LA 86 follows the east bank of Bayou Teche as it makes a hairpin turn in Iberia Parish.

It essentially makes a long loop off of LA 31, which otherwise closely follows the west bank of the bayou from New Iberia northward toward St. Martinville.

LA 182 follows the one-way couplet of Main and St. Peter Streets through the city's Historic Commercial District.

After several blocks, LA 86 turns eastward onto Loreauville Road and parallels the bayou to the east end of New Iberia.

LA 86 curves northward with Bayou Teche as the residential development thins out somewhat, giving way to more rural farmland.

The route terminates shortly afterward at a second junction with LA 31 located about 600 feet (180 m) from the St. Martin Parish line between New Iberia and St.

It is generally classified as a rural major or minor collector by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD).

[5] In the original Louisiana Highway system in use between 1921 and 1955, the modern LA 86 was part of two separate routes.

The section from the southern terminus to the present intersection with LA 3242 in Loreauville made up the majority of State Route 56.

US 90 (current LA 182) became a four-lane highway through New Iberia around 1964 when a one-way couplet was created along Main and St. Peter Streets.

In order to meet the new eastbound lanes of US 90, the LA 86 designation was extended one block from Main to St. Peter Street.

Also in 1964, the current swing bridge over Bayou Teche at Daspit was constructed, replacing an older span at that location.