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New Orleans to Gulf State Park road trip: best stops

The drive from New Orleans to Gulf State Park takes about 2 hr 59 min (east of New Orleans), by real roads from ZIP 70112. Along the way we found 50 stops within a short detour: 11 coffee shops, 6 ice cream and treats, 26 places to eat and 7 quick sights.

The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from New Orleans) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.

Plan this trip All day trips from New Orleans

Where you are going: Gulf State Park 2 hr 59 min from New Orleans

Gulf State Park

Photo: Jodybwiki, CC BY-SA 3.0

State park

Gulf State Park

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.

  • Full day
  • Year-round; best Mar-May and Oct-Nov
  • Alabama State Parks fee
  • Confirm fees and hours before you go

Heads-up: Trails and picnic areas are open sunrise to sunset. Summer heat and storms are strong; hurricane season is Jun-Nov. Pet rules.

Official site

Map of the stops between New Orleans and Gulf State Park

Open the interactive map

First third Middle third Last third Gulf State Park

First stretch 5 stops

  1. St. Tammany Fishing Pier Attraction · Howze Beach
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  2. St. Tammany Fishing Pier Attraction · Howze Beach
    About 25 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Phil's Marina Cafe American restaurant · Slidell
    About 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo off; Tu-Th, Su 11:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-22:00 Website
  4. INFINITY Science Center Museum · Pearlington
    About 39 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Th-Su 09:00-16:00
  5. DQ Grill & Chill Ice cream counter-service · Diamondhead
    About 51 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Middle of the drive 9 stops

  1. McDonald's Burger place · Gulfport
    About 1 hr 1 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: 24/7 Website
  2. Chester's Chicken place · Jones Mill
    About 1 hr 1 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  3. Starbucks Coffee shop · Gulfport
    About 1 hr 6 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
  4. Shipley Do-Nuts Donut counter-service · Biloxi
    About 1 hr 14 min into the drive · detour about 9 min Website
  5. Starbucks Coffee shop · D'Iberville
    About 1 hr 16 min into the drive · detour about 3 min Website
  6. Quickly Coffee shop · Saint Martin
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  7. Bob's Frozen Custard Ice cream counter-service · Saint Martin
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  8. Glazed Doughnuts Donut counter-service · Saint Martin
    About 1 hr 18 min into the drive · detour about 3 min
  9. Hardee's Burger place · Grand Bay
    About 1 hr 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website

Last stretch 10 stops

  1. Bistro St. Emanuel American restaurant · Mobile
    About 2 hr 8 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  2. Condé-Charlotte Museum House Museum · Mobile
    About 2 hr 8 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Th-Sa 11:00-15:30; Jan 01,Feb 13,Jul 04,Nov 28-29,Dec 25-27 off Website
  3. Fort Conde Museum · Mobile
    About 2 hr 8 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  4. Starbucks Coffee shop · Daphne
    About 2 hr 15 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  5. Marble Slab Creamery Ice cream · Spanish Fort
    About 2 hr 19 min into the drive · detour about 3 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-19:00
  6. Sweet Meltdown Ice cream · Loxley
    About 2 hr 26 min into the drive · detour about 2 min · hours listed on OpenStreetMap: Mo-Th 13:00-21:00; Fr 13:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
  7. Our Little Hole In The Wall Café Coffee shop · Summerdale
    About 2 hr 39 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  8. John Snook Telephone Museum Museum · Foley
    About 2 hr 43 min into the drive · detour about 2 min Website
  9. Foley Coffee Shop Coffee shop · Foley
    About 2 hr 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min
  10. Yabba's Wacky Snack Shack Candy shop · Foley
    About 2 hr 46 min into the drive · detour about 2 min

Questions about the drive from New Orleans to Gulf State Park

How long is the drive from New Orleans to Gulf State Park?

About 2 hr 59 min by road, heading east from the middle of ZIP 70112. Traffic and weather change that.

What are the best stops on the way from New Orleans to Gulf State Park?

Good ones to start with: St. Tammany Fishing Pier (Howze Beach), St. Tammany Fishing Pier (Howze Beach), Phil's Marina Cafe (Slidell), INFINITY Science Center (Pearlington) and DQ Grill & Chill (Diamondhead). The page lists 24 in all, in driving order.

Where can I get coffee or a bakery stop between New Orleans and Gulf State Park?

Starbucks in Gulfport, Starbucks in D'Iberville, Quickly in Saint Martin and Starbucks in Daphne. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.

Where can I eat on the way to Gulf State Park?

Phil's Marina Cafe in Slidell, DQ Grill & Chill in Diamondhead, McDonald's in Gulfport and Chester's in Jones Mill.

Are there viewpoints or quick sights on the way?

St. Tammany Fishing Pier in Howze Beach, St. Tammany Fishing Pier in Howze Beach, INFINITY Science Center in Pearlington and Condé-Charlotte Museum House in Mobile.

More about New Orleans and Gulf State Park

Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.

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