Stretching from New Iberia to Lake Charles, LA 14 connects some of the most Cajun places on Earth. Before Louisiana renumbered those highways, this road was known as LA 25, and parts west of Lake Arthur was LA 98.
According to the official Louisiana road map from 1930, the road was paved between New Iberia and Abbeville, then under the "improved" category westward to Lake Arthur which was generally gravel, then dirt or shell between Lake Arthur and Lake Charles.
When you start your journey from New Iberia, take in the Shadows on the Teche and the historic Main Street District. Once you're west of Highway 90, the road opens up to a four lane. Along the way you'll find Rip Van Winkle Gardens. Pick up some fresh seafood from the boats in Delcambre. Make sure you get off the 4 lane bypass and take the old road to Erath. This way you can stop by the Acadian Museum. Hopefully once the pandemic is over, it will reopen.
You're forced back onto the 4 lane on your way to Abbeville, but just past the airport, get off the bypass again, and head right into the heart of Abbeville. Their beautiful downtown area, Magdalen Square, and a nice museum at the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission.
Continuing westward, the highway goes back to two lanes, and you're in a more rural setting heading to Kaplan. Check out what Kaplan has been doing to restore their downtown district. If you want a great plate lunch, head south on LA 35 for a few miles to Suires.
Getting back on 14, you'll go through the community of Wright, which in my opinion, still has the best marketing campaign to lure you to make your home here.
With your next stop at Gueydan, the Duck Capital of the World, a beautiful boulevard runs through the town.
Then, over the Mermentau River to Lake Arthur, to one of the prettiest places in Acadiana. It gets deep, dark, and swampy thereafter. Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge is a great stop along the way to see birds, wildlife, and alligators.
Eventually you'll wind through Hays and Bell City into Calcasieu Parish. With a few turns along the LA 14, you'll eventually end up in Lake Charles. It's about 100 miles, and certainly a great one tank trip on the lesser traveled road!
