All-American Road · Louisiana

Creole Nature Trail

"Louisiana's Outback": 180 miles of marsh, coastal prairie and Gulf beach in southwest Louisiana, with alligators, birds and four wildlife refuges.

Also known as Creole Nature Trail All-American Road

Creole Nature Trail: Gator Walking Across Path

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length180 miles[1]Routes vary; the trail loops through Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.
  • Drive timeFour or five hours of driving depending on route, or two days to visit[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsIncludes Highway 27 between Creole and Bell City[2]
  • Start and endNot verified
  • Fees and passesThe route includes the Cameron ferry, which FHWA lists at $1 per car.[1]Check the current ferry fare and schedule before you go.
  • Best seasonNot verified
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesNot verified
  • 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 22, 2026.

About the drive

The Creole Nature Trail loops through Calcasieu and Cameron parishes in southwest Louisiana. FHWA describes marshes, prairies and the Gulf of Mexico, with alligators and birds you can see up close, wildflowers, and rare chenier ridges.

Wildlife refuges line the route. Sabine National Wildlife Refuge has a boardwalk over the salt marsh, and Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge sits along Highway 27. On the coast, Holly Beach is known for crabbing and shell hunting.

Depending on which loop you take, plan four or five hours of driving, or two days with stops. The route includes a short ferry crossing at Cameron.

Stops along the way

  1. Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

    Salt marsh refuge with a boardwalk loop.

    Official information · 29.91499, -93.54581 · about 6.4 mi from the route line

  2. Cameron

    Coastal town with the ferry across the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

    Official information · 29.79773, -93.32516 · about 0.0 mi from the route line

  3. Holly Beach

    Gulf beach for crabbing, fishing and shells.

    Official information · 29.77078, -93.45933 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

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

  • Charlestown Farmers' Market1001 Ryan Street Lake Charles, LA · about 2.0 mi from the route
  • Cash & Carry MarketLake Charles, LA · about 2.2 mi from the route
  • Welsh Farmers' MarketWelsh, LA · about 16.4 mi from the route
  • The Artisan Farmers MarketOrange, TX · about 24.5 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.

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Creole Nature Trail (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
  2. Creole Nature Trail (Louisiana Office of Tourism, Explore Louisiana) (checked 2026-10-22)
  3. Sabine National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (checked 2026-10-22)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

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).

More drives in Louisiana · All scenic drives