Overview
Opelousas is the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, and is one of the former capitals of Louisiana. Opelousas is in the south Louisiana area known as "Acadiana", the center of Cajun culture in Louisiana. Opelousas is also on the far eastern edge of the geographic region known as the "Cajun Prairie." This is due to the extensive prairie lands that extend from northeast of Lake Charles eastward to the edge of Opelousas.
1 sights · 1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Opelousas
Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas and Louisiana Orphan Train Museum
Collection of historic buildings and structures from 19th century Opelousas and onward, and museum depicting stories of orphans sent by train from New York to Louisiana. Schoolhouse, chapel, and homes are displayed. Pers…
Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Jan. (climate data from nearby Baton Rouge)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LFT Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette — 23 mi away. Directions
- BTR Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Baton Rouge — 56 mi away. Directions
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 115 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 49 services the city from north to south, while US Highway 190 serves Opelousas from east to west. The famed Louisiana Highway 31 (Bayou Teche Byway) and Louisiana Highway 182 (The Old Spanish Trail) also pass through Opelousas.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas and Louisiana Orphan Train Museum
- Afternoon Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Opelousas is called The Spice Capital of the World with productions and seasonings of Tony Chachere's products.
Get in
By car
Interstate 49 services the city from north to south, while US Highway 190 serves Opelousas from east to west. The famed Louisiana Highway 31 (Bayou Teche Byway) and Louisiana Highway 182 (The Old Spanish Trail) also pass through Opelousas.
By bus
Greyhound Lines serves Opelousas several times a day. Northbound buses head to Alexandria and Shreveport, while southbound buses serve Lafayette.
Get around
By car
Opelousas is best explored by car, though be warned: most city streets away from the main roads are in poor condition. Even highways can be in bad condition in some places. Drive slow and watch for cracks and potholes on neighborhood streets.
Rideshare
Both Uber and Lyft serve the Opelousas area, but as many drivers come in from Lafayette, a rider could wait anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes for a ride.
See
See Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas and Louisiana Orphan Train Museum
Collection of historic buildings and structures from 19th century Opelousas and onward, and museum depicting stories of orphans sent by train from New York to Louisiana. Schoolhouse, chapel, and homes are displayed. Personal items from Alamo legend Jim Bowie are on display inside the tourist center at the site.
Do
Nearby
Church Point
City / town · 2 listings · 12 mi away
Krotz Springs
City / town · 7 listings · 20 mi away
Eunice
City / town · 7 listings · 20 mi away
Lafayette
City / town · 40 listings · 22 mi away
Rayne
City / town · 1 listings · 23 mi away
Henderson
City / town · 5 listings · 23 mi away
Atchafalaya Basin
Park · 5 listings · 28 mi away
St. Martinville
City / town · 8 listings · 32 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.