Best Beaches in Louisiana
Searching for the best Louisiana beaches to visit on your next day trip or vacation? Well, you are in the right place! I was completely won over by Louisiana’s blend of Gulf Coast charm, rich culture, and hidden beach escapes. From sandy stretches along barrier islands to family-friendly state parks, there is a lot to choose from.
Whether you want to enjoy fresh seafood by the shore, explore wildlife-rich marshlands, or simply soak up the sun in a laid-back atmosphere, "the Pelican State" is a great place to visit. Here are the best beaches I recommend and I hope you’ll love too.
1. North Beach - in the heart of Lake Charles
This is one of my favorite spots to unwind on the beach in Louisiana because it’s the perfect blend of convenience and coastal charm.
I love the way it stretches out with its soft white sand (actually, one of the few white-sand inland beaches between Texas and Florida). When we arrived, I instantly thought that it was a cool coastal escape right in southwest Louisiana!
Just off I-10, I reached North Beach in minutes after crossing the bridge into Lake Charles where we stayed in a Rush Tower Deluxe King at Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino (around $202 / night) for two days, complete with a luxurious soaker tub, 50" Samsung HDTV, Sealy Presidential King-Size Bed with Premium Egyptian-Cotton Bedding, Granite Dining Nook with Two-Seat Banquette, and, best of all, easy access to both the beach and the lively downtown dining scene.
My day was filled with lounging on the sand, cooling dips in the lake, and an evening stroll along the boardwalk that links the beach to Millennium Park and Veterans Memorial Park, all with gorgeous sunset views across the water.
Having many great restaurants to choose from on our beach vacation was such a treat, including the Asian-themed buffet at The Golden Nugget on Sundays, Landry's Seafood House and 121 Artisan Bistro where I had a Shaved Smoked Ribeye Sandwich ($18).
- Location: In the heart of Lake Charles along the shores of the Calcasieu River
- Map & Directions
- Check prices at 4-star Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was our family picnic next to the calm waters of Lake Charles, with seagulls overhead, and the welcoming wide shoreline.
2. Cypremort Point Beach - 65 miles south of Lafayette
Sitting at the edge of a long, marsh-lined peninsula, this is one of the most unspoiled stretches of Louisiana coast I’ve explored, and I think it’s one of the absolute best beaches near Lafayette.
What really stood out for me at this beach was seeing Vermilion Bay in shades of gold and crimson at sunset!
But just getting to Cypremort Point Beach this month was part of the fun, a scenic drive through sugarcane fields and marshland southwest of Lafayette, leading straight to this beachside state park. I stayed in a Suite with a King Bed at The 3-star Juliet Hotel (around $184/night) in Lafayette for two nights, enjoying Cajun food and music in town, then made the short drive out each day.
- Location: On Vermilion Bay in Cypremort Point State Park, south of Lafayette in coastal Louisiana
- Map & Directions
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was a mix of swimming along the half-mile stretch of sand, picnicking under the shady pavilions, spotting wildlife along the marsh boardwalks, and watching the sky ignite over the bay at dusk.
3. Fontainebleau State Park - 40 miles north of New Orleans
This park is one of my favorite day-trip destinations when I want a mix of beach time, trails, and a nice small-town nearby.
I loved the way this park felt like stepping into a dreamy blend of Louisiana history and Gulf Coast beauty! The beach along Lake Pontchartrain was the perfect place to wade in the warm shallows or stretch out under the sun.
I thought that Fontainebleau State Park was one of the best beaches in Louisiana. Why? I loved how the moss-draped oaks gave the whole area a timeless Southern charm! There were egrets and herons in the marshes that you could reach by following a trail.
Just an hour’s drive north from New Orleans over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, I based myself in the nearby town of Mandeville for two nights at 2-star Comfort Suites Mandeville where we were surrounded by a lovely mix of small-town cafes. I went walking along the Tammany Trace trail, relaxed on the sandy beach, paddling a kayak in the lake, and enjoyed the sunsets.
- Location: On the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, Louisiana
- Map & Directions
- Check prices at Comfort Suites Mandeville
- Lake Pontchartrain website
What I loved best:
The haunting brick ruins of Bernard de Marigny’s old 1829 sugar mill were super interesting and my personal highlight.
4. Grand Isle - 110 miles south of New Orleans via bridge
There’s something about Grand Isle that instantly made me feel like I’d discovered one of the Gulf’s best-kept secrets. Why? We adored the island’s seven miles of public beach (of course!) that are wide and open! In fact, this is Louisiana’s ultimate barrier island escape, raw, windswept, and full of Gulf Coast character.
I liked our barefoot strolls, and fishing, but what struck me most was the sense of being right on the edge of the continent. Pelicans were skimming the waves, shrimp boats chugging offshore, and the Gulf past all that.
Reaching Grand Isle took a scenic drive south through bayou country, across long stretches of marshland and the sweeping bridge over Caminada Pass. I stayed five nights in a Junior Suite at 3-star Blue Dolphin Inn & Cottages (around $120/night) which included a living room area with a futon, a private bathroom, microwave, and a refrigerator.
- Location: On Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island along the Gulf, southwest of New Orleans
- Map & Directions
- Check prices at Blue Dolphin Inn & Cottages
- Grand Isle State Park website
What I loved best:
The boardwalks and elevated views over the dunes were a real standout for me personally.
5. Holly Beach - 60 miles from Lake Charles
Spread out along the edge of the Gulf in Cameron Parish, this is one of the most unspoiled and refreshingly simple beach stretches I’ve ever visited in Louisiana, and I think it’s one of the absolute best beaches near Lake Charles.
Known fondly as the “Cajun Riviera,” this beach has that windswept, untamed Gulf Coast feel that we totally fell for! I visited Holly Beach on a day trip while staying in Lake Charles, about an hour away.
Instead of manicured resort sands, you’ll find wide open beaches where you can drive right onto the sand, and set up a chair. I saw families building driftwood forts, anglers casting into the surf, and seashell collectors wandering for hours along the shoreline. After a long day, the sunsets here were fiery and endless across the Gulf.
- Location: Along Louisiana’s southwest coast in Cameron Parish on the Gulf
- Map & Directions
- Holly Beach website
What I loved best:
The drive itself was my favorite adventure and my favorite highlight. The beach lies deep in Cameron Parish and reaching it took us along coastal marshes, bayous, and wildlife refuges teeming with birds.
6. White Sands Lake Day Beach - 70 miles north of New Orleans
If you’re craving a simple day at the water without driving to the Gulf, this beach is a fantastic choice.
The lake’s clear spring-fed water sparkles under the sun, and its long stretch of white sandy shoreline makes it easy to imagine you’re on the coast, even though you’re right in the middle of piney woods.
The drive was easy just 35 minute north of Covington in St. Tammany Parish and I treated it as a quick day trip when we were based in New Orleans (about an hour away). I spent the day alternating between swimming in the cool, clear water, lounging on the sandy beach with a picnic, and trying my luck on the inflatable obstacle course before drying off under the pines.
Since it’s a day-use park, the atmosphere stays casual and welcoming, with plenty of families and groups making the most of the summer sunshine. No, dogs aren't allowed on this beach.
- Location: In Franklinton, Louisiana, north of New Orleans in the Piney Woods region
- Map & Directions
What I loved best:
For me, White Sands Lake Day Beach is one of the best beaches in Louisiana because it's peaceful and unique!
The highlight for me was the floating water playground: giant inflatables with slides, trampolines, and climbing features that kept both kids and adults laughing all day long. It’s more lively than wild, and that energy made it feel like a festive summertime escape that completely won me over.
Booking Checklist
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