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Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the state capital, a Mississippi River city of around 220,000 that swells with energy when Louisiana State University is in session. With tens of thousands of Tigers on campus, LSU sets the tone for a city that lives and breathes football, crawfish boils, and a warm, humid Gulf-South pace. Students spread across the south side of town, from the legendary Tigerland strip near campus to the calmer Highlands and Brightside areas. The riverfront downtown holds the State Capitol, the tallest in the country, plus museums and the levee path along the Mississippi. Green space comes from the LSU Lakes, a string of urban lakes ringed by jogging paths right beside campus, and the city's live oaks shade nearly everything.
The famous strip just off campus near the LSU golf course is the classic party-adjacent student zone, packed with apartment complexes and an easy walk or shuttle to class.
Right at the northern edge of campus, North Gate puts you closest to the academic core and the walkable blocks where students and locals mix.
Southwest of campus, Brightside is loaded with student apartments and stays popular for its straightforward commute and steady availability.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge offers two layers of transit. LSU runs the Tiger Trails shuttle system, a free bus service for students that loops the campus and connects out to apartment-heavy areas on the south side, including Tigerland and routes along Ben Hur Road. For the wider city, the Capital Area Transit System, or CATS, runs public buses, though coverage is thinner than in a bigger metro. If you live in Tigerland or right at the campus edge, you can lean on Tiger Trails to reach class.
Walkability is decent near campus and around the LSU Lakes, where jogging paths ring the water. Biking works on flatter routes close to the university. The heat and humidity make summer rides rough, so plan around the weather. Students living right at the campus edge can handle daily basics on foot.
The honest truth is that Baton Rouge is car-friendly and fairly spread out, so most students who live beyond walking distance of campus end up wanting a car. Driving is the default way to reach areas the shuttle does not serve. Expect to hunt for spots near campus during peak hours. A car gives you the most flexibility for errands and trips across the city.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Prices near LSU are friendlier than many big college towns. Studios near Tigerland can run around $700 a month, one-bedrooms land near $850 to $950, and two-bedrooms often fall around $950 to $1,100. Splitting a larger apartment or house with roommates in Tigerland or Brightside frequently drops your share to $500 to $800.
Browse student housing near each Baton Rouge-area university.