Day Trippin' › Louisiana › From New Orleans › Best beaches and lakes
Our picks for the best beaches and lakes within 3 hours of New Orleans: 31 places, 3 under an hour away, 8 between 1 and 2 hours and 20 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 70112.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Fontainebleau State Park, 40 min north of New Orleans.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: Jodybwiki, CC BY-SA 3.0
#1 · State park · 2 hr 59 min east
Two miles of quiet Gulf beach plus Lake Shelby, a fishing and education pier, a nature center and a swimming pool. It is the big outdoor hub of the Alabama coast.
Heads-up: Trails and picnic areas are open sunrise to sunset. Summer heat and storms are strong; hurricane season is Jun-Nov. Pet rules.
Photo: United States Geological Survey, Public domain
#2 · Island · 1 hr 23 min east
A ferry ride from Gulfport to clear water, white sand and Fort Massachusetts. The best beach day on the Mississippi coast.
Heads-up: Book the ferry ahead. Bring shade, water and sunscreen. Ferry season ends in fall, so check dates before you go.
Photo: Pierre5018, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · Wildlife · 2 hr 12 min west
A cypress lake near Breaux Bridge famous for alligators and huge wading bird rookeries. Swamp tours run from the landing.
Heads-up: Official preserve page did not load. Trail closures during nesting season possible.
Photo: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0
#4 · Small town · 57 min northeast
Laid-back beach town with Old Town shops, a harbor and local restaurants.
Heads-up: Hurricane season runs June to November.
Photo: Woodlot, CC BY-SA 3.0
#5 · State park · 1 hr 43 min northeast
Lake park near Hattiesburg.
Heads-up: Check MDWFP for current conditions.
Photo: Brian Norwood, CC BY 2.0
#6 · State park · 2 hr 24 min north
Quiet lake park near Wesson with fishing and camping.
Heads-up: Check the MDWFP site for current conditions.
Photo: Edd Prince, CC BY 2.0
#7 · State park · 40 min north
A big lakeside park in Mandeville with a sandy beach on Lake Pontchartrain, old oaks, a 4.8-mile trail and the Tammany Trace running right through it.
Heads-up: Water playground closed Mondays. Bring bug spray. Dogs on leash; not in swimming areas.
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University, CC BY 2.0
#8 · State park · 1 hr 11 min northwest
Boardwalks wind through cypress swamp, pine woods and river bottoms, with a nature center aquarium and canoe rentals on the Tickfaw River.
Heads-up: Floods in winter and spring rains; call ahead. Gum Cypress boardwalk is ADA accessible.
Photo: Michael miceli, CC BY-SA 2.0
#9 · State park · 1 hr 14 min north
Hilly woods and river bluffs near Franklinton with 25 miles of mountain bike trails, 11 fishing lakes and a cave boardwalk. Very different from the swampy south.
Heads-up: Call about trail status after rain. Water playground closed Mondays. Dogs on leash.
Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0
#10 · Museum · 1 hr 25 min east
Wild, one-of-a-kind pottery by George Ohr, the "Mad Potter of Biloxi", in striking modern buildings on Beach Blvd.
Heads-up: Last entry 4:15 pm. Closed Mardi Gras Day.
Photo: Rebecca Milby, CC BY 2.0
#11 · Beach · 2 hr 4 min south
Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island, with Gulf beach swimming, a fishing pier, crabbing and great spring bird migration.
Heads-up: Dogs not allowed on the beach or in the water. Watch for rip currents. Hurricane season can close the road and park.
#12 · Island · 2 hr 18 min west
The home of Tabasco sauce, with a factory tour and museum, a restaurant and Jungle Gardens all on a salt dome island.
Heads-up: Cards only. No ride-share pickup from the island.
Photo: Louisiana State Parks, CC BY-SA 3.0
#13 · Beach · 2 hr 20 min west
A half-mile man-made beach on Vermilion Bay, one of the few spots near the Gulf you can reach by car. Good for swimming, sailing and crabbing.
Heads-up: Hwy 83 S closed Lydia to the park Oct 26, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027; use the signed detour.
Photo: WikiCamper, CC BY-SA 3.0
#14 · State park · 2 hr 31 min west
A wild park on the edge of the Atchafalaya Basin with three nature trails, a 7-mile canoe trail and waterside cabins.
Heads-up: Canoe and kayak rentals. Water playground closed Mondays. Gators live here.
Photo: mcandrus, CC BY 2.0
#15 · State park · 2 hr 41 min west
Dwarf palmetto jungle, lagoons and the Vermilion River south of Abbeville, with paddling, a water playground and cabins.
Heads-up: A bridge closure in Perry since Oct 12, 2026 means using the posted alternate route.
Buccaneer State Park (59 min), Mississippi Aquarium (1 hr 13 min), Beauvoir (1 hr 20 min), Biloxi Beach (1 hr 23 min), Okhissa Lake (2 hr 12 min), Rip Van Winkle Gardens (2 hr 21 min), Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary (2 hr 25 min), Fairhope (2 hr 29 min), Dauphin Island (2 hr 37 min), Chicot State Park (2 hr 52 min), Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park (2 hr 52 min), Bonita Lakes Park (2 hr 54 min), Clarkco State Park (2 hr 55 min), Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail (2 hr 59 min), The Wharf (2 hr 59 min), Gulf Shores Public Beach (3 hr)
Our top picks are Gulf State Park (2 hr 59 min), Ship Island (1 hr 23 min), Lake Martin (2 hr 12 min), Bay St. Louis (57 min) and Paul B. Johnson State Park (1 hr 43 min). The page lists 31 places in all.
31: 3 under an hour away, 8 between 1 and 2 hours and 20 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 70112.
Fontainebleau State Park, about 40 min north of New Orleans.
3 need no pass or fee, including Fairhope, Bay St. Louis and Biloxi Beach. Fees change, so check each place.
26 of the 31 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.