Shreveport

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.

Get in

By plane

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. Buses in Shreveport are free of charge.

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 bus

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.

Get around

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.

[https://www.sportran.org 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 SporTran Intermodal Terminal (Downtown Transfer Hub), at the corner of Texas Avenue and Murphy Street, and the Southwest Transfer Hub, 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. Public transportation in Shreveport is free.

Stay safe

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.