List of 10 Free Places to Visit in Shreveport (2024)
Northwest Louisiana is a lively mixture of wide-open Texas spirit and spicy Cajun attitude. This is where the legend Elvis Presley got his start. There are numerous family-friendly things you can do on your vacation here at Shreveport. There are several alligators you can spot too. Shreveport is known as the melting pot of Southern culture.
You can find delicious food here and exciting entertainment. There are many free things you can do here to enjoy yourself with your friends and family. You don’t have to pay exorbitant money to have fun at Shreveport.
List of 10 Free Places To Visit In Shreveport
Read this article to learn more about fun things you can do with your friends and family at Shreveport for free.
1. The Louisiana Boardwalk
The Louisiana Boardwalk is a half-mile-long boardwalk close to the Red River. It is situated in downtown Shreveport. You can enjoy the weather and the view with your friends and family by taking a peaceful walk on the Louisiana Boardwalk. There is quite a wide variety of dining and shopping places you can visit to enjoy your walk. The view is quite picturesque. You can take pictures to put on Facebook and Instagram here with your friends and the beautiful background.
Some evenings, you can even catch some live music on the boardwalk. The live music sets a lively ambiance which will make you enjoy your walk even more. It is considered to be the second-best shopping area in Bossier City. You can walk here without spending a penny to enjoy yourself. It’s one of the best free places you can visit in Shreveport as there are no entry fees. However, you must plan and check the timings before visiting any event or attraction since opening times and days frequently change without any prior notice. This way, you can be prepared to visit the Louisiana Boardwalk.
2. The Duck Pond
The official name of this place is East Kings Highway Park. However, there is a popular play area located near the Old River that the local people have named “The Duck Pond.” As the name suggests, the Duck Pond has numerous ducks in the pond during the summer and spring seasons. You must visit the Duck Pond during the summer and spring to observe these beautiful birds in the pond and feed them. You can even photograph them if you are inclined to do so. The East Kings Highway Park is the perfect place to spend time with your family.
Children will especially enjoy this park as it has numerous interesting play structures such as slides, swings, a waterfront location, picnic tables, and ducks. You can introduce your children to the ducks and let them see how dicks behave in their natural habitat. It is completely free to enter the park and enjoy the various slides and swings it has to offer. You can pack a picnic lunch here and enjoy the weather and have your lunch in the park. The children are safer playing in this park, too, as it has a softer surface. It is a wonderful place to spend your afternoon for free. The park stays open from dawn to dusk every day of the week.
3. Elvis Presley Statue
If you are an Elvis Presley fan, you must visit this large bronze statue of Elvis Presley, located at 705 Elvis Presley Avenue. It is present in front of the Municipal Auditorium. Elvis Presley is known as the king of rock ‘n’ roll. He started his career in Louisiana by performing at the Louisiana Hayride in October 1954. This concert was the first big break that led to a fantastic career. You can visit this place for free and enjoy the larger-than-life statue of Elvis Presley in its full glory. You can show your children this statue and tell them more about this great legend and his songs.
4. J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Regional Visitor Center
You can learn more about the fascinating story of how the Corps of Engineers had worked together and successfully tamed the Red River for recreation and navigation by visiting the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Regional Visitor Center. This project was extremely important and marked the start of Shreveport-Bossier. The center has a theater, an exhibition hall with static, interactive, and audio-visual exhibits, and a reception area. It is the perfect place for you if you want to learn more about the history of Shreveport. You can see the exhibits and learn new interesting facts about the city. It is the perfect place for history nerds. You can visit this center from Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
5. Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions
You can visit the Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions to appreciate the exhibit, which is dedicated to over a hundred athletes who are from the Shreveport area. This sports museum is located in the Shreveport Convention Center. You can learn more about these excellent sportsmen and women from Shreveport. You can visit this museum on weekends. There are various events held at the convention center on weekends. You can enter without paying any fees and learn more about the sports’ history of Shreveport.
6. The Barksdale Global Power Museum
This museum in Shreveport was formerly called the Eighth Air Force Museum. It is a military museum with military aircraft, gift shops, etc. You can learn more about the history of the powerful Eighth Air force, the new Air Force Global Strike Command, and the Strategic Bombardment at the home of the second Bomb Wing. If you are interested in history and the military, this place is perfect for you. It is completely free to enter. You can observe the various exhibits present at this military museum. It is open from 9:30 am to 4 pm every day.
7. Once in a Millennium Moon Mega Mural
If you are interested in art, you must visit the Once in a Millennium Moon Mega Mural in Shreveport. It is considered the largest public art in the United States of America. It covers two sides of the famous AT&T building. The mural covers an area of about 30,000 square feet. The mural is unique and a sight to behold. It is visible from I-20. The mural is a monumental time capsule. It perfectly captures the essence of Shreveport, its people, history, tragedies, and treasures in poignant portraiture and vivid colors. You can enjoy this place for free with your family. You can take pictures with this beautiful mural in the background for your Instagram feed.
8. RiverView Park
The RiverView Park is a public park in Shreveport. You can visit this park for free and enjoy the beautiful environment, and mingle with the locals. It gives you a chance to experience Shreveport authentically. It has a beautiful, interactive water fountain that has music and lights. You can go to this park in the evening to enjoy the beautiful fountain and the music. The park offers much more, such as a breathtaking waterfall with natural plantings and stones. You can observe and enjoy this beautiful waterfall by standing at the viewing area or the arbor at the waterfall’s summit. You can get a breathtaking view of Shreveport from this area. The park also features a 300-foot-long floating boat dock. It is magnificent, and you can enjoy the water by standing on this boat dock.
9. Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport
This museum has over three hundred original pieces of African and African-American art. It is listed in the statewide African-American Heritage Trail of Louisiana. This museum in Shreveport aims to offer a wide variety of learning opportunities to many varied audiences. Its goal is to provide resources to diverse communities by using the museum and its large number of exhibits imaginatively. You can visit this museum from Tuesday to Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm and from 9 am to 12 pm on Fridays. You can visit on Saturdays by calling ahead and making an appointment.
10. Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park
This park has hiking trails, peaceful picnic areas, and various interpretive exhibits. You can visit this nature park in Shreveport with your family and have a picnic and enjoy nature. You can go on the hiking trails in this park and learn more about nature since the trails are incredibly well-marked and help you identify animal habitats and natural features.
This park schedules special events daily. Every summer, Earth Camp, a yearly environment day camp, is organized in the park. The park is open to the public and is completely free. You can enjoy the various things the park has to offer for free. It provides an excellent chance for everyone to enjoy nature without paying for it. The Park is open from Wednesday to Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm, and from 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays.
Conclusion
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on your vacation to have fun with your family and friends. You can have a blast during your vacation even with a low budget. Go through this list of free things to do in Shreveport and enjoy your time in this beautiful city under a budget.
