New Orleans is a vibrant city with a rich culture, history, and cuisine. But sometimes, you might want to escape the busy streets of New Orleans and enjoy some sun, sand, and sea. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful beaches near New Orleans that are perfect for a relaxing getaway. Whether you’re looking for fishing, birdwatching, camping, swimming, snorkeling, or just lounging on the shore, you’ll find a beach that suits your needs. Here are some of the best beaches near New Orleans that you should visit.
The Best Beaches Near New Orleans:
Grand Isle, Louisiana
The Grand Isle is Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island, boasting a fantastic view of the Gulf of Mexico, miles of white sandy beaches, and plenty of adventure. It’s about 110 miles from the center of New Orleans, and people come from all over to fish at the Grand Isle. It is excellent for birdwatching and camping too.
Grand Isle is the perfect spot for beachgoers who love shell hunting, building sandcastles, swimming, or just relaxing under the sun and listening to the waves crash onto the shore. If you’re a person who enjoys eating seafood rather than catching it, there are numerous dining options and many seafood shops on this New Orleans beach.
No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find it at Grand Isle!
Fontainebleau State Park, Louisiana
Fontainebleau State Park features a refreshing, astonishing beach near New Orleans with a diverse ecosystem. Nestled close to Mandeville, this location holds a melding history and natural beauty. You’ll find ruins of a sugar mill from 1829 situated among towering oaks at this historical site.
This lovely beach is less than an hour’s drive from the center of New Orleans and is the most visited park in NOLA by families and relaxation seekers. After viewing the scenic beauty, you can spend a lazy afternoon on the sandy beach with calm and shallow waters. It offers plenty of fun activities to its visitors, such as biking, paddling, swimming, hiking, in-line skating, fishing, or even camping. There’s also a water playground with a splash pad, open year-round.
Nature lovers must bring binoculars to explore the park’s nature trail and always be on the lookout for birds and other species. After a full day of adventure, guests can enjoy the rustic charm while staying overnight in cabins over the lake, group campsites, lodges, or several glamping sites.
This getaway is worth every second! Pack up your family and take a trip to Fontainebleau.
Ship Island, Mississippi
Ship Island is entirely off the beaten track and is accessible only by a one-hour ferry ride or boat from the mainland, worth every penny. Left undeveloped and unspoiled, this eye-catching barrier island is 12 miles offshore from Gulfport/Biloxi and amazes visitors with its fascinating, high-quality natural beaches. The water here is blue, crystal clear, and immaculate all around.
On the way out and trip back, look out for bottlenose dolphins – they swim and play alongside the boat. Swim, snorkel, boogie board, search for shells and birds, sunbathe, or just relax and take in all the local wildlife on the island.
Visitors can tour a beautifully preserved Civil War Fort and lounge in the beach chairs under umbrellas afterward. It’s like a little piece of paradise! People would like to visit every summer.
Just be sure to leave any glass containers behind. It is good to plan a stay overnight at Gulfport as there is no overnight accommodation here; you can’t even camp.
It is a treat to spend the day at this secluded place! Go! Do it! Love it!
Navarre Beach, Florida
Navarre is among the top choices for the best beaches near New Orleans. Located 229 miles from NOLA, the beach is well known for its gorgeous crystal-clear emerald waters making it a perfect place for swimming near the city.
Every stretch of beach area will give you the soft snowy white luxury to walk on and enjoy. Furthermore, it offers everything you’d expect from a beach getaway like abundant nature, a peaceful atmosphere, and stunning views.
You can also visit the Navarre Beach Marine Park which features an artificial reef that attracts various marine life such as fish turtles corals and more. You can also explore the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier which is one of the longest piers in Florida.
If you’re looking for more adventure you can try kayaking parasailing jet skiing or even skydiving over the beach. There are also plenty of restaurants shops and bars nearby to satisfy your cravings.
Navarre Beach is a hidden gem that will make you fall in love with its beauty! Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of the best beaches near New Orleans!
White Sands Lake Day Beach, Louisiana
Tucked away in Enon, this spring-fed lake is an ideal destination for a day full of fun and perfect family memories and for sure brings out the inner kid inside you.
