Louisiana Highway 26 (LA 26) is a state highway located in southwestern Louisiana. It runs in a northwest to southeast direction from a junction with the concurrent U.S. Highways 171 and 190 southeast of DeRidder to LA 14 in Lake Arthur.
The route initially follows an east–west path, connecting DeRidder with Oberlin. Just east of Oberlin, however, LA 26 turns due south for the remainder of its journey, and its directional banners change accordingly. During this portion of the route, LA 26 serves as the main north–south highway through Jennings, where it intersects both Interstate 10 (I-10) and the parallel US 90. Other notable junctions include US 165 in Oberlin and a second junction with US 190 in Elton. LA 26 traverses very sparsely populated territory outside the few towns it encounters.
LA 26 was designated in the 1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering, replacing the entirety of former State Route 52. It also took over the western leg of State Route 25, a long U-shaped route that was further split among the modern LA 14 and LA 31. Portions of the route had also carried US 190 briefly from 1935 to 1939.
Route description
DeRidder to Oberlin
From the northwest, LA 26 begins at a junction with the concurrent US 171/US 190 approximately southeast of the DeRidder city limits. The route heads eastward as an undivided two-lane highway through rural Beauregard Parish. After , it intersects LA 1147, which provides access to several recreational facilities on nearby Bundick Lake. LA 26 then curves to the southeast and crosses LA 113, which connects to the small communities of Sugartown and Dry Creek. Shortly afterward, the highway crosses from Beauregard Parish into Allen Parish.
Just across the parish line, LA 26 intersects LA 377, which heads north toward the town of Elizabeth. In an area known as Mittie, LA 26 crosses the Whiskey Chitto (or Ouisca Chitto) Creek. The next several miles remain very sparsely populated until the highway crosses the Calcasieu River just outside the town of Oberlin. Here, the route curves due east onto 7th Avenue through a residential neighborhood. It then zigzags south onto North 5th Street and east again into the business district on 6th Avenue, a divided two-lane thoroughfare with continuous parking bays.
Oberlin to Jennings
After three blocks, LA 26 reaches the town's main junction at US 165, connecting with Kinder and Oakdale. The roadway narrows again as the highway immediately crosses the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) tracks at grade. After passing through another residential section for a few blocks, LA 26 curves southeast out of town then due east again to follow a section line road. later, the highway curves due south and will keep this trajectory for the remainder of its journey, its directional banners changing accordingly from east–west to north–south. along the way, LA 26 intersects LA 104, which heads east toward Mamou in neighboring Evangeline Parish.
About later, LA 26 enters Jefferson Davis Parish and almost immediately crosses US 190 just east of Elton. Like US 165, this portion of US 190 closely follows the UP rail line, which necessitates another grade crossing. south of US 190, LA 26 intersects LA 102 (Pine Island Highway) at Hathaway, then continues for another to the city of Jennings. At the northern city limits, LA 26 widens to a divided four-lane highway as it passes through a diamond interchange with I-10 at exit 64, connecting with Lake Charles to the west and Lafayette to the east. The roadway narrows slightly as the median disappears, and LA 26 continues south on Elton Road, serving as a corridor for newer commercial development.
Jennings to Lake Arthur
At Shankland Avenue, LA 26 crosses US 90, the de facto business route of I-10 through the region. The local name changes to Lake Arthur Avenue, and LA 26 proceeds through a residential neighborhood, passing a few blocks west of the city's traditional downtown area. Just after crossing the BNSF/UP tracks, LA 26 intersects LA 3055 (West Division Street), a short connector to eastbound US 90, and the highway narrows again to two lanes. Just south of the city limits, LA 26 zigzags to align itself with another section line road and has a brief concurrency with LA 1126, a minor rural route. later, it intersects the southern terminus of LA 102, having run parallel to that highway since Hathaway.