Are you looking for a spot to unwind and soak up some sun? Look no farther than the greatest beaches in Louisiana!
There are plenty of lovely beaches to pick from, from the Gulf Coast to the Bayou State. We’ve got you covered whether you’re searching for a family-friendly beach or something more isolated.
Best Beaches in Louisiana MAP
Check also: Best beaches in Texas
Temperatures in Lousiana in SPRING
Louisiana is known for its mild temperatures, so you can definitely count on it if you are planning to visit in spring.
Here are 11 of our favorite Louisiana beaches:
Fontainebleau State Park Beach — Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish
Fontainebleau State Park Beach is set roughly an hour and a half north of New Orleans on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. It’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking and is a popular hangout location for both residents and tourists.
The beach offers a children’s playground, a picnic pavilion, and numerous restaurants and cafes.
This is one of the few white inland sand beaches in the area, making it ideal for those who prefer urban beaches. At the same time, it has an environment around it that favors enjoying the sun while providing space for group games along the sandy beach.
You might also want to attend the St. Tammany Crab Festival which is held annually in the fall. The festival features live music, delicious food, and fun activities for the whole family.
You can also spot some remnants of Bernard Marigny de Mandeville’s sugar plantation in Fontainebleau State Park.
Holly Beach (Cajun Riviera) – Cameron
For anyone interested in enjoying the sun, Holly Beach is the place to be. The beach has beautiful white sand and clear blue waters. Whether one is interested in kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, or fishing, one can do it
It sits west of Baton Rouge and is roughly a three-hour drive. It’s popular among both local visitors and those outside who flock to the beaches at the weekends.
The Beach is accessible by car, and plenty of parking is available.
The cafés and restaurants near the beach provide an ideal setting to grab a bite after a long time of enjoying the waters and its environs.
Considering there are no lifeguards, you should watch your children while they are swimming. Swimming is not recommended at this beach due to strong currents.
If you’re looking for a place to relax and soak up the sun, Holly Beach is definitely worth a visit.
Little Florida Beach – Cameron
Set in Johnson Bayou, not far from Holly Beach, Little Florida is another beach worth stopping by when in Louisiana.
As the name suggests, with its beach homes and wildlife, the character of the area might remind you of Florida. However, don’t expect noisy crowds of beachgoers there – it has still been undiscovered by tourists.
Popular activities you can engage in there include walking, fishing, shelling, and birding. If you want to see some rare migratory birds, visit the nearby Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary.
Note that there are no amenities at the beach, so bring everything you might need to make the most out of your stay.
Jimmie Davis State Park Beach
Jimmie Davis State Park is located on the shores of beautiful Caney Creek Lake and is a nature lover’s paradise.
From beaches to biking to wildlife viewing, this state park offers something for everyone. Jimmie Davis State Park is known for its numerous freshwater fishing opportunities, so be sure to bring your fishing pole.
One of the main attractions of the park is the beach area.
Pack some sunscreen and an umbrella and you are ready for a day of fun in the sun.
The beach area is closed off so you do not have to worry about boaters and water skiers on the lake.
For a truly relaxing experience, bring an inflatable tube and let your worries disappear into the cool, clear waters of Caney Lake.
The beach at Jimmie Davis State Park is the perfect place to play a game of beach volleyball, try your luck at fishing, or go kayaking with the family. The state park is located on a narrow peninsula that has several coves – so you are never far from the water.
Grand Isle Beach – Jefferson Parish
The beach has lovely white sand and crystal-clear waves. Swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking are all popular activities.
Grand Isle is the only inhabited barrier island in Louisiana, and it’s a wonderful spot to get away from it all. The beach is ideal for local and foreign tourists. From New Orleans, it is just an hour’s drive.
Grand Isle Beach is a must-see if you’re searching for a location to unwind and soak up some rays. If you’re feeling very daring, the island even has a casino.
Grand Isle Beach is, without a doubt, one of Louisiana’s best beaches, and it is not to be missed. Unfortunately, it has been closed to the public due to significant damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021.
North Beach – in Lake Charles
North Beach is a large beach in Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana.
