New hotels in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge tracks two open hotels downtown and one announced conversion timed to LSU's sports calendar. Origin Hotel and the rebuilt Bally's casino hotel both opened within the last two years on the riverfront side of downtown; Sports Illustrated Resort Baton Rouge, converting the current Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, targets September 2027 and leans on the university's college sports culture as its core draw.

What to do

A weekend in Baton Rouge

Walk the Mississippi River levee downtown, a short walk from both Origin Hotel and Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel, then tour the Louisiana State Capitol: at 450 feet and 34 floors, the tallest state capitol building in the United States, completed in just 14 months in 1932 in Art Deco style and one of only four skyscraper capitols in the country. In the evening, downtown's restaurant strip near St. Ferdinand Street covers Cajun and Creole options within walking distance of both riverfront hotels, with Origin Hotel's own rooftop deck a good vantage point for the sunset.

A full week

With more time, LSU's campus, including Tiger Stadium and the LSU Museum of Art, is a short drive from downtown, and the observation deck atop the Louisiana State Capitol gives a wider view of the river, the 27-acre capitol grounds and the surrounding city below. Baton Rouge's position on the Mississippi also makes it a reasonable base for day trips along the River Road's historic plantation sites, and the USS Kidd Veterans Memorial Museum, moored on the riverfront near downtown, adds a naval-history stop within walking distance of Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel.

Where to stay

Downtown riverfront: Origin Hotel and Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel

Origin Hotel Baton Rouge, a Wyndham Hotel opened in January 2024 at 101 St. Ferdinand Street, an 87-room boutique lifestyle hotel built around Louisiana design references, with a rooftop deck offering downtown views, a retail area called Sweet Baton Rouge featuring local products, and an all-day Cajun-Creole restaurant, from $125. A short walk away on the Mississippi River, Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel reopened in March 2025 after Bally's Corporation rebuilt all 242 rooms, including 63 signature suites and 2 supreme suites with 86-inch 4K TVs, of the former Belle of Baton Rouge riverboat casino hotel as part of a roughly $141 million renovation, followed by a new, more than $160 million land-based casino next door in December 2025, replacing the property's former riverboat gaming floor.

Capitol area: Sports Illustrated Resort Baton Rouge (announced)

At 201 Lafayette Street, currently operating as the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center through 2026, Travel + Leisure Co. confirmed in April 2026 that it will convert the property into Sports Illustrated Resort Baton Rouge: a roughly $40 million renovation beginning in early 2027 and targeting a September 2027 completion, mixing 137 hotel rooms with 42 condominiums added during the conversion. The project is part of a wider Sports Illustrated Resorts rollout that also includes Nashville, a Chicago conversion and a planned ground-up build in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and is backed in part by Shaquille O'Neal.

Which hotel for your trip

Travelers who want a boutique stay downtown

Origin Hotel's rooftop deck and Cajun-Creole restaurant suit a shorter downtown visit built around the levee and the Capitol.

Travelers combining a casino trip with downtown sightseeing

Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel's riverfront casino and 242 renovated rooms are the practical choice for that pairing, within walking distance of Origin Hotel and the Capitol.

LSU game-day travelers waiting on the newest opening

Sports Illustrated Resort Baton Rouge, still under Hilton's Capitol Center flag until its 2027 conversion, will be the city's most game-day-themed option once it opens, given its LSU-focused concept.

Frequently asked questions

What is the newest hotel to open in Baton Rouge?

Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel, which reopened in March 2025 after a roughly $141 million renovation of the former Belle of Baton Rouge.

Is the Sports Illustrated Resort Baton Rouge open yet?

No: it's still operating as the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center; the conversion is confirmed to begin in early 2027, targeting completion that September.

Is the Louisiana State Capitol open to visitors?

Yes: the 1932 Art Deco building offers tours and an observation deck, and at 450 feet it's the tallest state capitol in the United States.

Which Baton Rouge hotel is closest to the Mississippi River?

Bally's Baton Rouge Hotel sits directly on the river, on the site of the former Belle of Baton Rouge riverboat casino.

How far is LSU's campus from downtown Baton Rouge hotels?

About a 10-minute drive from the downtown riverfront hotels.

Why is Sports Illustrated Resort Baton Rouge tied to LSU?

Travel + Leisure Co. has cited Baton Rouge's college sports culture, anchored by LSU, as a key factor in choosing the city for this conversion within its wider Sports Illustrated Resorts rollout, which also includes Nashville, Chicago and a planned Tuscaloosa build.