8 Best Day Trips from New Orleans
New Orleans is hard to leave. The food, the music and the late nights can fill a whole week. But some of the best parts of Louisiana are just outside the city, and a day trip shows you a totally different side of the state.
In this guide
- 1. River Road plantations: Oak Alley and Whitney
- 2. Take a swamp tour at Honey Island
- 3. Walk the boardwalks at Barataria Preserve
- 4. See Baton Rouge
- 5. Head to Lafayette for Cajun country
- 6. Visit Avery Island
- 7. Relax in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
- 8. Cross the Causeway to the Northshore
- How to plan your day trips
- Which day trip should you pick?
- Common questions
Here are eight of the best day trips from New Orleans, from swamps and plantations to Cajun dance halls and quiet Gulf beaches. You’ll need a car for most of them.
1. River Road plantations: Oak Alley and Whitney
Oak Alley Plantation, about an hour west in Vacherie, is famous for its double row of 28 live oaks, which are roughly 300 years old. Walking under them toward the big house is something you’ll remember.
Pair it with the Whitney Plantation, just down the road. Whitney is a museum focused entirely on the lives of the people who were enslaved there. It’s hard, honest and essential, and it gives the pretty oak trees the context they need. Do Whitney first.
2. Take a swamp tour at Honey Island
A swamp tour is the day trip most people want, and Honey Island Swamp, about 45 minutes northeast near Slidell, is one of the best places to do it. It’s one of the least disturbed river swamps in the country.
Small boat tours run through cypress trees draped in moss, and you’ll likely see alligators, turtles and herons. Spring and fall are the best times, since alligators are less active in winter. Many tour companies offer pickup from the French Quarter if you don’t have a car.
3. Walk the boardwalks at Barataria Preserve
If you’d rather explore the swamp on foot, head to Barataria Preserve, part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. It’s only about 30 minutes south of the city, and it’s free.
Raised boardwalks take you through swamp, marsh and forest. Go early in the morning for the best chance of spotting alligators sunning themselves near the trail. Bring bug spray. Seriously.
4. See Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, is about 80 miles upriver. The highlight is the Louisiana State Capitol, the tallest state capitol in the country at about 450 feet.
The observation deck near the top is free and has wide views of the Mississippi. The old state capitol, which looks like a small castle, is also worth a stop. Grab lunch at one of the city’s Cajun or soul food spots before heading back.
5. Head to Lafayette for Cajun country
Lafayette, about two hours west, is the heart of Cajun country. It feels very different from New Orleans, more rural and more French in a country way.
Visit Vermilionville, a living history village about Cajun and Creole life. Then eat boudin, a rice-and-pork sausage sold at gas stations and meat markets all over the area. If you’re there on a Saturday morning, look for a zydeco breakfast in nearby Breaux Bridge. It’s a full day, so leave early.
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6. Visit Avery Island
Avery Island, about two and a half hours away, is the home of Tabasco sauce, made here since 1868. You can tour the factory and the museum, and taste a range of sauces you’ve never seen in a store.
Next door, Jungle Gardens has moss-draped oaks, a Buddha statue and a famous bird sanctuary where egrets nest in spring. It’s a long drive for one stop, so combine it with Lafayette if you can.
7. Relax in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis is a small, arty beach town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, about an hour from New Orleans. It’s quiet, friendly and a welcome break from the city’s noise.
Walk Old Town, with its galleries, antique shops and coffee shops, then head down to the beach and the pier. The water isn’t the clear blue of Florida, but the sunsets over the bay are lovely. It’s an easy, low-key day.
8. Cross the Causeway to the Northshore
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway runs about 24 miles across the lake, and for long stretches you can’t see land in any direction. Driving it is half the fun.
On the other side, the Northshore towns of Mandeville, Covington and Abita Springs are leafy and relaxed. Rent a bike on the Tammany Trace, a paved path built on an old rail line, or tour the Abita brewery.
How to plan your day trips
Rent a car for just the days you need it. Parking in the French Quarter is expensive, so pick up the car in the morning and return it the same evening. Tours with pickup are a good option for the swamp and plantations if you don’t want to drive.
Start early. Louisiana gets hot and humid, and the mornings are nicer for walking and spotting wildlife.
Which day trip should you pick?
If you only have one free day, go with a swamp tour in the morning and the River Road plantations in the afternoon. They’re close enough together to combine, and they show you two sides of Louisiana you can’t see in the city.
If you love food and music, Lafayette is the one, ideally with a night there so you can catch a dance hall. For something relaxing, Bay St. Louis or the Northshore are easy, low-stress days with nothing on the schedule but lunch.
And if it’s your first visit to New Orleans and you only have a few days total, honestly, you might skip day trips entirely. The city itself is plenty. Save these for the second trip, because there will almost certainly be a second trip.
Common questions
What’s the best day trip from New Orleans?
For first-timers, a swamp tour plus the Whitney and Oak Alley plantations.
Can I do day trips without a car?
Yes for swamp and plantation tours, which often include pickup. The rest need a car.
When is the best time for a swamp tour?
Spring and fall. Alligators are more active in warm weather.
Is Lafayette worth the drive?
If you love music and food, absolutely. Stay the night if you can.
How long is the Causeway?
About 24 miles, and it takes around half an hour to cross.
