Lake Charles, LA

Travel Guide

Lake Charles showing a lake or waterhole and a sunset
Lake Charles Historic District featuring a house
Photo provided by Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau
Lake Charles Historic District featuring a house
Photo provided by Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau
Enjoy mouth-watering cuisine, foot-tapping music and summer festivals in this city in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun country.

Lake Charles is located in the heart of Louisiana’s Acadiana region, also known as “Cajun Country.” The city embraces its heritage with mouth-watering Cajun cuisine and upbeat music on nearly every street corner.

Lake Charles hosts more than 75 annual festivals. Contraband Days is one of the most popular and attracts more than 200,000 visitors. Held over 12 days in May, the celebrations feature Cajun food, live entertainment and music. Mardi Gras festivities also draw huge crowds each year. 

Sample a traditional treat such as boudin (sausage) or gumbo, a type of stew served over rice in restaurants in downtown Lake Charles. Visit a bar or club to hear zydeco, a blend of Cajun music, rhythm and blues.

L’Auberge du Lac is a casino resort with a 26-story hotel, 18-hole golf course and a spa. Browse shops and then stop for a meal at an array of international restaurants. Check out the activity on the casino floor or spend time lounging by the pool. 

Discover the history of Lake Charles and its surrounding five parishes at Imperial Calcasieu Museum. The space also houses an art gallery. Behind the museum, enjoy a picnic under the shade of the 375-year-old Sallier Oak. 

Explore the lake and surrounding swamplands through parks and along the area’s many trails. Wander between swampy lakes and past cypress trees at Sam Houston Jones State Park. Enjoy views of the lake at Bord du Lac Park or North Beach.

Lake Charles is one of the most humid cities in the country. While the weather is comfortably warm for most of the year, temperatures soar during summer months. Go swimming in the lake to cool off in summer.

Interstate 10 connects Lake Charles to Houston in the west and New Orleans in the east. It’s a 2-hour drive to Houston and a 3-hour trip to New Orleans. Lake Charles Regional Airport, located south of the city, offers flights to Dallas and Houston. The easiest way to get around is by rental car.

Where to stay in Lake Charles

Lake Charles Historic District featuring a sunset

Lake Charles Historic District

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the district boasts 281 contributing buildings with architectural styles like Colonial Revival and Queen Anne Revival. Explore the 1896-built Church of the Good Shepherd while admiring the historic charm.

Lake Charles Historic District
L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles
L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles
4 out of 5
777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles, LA
The price is ¥13,422 per night from Aug 11 to Aug 12
¥13,422
¥19,088 total
Aug 11 - Aug 12
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa resort in Lake Charles. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa, and 6 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,384 reviews)
"Room was nice not enough options for food on property"

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025

L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles
Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Golden Nugget Lake Charles
4 out of 5
2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, Lake Charles, LA
Stay at this 4-star beach resort in Lake Charles. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa, and 7 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,269 reviews)
"It was very safe and clean"

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025

Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Wyndham Lake Charles
Wyndham Lake Charles
3 out of 5
2940 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA
The price is ¥13,548 per night from Jul 24 to Jul 25
¥13,548
¥15,681 total
Jul 24 - Jul 25
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Lake Charles. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
Affordable
"The hotel was really nice. Beds were super comfy. Check in and out wasn’t bad, nobody was rude but the lady barely speaks to you. The room was spacious. There were people that reeked of weed but you can’t help who stays there. It was nice and quiet. The only valid complaints I have is that the mini ..."

Reviewed on Jul 5, 2025

Wyndham Lake Charles
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cissie by the Sea 2.0 - Newly Remodeled w/Best Wharf at Hebert's Landing!
Cissie by the Sea 2.0 - Newly Remodeled w/Best Wharf at Hebert's Landing!
Lake Charles
Stay at this cabin in Lake Charles. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attraction Calcasieu Lake is located nearby.
9.8/10 Exceptional! (97 reviews)
Best wharf on the lake
"The view and a,amenities were great thank you"

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

Cissie by the Sea 2.0 - Newly Remodeled w/Best Wharf at Hebert's Landing!
Delightful 4 bedrooms home with swimming pool.
Delightful 4 bedrooms home with swimming pool.
Lake Charles
Stay at this vacation home in Lake Charles. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and a garden. Popular attractions Lauberge Casino Lake Charles and Golden Nugget ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (7 reviews)
Softball family
"This house was perfect for a couple of softball families. Pool is clean, owner is super easy to communicate with."

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2025

Delightful 4 bedrooms home with swimming pool.
3-bedroom vacation home steps to Prien Lake Park and 1.5 mile to Casinos.
3-bedroom vacation home steps to Prien Lake Park and 1.5 mile to Casinos.
Lake Charles
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Lake Charles. Enjoy free WiFi, a water park, and a garden. Popular attractions Golden Nugget and Lauberge ...
10/10 Exceptional! (30 reviews)
Birthday and 4th of July!
"Outstanding house. Perfect for our family trip to Lake Charles. Perfectly clean and no detail missed. Excellent communication with the host. One of the best VRBOs I have ever stayed in. 5 stars."

Reviewed on Jul 5, 2025

3-bedroom vacation home steps to Prien Lake Park and 1.5 mile to Casinos.
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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