Shreveport

Shreveport is the largest city in Northern Louisiana, part of the twin city metro of Shreveport-Bossier City, and is considered the principal city in the three-state region known as the "Ark-La-Tex." It has about 188,000 residents (2019), and is in the area of the state designated as the Sportsman's Paradise. Many lakes and rivers are in the area and offer recreational activities. The surrounding area is also a contrast from points in southern Louisiana, in that the landscape is marked by rolling hills and pine forests, being an extension of the Texas region known as the Piney Woods.

Understand
Shreveport is also known regionally as a gambling center, due to the number of casinos and racetracks that operate in the area. Despite the fact that Shreveport has a reputation for gaming, there are multiple opportunities for arts, culture, and learning in the city, with a collection of museums, art galleries, symphonies, colleges and universities, in addition to several fine dining opportunities that bring a mix of regional and international cuisine to Louisiana's third-largest city.

One thing that often goes unnoticed is that Shreveport was the capital of Louisiana during the Civil War from 1863-1865.

Public airport transportation
SPORTRAN, the Shreveport area's public bus system, has a stop at the airport. This is also considered a transfer point for multiple bus routes in the area. The bus stop is directly outside the doors to the baggage claim. Routes 7 & 13 connect to the Downtown Transfer Station, and from there, take Route 20 to connect to hotels, casinos, and points downtown.

For those staying at nearby hotels around the airport and west of the Inner Loop (I-220/LA-3132), most have free airport shuttle service. However, in many cases, it is necessary to contact those hotels directly to arrange for the shuttle to pick up, as flights at Shreveport are more infrequent than at airports in larger cities.

Private airport transportation
Taxis are available from the airport and there are usually between 2 and 4 vehicles waiting outside the terminal. The pros are that a taxi can get you to more points in the Shreveport-Bossier City area than public transportation, but the cons are the considerably higher price. A taxi from the airport to downtown Shreveport or Bossier City is anywhere from $15 to $25. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft also have a presence in Shreveport, and drivers can usually be at the airport in less than 5 minutes if none are close by. When exiting the terminal, it is necessary to walk right and go to the edge of the building, as the Shreveport Regional Airport has specifically designated areas for Uber and Lyft services. Wait near the Uber/Lyft signs on the curb for a driver after requesting a ride.

By car

 * Interstate 20, an east-west route between Dallas and Jackson, Mississippi, passes through Shreveport.
 * Interstate 49, a north-south route between Texarkana and Alexandria passes through Shreveport. The portion of this highway that passes through downtown is still under construction and you will need to take Interstate 220 and Louisiana 3132 (the Shreveport Inner Loop) to connect between the two section of I-49.

By car
The city is easy to navigate by car and one part of the city can easily be accessed from another via Interstates 20 & 49. In addition, there is an Inner Loop (I-220 and LA-3132) surrounding the city. Clyde Fant Parkway runs along the riverfront and links the downtown area with the southeastern part of the city around LSU Shreveport and the shopping areas of South Youree Drive.

By bus
Shreveport, like many other mid-sized cities in the Southern states, does not have a well developed public transit system. Most city residents prefer to get around by their own personal cars or motorcycles. That said, the city public transit network will get visitors to most major destinations and attractions in the city.

SPORTRAN

 * Shreveport's public transit system serves the majority of Shreveport, as well as a variety of areas in Bossier City. Most hotels in town will have a bus stop somewhere nearby. All routes in Shreveport connect at one of two transfer points: the, at the corner of Texas Avenue and Murphy Street, and the , located at the corner of W. 68th Street and St. Vincent Avenue. If travelling between downtown Shreveport and the southern half of the city, you will likely use both transfer stations. Tickets are relatively inexpensive, with a single ride ticket being $1.50. An all day pass costs $3.00. For visitors planning to be in the city for an extended period, SPORTRAN does offer monthly passes.

See
The mansions along Fairfield Avenue give a glimpse into the city's history. The city is located in a region once rich with oil, and the mansions were built by those made wealthy by the industry during the 1920s and '30s.



Casinos
There are two casinos located on the Red River in Shreveport. Sam's Town and Eldorado are located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway in downtown Shreveport. Just over the Red River in Bossier City are four other casinos.



Festivals

 * Mardi Gras. This is much larger than one would expect outside of New Orleans, as the city streets are filled with many thousands of tourists during this season. The two largest Krewes are Gemini and Centaur, and their parades run throughout much of the city. Mardi Gras takes place on the two weekends in mid to late February.
 * Mardi Gras. This is much larger than one would expect outside of New Orleans, as the city streets are filled with many thousands of tourists during this season. The two largest Krewes are Gemini and Centaur, and their parades run throughout much of the city. Mardi Gras takes place on the two weekends in mid to late February.

Golf
Shreveport offers many golf courses to choose from challenging everyone from amateur to pro. While many of Shreveport's golf courses are within the confines of Country Clubs that require annual membership or special invitation to enter, there are a handful that can be entered for a nominal fee.



