Buddy if you take "I-49" from Shreveport to around Lafayette bring a book .....1st most of its 2 lane road thru towns, dont even know why they call it interstate and its the most boring 5 hours or so u will ever spend in your life...i made a wrong turn coming from Little Rock 1 time and entered into Texas before i knew it. turned around and the next 5 hours were a nightmare...i swear the signs would say Alexandria 230 miles, you would drive for 45 mins and the next 1 would say Alexandria 245 miles....lol It was horrible...
There used to be an Alligator farm near grammercy or Laplace but you better dbl ck as i dont think its there anymore. O and Louisiana closed all their rest areas so you may want to bring some empty bottles....
Ya know your best bet is to ck out some plane tickets, seriously. Gas in the northern rural areas will be $3.60+ and believe me nothing you will see or do on the way will beat Jazzfest...They were rocking down there last week, the place was packed, free food everywhere and it was raining...this weekend supposed to be clear and fairly low temps 80ish..And the fest isnt just on the weekend they partying down there everyday...Plenty of things for kids as well. Id go straight to New Orleans and bring some prilosec...lol