Guide to Fontainebleau State Park

New Orleans, Louisiana is one of our all-time favorite spots to visit in the US (I mean have you tried the pralines?!), so it’s only fitting that there is an excellent spot to camp outside the city. Located just on the other side of Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainebleau State Park offers stunning lakefront views, hiking trails, and a campground with diverse campsites and sparkling clean facilities.

It’s important to note that this public land partially sits on the remains of a former sugar mill plantation, where chattel slavery occurred. It’s a place where visitors should wrestle with the property’s disturbing, cruel history, particularly since the park’s gorgeous lakefront vistas make it easy to forget the pain that took place here.

Camping at Fontainebleau

If you’re looking to camp outside of New Orleans, Fontainebleau is definitely your most economical option (AND a great value at that!). We have camped here multiple times as SUV campers and loved our stay each time (minus one major issue with the gate code…).

IMPORTANT NOTE: The gate for Fontainebleau State Park locks at 9pm and you cannot gain entry to the park without this code, which is not sent with your booking reservation. Typically, the office staff calls campers who have not checked in within a few hours of park close, but we were not notified, leading to us being locked out of the park for 2 hours until another camper let us in. Make sure to call for the gate code if you will not arrive before the office closes!

Site Fees:

  • No hookups: $18/night plus $4.50 transaction fee (this applies to ALL reservations including phone, online, & in-person)

  • Hookups (full sewage, water, & electric): $25/night Sun-Thur Oct-Mar, $30/night Sun-Thur Apr-Sept, $33/night Fri-Sat plus $4.50 fee per transaction (this applies to ALL reservations including phone, online, & in-person)

  • Please note, surge pricing may be in effect during Mardi Gras.

  • Discounts are available for Military, First Responder, & America the Beautiful Senior/Access passholders. Visit this site for more information.


Amenities:

  • Clean restrooms (women’s & men’s) at each campground with multiple toilet stalls, as well as shower stalls. Showers are push-button operated with hot water (though this can be limited during peak times). The restrooms have been among the cleanest we have seen at state park campgrounds across the US, though the showers do not have showerheads, causing the spray to be difficult to contain, so be sure to keep a waterproof tote to bring your shower stuff!

  • Wireless Internet is available throughout the Campgrounds

  • Both secluded and communal campsites are available on property, making it the perfect spot for people who love being surrounded by trees AND people who love being surrounded by neighbors.

Lake Pontchartrain Access

Fontainebleau’s serene views of Lake Pontchartrain are among the park’s best assets.

  • Paddling

  • Fishing

  • Beach Access

  • Boardwalk

Things to Do on Land

In addition to Fontainebleau’s water access, there are plenty of other activities for visitors who would prefer to stay on land, including:

  • Tammany Trace Bike Trail - This old railroad path has been converted into a 31-mile bike path that runs directly through Fontainebleau. Hop on the paved trail & ride into Mandeville to grab lunch or dinner!

  • Fishing Pier - While the fishing pier may be filled with fishermen and women, it’s also a beautiful spot to look for pelicans and cormorants on the sweeping Lake Ponchartrain.

  • Hiking Trails - The 1.5mi Nature trail loop takes you through the marsh on a boardwalk tour, as well as through the ruins on the property (see below). A longer 4.8mi out & back trail ends with bayou views shaded by Spanish moss-draped oak trees.

  • Historical Markers/Sugar Mill Ruins - For a more somber experience, you can visit the sugar mill plantation ruins where a wealthy French diplomat enslaved 153 people in order to fund his lavish lifestyle. Historical markers provide accounts of life for those who were enslaved on the property and more information on this history can be found here.

Proximity to Mandeville & NOLA

  • NOLA

    • You can take the Ponchartrain Causeway straight into NOLA in 48 mins (a $6 toll is collected on the North Shore heading south into NOLA with no toll in the opposite direction. You can reduce toll costs with a toll sticker purchased here).

    • To avoid tolls, head through Slidell and take I-10 into the city for a 55-minute commute.

    • If you want to avoid steep parking fees in the city, park in Algiers Point & take the short 10-minute ferry ride across the river for $4 per person round-trip (only $3 total for the day with an easily-downloadable Jazzy Pass!).

  • Mandeville

  • You don’t need to head all the way into NOLA to fill up on delicious Cajun-Creole food! It’s only an 8-minute drive in to the heart of Mandeville where you can grab beignets at a far less busy Cafe du Monde & eat incredible Po-Boys at Ponchartrain Po Boys.

Need some inspiration for your trip to The Big Easy? Head to our ULTIMATE Guide to Pralines in the city to find the best candies in the region!