The Market @ NHUMCShreveport, LA · about 13.3 mi from the route
- Haughton Farmers' Market & Artisan FairHaughton, LA · about 14.5 mi from the route
- Town of Greenwood Farmers MarketGreenwood, LA · about 17.5 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Food events nearby
- State Fair of LouisianaOct 29 - Nov 15, 2026 · Shreveport, LA · about 18.6 mi from the nearest stop
- Northern Louisiana / I-20 Corridor Coffee FestivalOct 23, 2027 · Ruston, LA · about 21.2 mi from the nearest stop
Dated public events within about 50 miles, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Creole Nature TrailLA
- Bayou Teche Scenic BywayLA
- Great River RoadMN, WI, IA, IL, MO, KY, TN, AR, MS, LA
More scenic drives in Louisiana
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Boom or Bust Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Boom or Bust Byway (Louisiana Byways, Office of the Lieutenant Governor) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Boom or Bust Byway tearsheet map (PDF, Louisiana Byways) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).