Beachgoers will find a lively beach life here. Festivals are often held on the waterfront, and North Beach is the place to be when they take place.
This beach is especially notable for its ultra-white sand, which is unique and beautiful.
Volleyball, beachcombing, and picnics are just some of the other activities you can do at this beach.
There is also a marina and a beautiful promenade on the lakeside with panoramic views, which is a popular place to watch the sunset.
This is an alternative if underdeveloped alternatives are not your thing.
Cypremort Point State Park Beach — Cypremort Point, St. Mary Parish
Cypremort Point State Park Beach has an ambiance that is ideal for sunbathing and relaxing. The beach has beautiful white sand and clear blue waters. It’s also perfect for swimming, fishing, and kayaking.
Some of the beach’s attractions are grills for enjoying a BBQ, picnic tables to comfortably eat your meals, showers, washing stations for fast clean-ups, and a canopy for leisure.
The beach tends to be very crowded during the holidays, so it’s best to visit during the week if you’re looking for a more secluded spot. It’s a popular hangout location for both residents and tourists.
If you’re searching for a relaxing area to unwind and soak up the sun, Cypremort Point State Park Beach is a must-see. One of Louisiana’s best beaches, Cypremort Point, should definitely not be missed.
Northshore Beach – an Urban White Sand Beach in New Orleans
The beach extends two miles North of Lake Pontchartrain shores. It’s a perfect place for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. Walking, jogging, and biking are other popular activities on this beach.
After a day in the sun, there are lots of restaurants and cafes around where you can grab a bite to eat.
Northshore Beach, roughly an hour north of New Orleans, is a popular hangout for locals and travelers alike and is an ideal destination for people who enjoy urban beaches. I
White Sands Lake Day Beach — Franklinton, Washington Parish
White Sands Lake Day Beach is located in Washington Parish, which is about an hour and a half north of New Orleans. The beach is a popular spot for both locals and visitors alike.
As the name suggests, it’s known for its white-sand beaches and is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking.
The beach also has a playground for children, a pavilion for picnics, and plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby.
The beach provides an excellent destination for anyone interested in sunbathing and swimming who finds it too far from the seashore.
Rutherford Beach — Creole, Cameron Parish
This beautiful beach is located on the Gulf of Mexico in Cameron Parish. It’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and BBQ.
The beach has a pavilion for picnics, and plenty of grills and picnic tables are also available if you feel like doing a BBQ with your friends or family.
The area is also known for its birding and shell-collecting opportunities.
Sadly, Rutherford Beach was affected by Hurricane Rita in 2005. The hurricane destroyed plenty of buildings in the area and formed a new canal between the Gulf of Mexico and Calcasieu Lake.
If you are up for a new experience, there’s Rutherford Beach.
Shell Beach
Shell Beach is one of Louisiana’s best beaches. Shell Beach, about 30 miles from New Orleans, is an excellent place to get away from the city.
Shell Beach is ideal because it offers breathtaking views in all directions.
The sunsets in this area are truly breathtaking and worth seeing. To enjoy the sky or meditate, you can spread a blanket at any time of the day.
The fact that it is a popular destination for families also adds to the attractiveness of this beach. The beaches here are ideal for getting a tan, and you can go swimming practically all year round.
Children love searching the dunes for shells and building sandcastles. Shells Beach undoubtedly has something for everyone.
Port Fourchon Beach — Golden Meadow, Lafourche Parish
Port Fourchon Beach is located in Lafourche Parish, which is about a two hours drive south of New Orleans. It offers stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico, it’s dog friendly and is Louisiana’s only surfing spot.
What also sets Port Fourchon Beach apart from other beaches in Louisiana is that it is the only man-made beach in the state. It was created in the 1960s as a port for oil rigs.
Today, the beach is still used for oil rigs but has been also closed to the public.
Conclusion
Here you have it! The best beaches in Louisiana. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly beach, campground, surfing spot, unique experience, or a bustling beach town, Louisiana has it all.
What’s more, there are restaurants and other amenities around most of the beaches that you will find handy after a day in the sun. So don’t hesitate, pack your bags, and set out there! The beaches are waiting.