3 beaches close to New Orleans, plus a lake (but not the one you're thinking)

Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
12 minutes ago
5 min read

New Orleans is surrounded, intersected, and in many ways defined by water. We’ve got canals, bayous, lakes, and the biggest river in North America—but zero beaches. No one swims in our lakes and canals. The riverfronts are thick with brush and silt, not sand. I grew up with abundant summer boating, fishing, and watersports, but the magical world of beaches always felt elusive. The J.Crew summer catalog may as well have been a book of fairytales. What was this casual running down to the shore for a quick cookout? Where did one find water so inky-blue instead of the color of gumbo? And who the heck wears sweaters in summer?

You’ll need more than a car to get to those beaches, the ones with the lighthouses, teak cottages, and

people wearing khakis. But just a few hours from New Orleans you can catch real salty beach breezes and plunge your toes into real beach sand.

Here are three beaches close (ish) to New Orleans, ranked by distance. And we brought some lagniappe, naturally: a pristine, beachy lake that may be one of Louisiana’s best kept summer secrets.

Ship Island, Mississippi: 1.5 hours

As one of the last undeveloped Gulf barrier islands, Ship Island lies about 11 miles off the coast of Mississippi in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was named by New Orleans founders Iberville and Bienville as they made their way toward the Mississippi River.

Ship Island is accessible only by boat. To get there, beachgoers make an hour ferry ride from Gulfport. This arrangement keeps Ship Island free of traffic, resort sprawl, and cheap souvenir megastores. Instead, you’ll find clean white sand, emerald Gulf surf, and even some history in the form of Civil War-era Fort Massachusetts.

The ferry cruises to Ship Island in the morning and then back to Gulfport in the afternoon, so you get a full day to swim, lounge, and explore. Ferry reservations through Ship Island Excursions are essential on peak summer weekends.

There is essentially no commercial development of Ship Island, so bring everything you need: sunscreen, food, water, beach chairs. Some snack bars operate on the island, but you should plan to carry everything necessary for the whole day. The National Park Service provides restrooms, freshwater showers, drinking water taps, covered picnic areas, and a park ranger station. Lifeguards staff the south beach in summer.

How to get there:

Drive about 1.5 hours via I-10 East to Gulfport.
Board a one-hour ferry ride from Gulfport to the island (morning departure, afternoon return; you have to commit to a full day trip). Look for dolphins while you sail!
Tickets: Book in advance through the Ship Island official site—sellouts are common.

Dauphin Island, Alabama: 2 hours

As I grew up, Dauphin Island became my family’s go-to beach because it’s an easy day trip from the New Orleans area. We usually just stayed for the day, but sometimes we rented a beach house for the week. I still remember one beach house we rented in the ‘80s with a rusted tin roof and peeling teal shiplap perched on leggy stilts in the marshy sand. Since our own children were born, we’ve brought them here for an annual family beach trip.

The Dauphin Island experience is quintessentially wholesome. The island has no flashy boardwalk with expensive mini-golf and amusement-park rides, no neon nightlife, no bustling restaurant row or glitzy entertainment, no luxury cruises or pristine infinity pools with swim-up bars.

And that’s precisely the magic of it. When you go to Dauphin Island, you’re quite literally going just to the beach. You boil hot dogs and grill burgers, hunt for seashells, fish in the surf, bike to the ice cream stand, and entertain yourself with nothing but the sand and the waves.

For planning purposes: you will find a few restaurants, a grocery, and some shops on the island. There’s also a ferry that cruises across Mobile bay, which is fun in its own right and useful as a connection to the touristy Gulf Shores.

How to get there:

Drive about 2 hours via I-10 East.
If you need a destination to enter into your maps, try Skinner’s Seafood. Order the steamed shrimp plate. You’re welcome.
Beach access: The public beaches sometimes collect minimal parking fees, but often they’re just open and free.

Pensacola, Florida: 3 hours

As you cross into Pensacola, Florida, the Gulf turns clear and turquoise, and the sand turns powdery soft and white. Pensacola Beach sits on a barrier island in the Florida Panhandle, the nearest of Florida’s seemingly endless coastal enclaves.

Pensacola offers iconic beach beauty with slightly retro charm, real waves, and the most commercial development of this list. You’ll find a plethora of restaurants, hotels, and activities that could fill more than just a day if you want to extend your stay. We also love the island bridge to explore the charming historic old town with a fantastic art culture and hidden gem restaurants. You can also make a side visit to Fort Pickens, another relic of American history.

How to get there:

Drive about 3 hours via I-10 East.
Beach access: The public beach parking lots are free, but if they fill up you may need to pay for a spot in a private lot. The bridge to Pensacola Beach charges a $1 toll.
A free shuttle runs along the main boulevard so you can access restaurants, bars, and shops.
Fort Pickens requires a separate entrance fee.

A lagniappe lake: Lake Isabel Farm, 1.25 hours

New Orleans indeed has a massive lake of her own, but Lake Pontchartrain is more fit for fishing and sailing than swimming and sunbathing. So meet another nearby lake just north of New Orleans with crystal azure water and white sand beaches: Lake Isabel.

Once upon a time, miners digging a sand and gravel pit hit a natural spring. The pit filled with water and left behind a spectacular mile-long, 45-foot deep, 125-acre lake. A family privately owns the property, but releases “drops” of Saturday and Sunday passes for sale to the public (capped at 100 visitors per day). Day passes include access to the beach, a three-mile walking trail around the lake, a beach volleyball court, kayaks, life jackets, fishing spots, and grills.

If you head to Lake Isabel, pack like you're going to the actual beach. Bring drinks, chairs, and food for the grill. Glass is not allowed and there’s no lifeguard on duty, so swim at your own risk.

How to get there:

Drive about 75 minutes from New Orleans via the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Address: 54254 Cavenham Road, Bogalusa
Tickets: Book in advance through Tixtree—sellouts are common. Adult tickets start at $35 for ages 13+; children and seniors are $25.