Baton Rouge is the state capital of Louisiana and has a metropolitan population of over 500,000. It is the fifth largest port in the nation. The surrounding countryside retains an ambiance of the rural South, and many plantation homes have been preserved.Local habitats are ecologically diverse. Salt marshes, open bays and seas, bayous (creeks), cypress swamps, deciduous and mixed hardwood/pine forests, and diverse agriculture are all within easy driving distance of the LSU campus.The newly renovated downtown area of Baton Rouge boasts a modern Civic Center and Performing Arts Center as well as an Arts and Science Center to provide cultural and educational entertainment for its residents. Baton Rouge is the home of an opera company, several ballet companies, a symphonic orchestra, and local theatre groups all adding to the city's artistic strength. The Baton Rouge Zoo has earned noteworthy attention from visitors throughout the region. LSU is located in the southern edge of Baton Rouge.

           Louisiana offers ample opportunity for camping, hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities year round. Summers are hot and humid, but a delightful fall usually extends from September until late December, and beautiful spring begins in February. It does not normally snow in Baton Rouge, but rain is plentiful.New Orleans is about 80 miles to the southeast. It offers many architectural, musical, and historical delights for the visitor, and, of course, Mardi Gras. LSU is the only major state university in the nation that gets days off for Mardi Gras.