Outdoors

 * Cross Lake is an 8,575-acre lake located in Northwest Shreveport. Moss covered cypress trees line the banks of this open lake popular for fishing and recreational boating. Supporting waterfowl, alligators and an abundance of wildlife. There are many access sites, several commercial facilities, and two public parks.
 * There is an 18 hole Frisbee Golf Course located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway on the riverfront about a mile outside downtown Shreveport. The 15-acre park also contains lots of picnic areas. Bordering the frisbee golf course is Veterans & Freedom Park, a 23 acre park honoring those who have given their lives in the line of duty.
 * The Red River Bicycle Trail is an 8-mile paved trail off of Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway that follows along the edge of the Red River from downtown Shreveport to the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. It offers a beautiful view of the river and surrounding areas for both bicyclists and walkers alike. It also passes other recreational areas including the Frisbee Golf Course and Veterans & Freedom Park.
 * There is an 18 hole Frisbee Golf Course located on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway on the riverfront about a mile outside downtown Shreveport. The 15-acre park also contains lots of picnic areas. Bordering the frisbee golf course is Veterans & Freedom Park, a 23 acre park honoring those who have given their lives in the line of duty.
 * The Red River Bicycle Trail is an 8-mile paved trail off of Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway that follows along the edge of the Red River from downtown Shreveport to the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. It offers a beautiful view of the river and surrounding areas for both bicyclists and walkers alike. It also passes other recreational areas including the Frisbee Golf Course and Veterans & Freedom Park.
 * The Red River Bicycle Trail is an 8-mile paved trail off of Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway that follows along the edge of the Red River from downtown Shreveport to the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. It offers a beautiful view of the river and surrounding areas for both bicyclists and walkers alike. It also passes other recreational areas including the Frisbee Golf Course and Veterans & Freedom Park.

Collegiate

 * Centenary College Gentlemen & Ladies. Collegiate baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. The Gents & Ladies play September thru May.
 * LSU Shreveport Pilots. Collegiate baseball and basketball. The Pilots play September thru May and home games are played on the LSU Shreveport campus.
 * LSU Shreveport Pilots. Collegiate baseball and basketball. The Pilots play September thru May and home games are played on the LSU Shreveport campus.

Buy
A large shopping district has developed in the southern section of Youree Drive over the past decade. Many national chain stores and restaurants are located here.

More upscale boutiques and shops are located on Line Avenue, near the Pierremont area of central Shreveport.

Budget
Original Shreveport sites



Breakfast



Mid-range
Original Shreveport Sites



Italian



Mexican



Splurge
Cajun and Creole


 * Copeland's of New Orleans on the corner of Bert Kouns and Youree Dr.
 * Ernest's a New Orleans style restaurant, is located off the service road on Hwy 1 just south of downtown, and has a great view overlooking the Red River.

Italian


 * Bella Fresca is a high-end restaurant also located on Line Ave. near Superior Bar and Grill

Steaks


 * Superior Steakhouse on Line Avenue near the Pierremont Ave. is one of the best restaurants in town, and has one of the best wine lists in the city.

Boiled crawfish, while very popular in south Louisiana, are not as popular around Shreveport. There are a handful of restaurants and seafood markets in the Shreveport area where they can be purchased during the season (typically late spring to mid summer).

Nightlife and dancing
Downtown


 * Larry Flynt's Deja Vu Hustler Club, 202 Commerce St. +1 318 221-2638
 * Royalty Cigar & Hookah Lounge, 211 Texas St. +1 318 218-9083.
 * Sand Bar, 415 N Spring St. +1 318 212-1718

Sleep
There are numerous hotels around the downtown area and the Shreveport Regional Airport. The casinos have hotels near the downtown area (I-20 east). There are also a selection of mid-range and upscale hotels in the southeastern part of the city.

Crime
Shreveport ranks higher than the national average for every type of crime and in 2007 was rated in the top ten most dangerous metro areas in the nation. Common sense is suggested when visiting the city.

Some neighborhoods are more dangerous than others. In general, areas west of Downtown and Interstate 49 and south of Interstate 220 are more dangerous than other parts of the city. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If it looks like the neighborhood is going downhill it might be best to turn around rather than drive through. It is not recommended to walk alone or in small groups after dark in the downtown district unless you stay in the well populated areas near the casinos and bars.

Go next

 * Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum, 2419 Main St Gibsland. The notorious Bonnie and Clyde were shot and killed a few miles south of Gibsland, Louisiana.
 * Driskill Mountain, is the highest point in Louisiana, and is located about one hour east of Shreveport. The mountain is located on private property, but the trail to the top is open to the public. The hike from the road to the top of the mountain is about one mile with about 100 ft of elevation gain.
 * Eddie G. Robinson Museum, +1 318 247-6337. This museum, about an hour east of Shreveport in Grambling, is dedicated to the life and career of the late Grambling State University head football coach, winningest NCAA Division I football coach. Opened in February 2010.
 * Eddie Jones Park, free, W-Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. About thirty minutes southwest of downtown Shreveport, Eddie Jones Park features over 10 miles of mountain biking trails, five miles of horseback riding trails, and two miles of hiking trails. It is also home to Chimp Haven, and a Veterans' Cemetery.
 * Natchitoches, Louisiana is the oldest town in Louisiana, and is located just off of Interstate 49 about 45 minutes south of Shreveport.