Day Trippin' › Louisiana › From New Orleans › Best mountains and viewpoints
Our picks for the best mountains and viewpoints within 3 hours of New Orleans: 13 places, 1 under an hour away, 1 between 1 and 2 hours and 11 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 Houmas House, 57 min west of New Orleans.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
#1 · Small town · 2 hr 47 min northwest
Historic river town with antebellum homes, river bluff views and great food.
Heads-up: Book home tours ahead during Pilgrimage seasons.
Photo: Altairisfar, Public domain
#2 · Garden · 2 hr 14 min east
A 1930s estate on the Fowl River with big formal gardens, azaleas in spring and a famous holiday lights show. The historic home is open for tours.
Heads-up: Holiday lights nights have separate timing and prices. Pet rules.
Photo: National Park Service, Public domain
#3 · National park · 1 hr 41 min east
The only drive-in part of the Mississippi seashore. Bayou trails, bird watching, fishing and ranger programs a few minutes from downtown Ocean Springs.
Heads-up: No swimming beach here. Closes during severe weather and storms. Saltwater fishing license needed to fish. Leash pets.
Photo: Altairisfar, Public domain
#4 · State park · 2 hr 13 min east
A small park on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta with a long fishing pier and a boardwalk over the wetlands. Great sunset views over the bay.
Heads-up: Day use ends when the gate closes at 5 pm. Mosquitoes in warm months.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith (1946–), Public domain
#5 · Scenic drive · 2 hr 45 min northwest
Slow, scenic parkway that starts in Natchez and runs north across the state. Stop at mounds, swamps and old inns.
Heads-up: Speed limit is low. Watch for cyclists and deer. Check NPS conditions page for closures.
Photo: Elisa Rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
#6 · Historic site · 2 hr 47 min northwest
The second-largest Mississippian-era ceremonial mound in the country. Climb to the top for wide views.
Heads-up: About 1 mile off the Parkway at milepost 10.3.
Photo: Altairisfar, Public domain
#7 · Historic site · 2 hr 27 min east
A Civil War era fort on the east end of Dauphin Island with cannons, a blacksmith shop and views across the mouth of Mobile Bay.
Heads-up: Pair it with the Sea Lab aquarium and the bird sanctuary for a full Dauphin Island day.
Photo: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
#8 · National park · 2 hr 54 min north
The family home of a civil rights leader, kept as it was. A moving, small-group ranger tour.
Heads-up: Tours are for small groups (10 or fewer). Street parking is limited. Call ahead.
Photo: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0
#9 · Garden · 57 min west
A grand river estate with about 38 acres of gardens, a mansion tour and several restaurants. Good for a slow afternoon.
Heads-up: Restaurant reservations through the website.
Photo: Andrea Wright from Mobile, AL, USA, CC BY 2.0
#10 · Garden · 2 hr 11 min northeast
Camellias, azaleas and a longleaf pine forest spread over a large garden in west Mobile. Quiet and shady.
Heads-up: Closed some holidays. Last admission is one hour before closing.
Photo: Skb8721, CC BY-SA 3.0
#11 · Garden · 2 hr 15 min west
Drive or walk through moss-draped oaks, camellias and Bird City, an old egret rookery, on Avery Island.
Heads-up: Vehicles over 12 ft 8 in cannot drive the route.
Photo: Z28scrambler, CC BY-SA 4.0
#12 · Garden · 2 hr 21 min west
Gardens and a historic house on Lake Peigneur, with peacocks and a lakeside cafe.
Heads-up: Cafe open 11am-3pm weekdays, to 4pm weekends.
Photo: Original uploaded by Rdstephens (Transfered by Jeangagnon), Public domain
#13 · National park · 2 hr 48 min northwest
Melrose estate and the William Johnson House tell the story of Natchez, enslaved and free.
Heads-up: Part of the William Johnson House may be closed for work.
Our top picks are Natchez (2 hr 47 min), Bellingrath Gardens and Home (2 hr 14 min), Davis Bayou Area (1 hr 41 min), Meaher State Park (2 hr 13 min) and Natchez Trace Parkway (2 hr 45 min). The page lists 13 places in all.
13: 1 under an hour away, 1 between 1 and 2 hours and 11 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 70112.
Houmas House, about 57 min west of New Orleans.
5 need no pass or fee, including Davis Bayou Area, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emerald Mound. Fees change, so check each place.
8 of the 13 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.