Camping near New Orleans offers access to natural attractions among a bold cultural scene.
From its jazz-filled French Quarter to its vibrant Mardi Gras along Bourbon Street, New Orleans brims with culture. However, Mother Nature also bestowed “The Big Easy” with natural attractions such as Kisatchie National Forest, Cypress Island Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Park, Honey Island Swamp, and Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Hiking, birdwatching, boating, and fishing are just a few outdoor activities that are popular within these attractions. Then, tour the Mississippi River by river boat or sail out into the Gulf of Mexico for a day on the open water. Campers will find a wide range of cabin rentals, RV parks, and campgrounds among local wildlife within the national and state parks of the area. Many of the campsites feature convenient amenities like water and electric hookups, nearby restaurants, and on-site supply shops.
Named for a French pirate, Jean Lafitte National History Park and Preserve is a Mississippi River Delta attraction that features bayous, fields, and historical areas. Visit Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery to learn about the area’s past. Or explore popular park attractions like the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center and Barataria Preserve to see alligators in their natural habitats. While there are no campgrounds and RV resorts within the park, many options are nearby that feature restrooms, electric and water hookups, and showers.
Honey Island is a 20-foot long island known as a fisherman’s paradise. The island’s waters teem with bluegill and flathead catfish. The swamp is also home to a wide array of animals, including alligators, cougars, and birds like bald eagles. Tours of the swamp are available for day trippers and most usually last two hours. For those who want to sleep near the swamp, there are also numerous campgrounds with basic amenities like restrooms, a free dump station, and fire pits nearby.
Spread across 6,000 acres, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is part of the Atchafalaya Basin. Popular park activities include fishing, canoeing, and hiking. There are three hiking trails within the park’s visitor center complex as well as a canoe trail that offers a water path among cypress trees. Wildlife watching opportunities attract many campers to the park to catch glimpses of alligators, blackbears, and white-tailed deer. Then glamp in one of two glamping tents on-site, or set up in a more rustic campsite that offers full hookups and waterfront views.
October and November are popular months for visiting New Orleans. Temperatures range from the low 70s to low 80s. Campers who want to attend Mardi Gras can visit in February when it's more wet and temperatures dip down to the low 60s or high 50s. Summer temperatures soar into the 90s and are accompanied by high humidity. The hottest time of year in New Orleans is during July. Even so, the city features year-round camping, as many summer visitors like to boat and fish during the hot season.