LSU graduation weekend 2027: things to do in Baton Rouge

20 to 22 May 2027 · ExpectedBaton Rouge, United States

LSU Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to Baton Rouge for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in Baton Rouge Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Baton Rouge (BTR) is 15 minutes away; New Orleans (MSY) is 1 hour.

Campus parking.

Public transport directions to Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	College Drive chains	Central.
Mid-range	Downtown	Riverfront.
Splurge	Watermark and Renaissance	Downtown and the Renaissance at Perkins Rowe.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hampton Inn and Suites Baton Rouge Downtown
Mid-range: Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge Downtown
Splurge: The Watermark Baton Rouge

Links search the nights from 19 May to 23 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for 20 to 22 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Wednesday 19 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeLSU's Mike the Tiger habitat.
EatLouie's Café 24-hour diner

Ceremony day

Thursday 20 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatThe Chimes Cajun near LSU
Easy outingSwamp tour Half day · Family
Atchafalaya basin.

The day after

Sunday 23 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayPlantation tour Half day
River Road.
EatLouie's Café 24-hour diner

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickNew Orleans day trip Full day · Food
1 hour 15 minutes.
Rain or heat backupOld State Capitol.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family

Swamp tour

Atchafalaya basin.

See times and prices

BREC Baton Rouge Zoo.

Evening and day-trip tours

Full day · Food

New Orleans day trip

1 hour 15 minutes.

See times and prices

After dark

Downtown Third Street.

3 tours worth booking for LSU

Tour	Length	Good for
New Orleans day trip	Full day	Food lovers
Swamp tour	Half day	Families
Plantation tour	Half day	Everyone

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

The Chimes Cajun near LSU
Louie's Café 24-hour diner

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

USS Kidd museum.
Old State Capitol.

Getting around on event days

You need a car. Hotels for commencement weekend often sell out a year ahead and require two- or three-night minimums. Book as soon as the date is posted.

Day trips from Baton Rouge

New Orleans: 1 hour 15 minutes

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for LSU.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is LSU Commencement 2027?

The next edition is 20 to 22 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Pete Maravich Assembly Center?

Baton Rouge (BTR) is 15 minutes away; New Orleans (MSY) is 1 hour. Campus parking.

Where should I stay for LSU Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Downtown: Riverfront.

What else can we do around LSU Commencement?

Good short outings in Baton Rouge include Swamp tour, Plantation tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near LSU Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Swamp tour. BREC Baton Rouge Zoo.

How far is Pete Maravich Assembly Center from Baton Rouge centre?

About 4 km in a straight line. Campus parking.

More University graduations

22 May 2027*Naval Academy Commissioning Week
Annapolis, United StatesGraduation 22 May 2027*Air Force Academy Graduation
Colorado Springs, United StatesGraduation 23 May 2027*West Point Graduation Week
West Point and the Hudson Valley, United StatesGraduation 25 May 2027*Princeton Commencement
Princeton, United StatesGraduation 27 May 2027*Harvard Commencement
Boston, United StatesGraduation 27 May 2027*Johns Hopkins Commencement
Baltimore, United StatesGraduation

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