This White Sands Lake is just over an hour’s drive north of New Orleans and is full of splashy activities.
Here, you can have a blast jumping into the water from inflatables or canoeing, playing on the trampoline, or enjoying the blob bags or floating mats in the water. You can also bring a beach ball and enjoy the sandy side of the beach. Volleyball nets and balls are available for visitors who have been dreaming about the recreational game of beach volleyball.
If you need rest from all the activity, you can check out one of the cabanas and have fun on the barbecue (BBQ) grill. Instead, you’re welcome to bring your shade and grill and can set up your spot in the sand and enjoy the hamburgers or hotdogs cookout to save money.
Just remember to pack your things in metal or plastic containers as the place has a strict ‘no glass’ policy to keep this beautiful beach glass shard-free.
If you want to include White Sands Lake Day Beach in your hangout and don’t want to miss the fun offered here, be sure to plan for the right time, the beach is not open year-round.
Coconut Beach, Louisiana
Coconut Beach is an ideal spot for avid volleyball players and one of the most fun hidden gems for those looking to have an exciting night out. It’s one of the best beaches near New Orleans.
Set nearby in Kenner, it’s roughly a 30-minute from downtown New Orleans and is the area’s premier volleyball complex. The beach draws thousands of young professionals to provide an opportunity for organized leagues, sanctioned tournaments, and recreational events, making it the country’s most extensive sand sports complex.
Though not natural, this lively spot is enough to give you a beachy vibe with sand underfoot without even driving far. But if you wish for more enjoyment, Lake Pontchartrain is right there.
If you are not a big volleyball fan or have not even been a sports lover, don’t worry. The full bar and grill are open at the complex to relax and hang out while people play; you can head there and enjoy the perfect beach atmosphere.
Despite the scarcity of water, Coconut Beach is one of the city’s favorite beaches near New Orleans that you must make a trip to.
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island is a top-notch destination for relaxing and having fun with family and friends. Located three miles south of Mobile Bay on the Gulf, Alabama’s Dauphin Island is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from New Orleans.
This barrier island amazes visitors with its stunning views and impeccable sugar-white sandy beaches with clear blue waters.
If you’re looking for a place to explore, you can head to the island’s east end where birdwatchers can take advantage of Audubon Bird Sanctuary, an ideal place to watch migratory birds, especially in the spring. You can also spend hours enjoying exciting sea adventures like sunset cruising or offshore fishing.
For those who’re history buffs, there’s an enchanting historic fort known as Fort Gaines which will give you an insight into the American Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay.
The best beach on the island is on the west side with a golf course. Visitors keep returning year after year to this beautiful Dauphin Beach.
Shell Beach, Louisiana
Shell Beach is a fantastic pebble beach set in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, and is easily accessible, less than an hour’s drive from New Orleans.
This scenic place offers a ton of things to its visitors to have fun and stay entertained during their trip. Numerous families fish together in the waterways on their multicolored boats. You can swim, enjoy renting a boat out, or paddle.
A 19th-century fort, Fort Proctor makes for an exciting sight, surrounded by the waters of Lake Borgne.
Outdoor enthusiasts can make reservations at one of the nearby campgrounds, either in a tent or an RV. Here, bird watching is a favorite pastime for most visitors.
On Shell Beach, you can enjoy a relaxing time sunbathing, reading a book, picnicking with the family, or just admiring the scenery along the peaceful and beautiful shoreline.
This area undergoes plenty of rain in August, so planning your visit before or after this month is better.
This beach near New Orleans is a perfect place to escape from the bustle of the city and revel in nature without driving far.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned about some of the best beaches near New Orleans that you can visit for a fun and relaxing getaway. Whether you are looking for a natural beauty, a family-friendly spot, or a lively place to play volleyball, you can find it within a few hours’ drive from the city. These beaches offer a variety of activities and attractions for everyone, from swimming and fishing to hiking and birdwatching. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to one of these fantastic beaches near New Orleans and make some unforgettable memories.
Click here to get to know about the Best Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood.
If you want to read about sports-related blogs then follow “deporg“.