If you have out of state plates on your car..watch out. How do I get from New Orleans to Grand Isle the fastest? The park is about 10 minutes from downtown Mandeville, which has plenty of restaurants and shops. . Grand Isle - one of the highlights of 5 Best Beaches in New Orleans (Read all about New Orleans here) Grand Isle highlights. Oleander and crepe myrtle, palms, ferns, and windblown oak trees on Cheniere ridges welcome migrating birds in season. Attractions: The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is an interactive facility that includes displays, live animals and a touch pool with cownose rays. Explore Grand Isle in Louisiana It offers stellar views of the Gulf of Mexico and a perfect getaway for. If youre curious where they are biting today, ask a localwho not only will know but will happily share with you expert advice. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences. There are no good restaurants in Grand Isle. The park has nature trails and a playground with a splash pad. Grand Isle State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. GRAND ISLE STATE PARK - 111 Photos & 26 Reviews - Yelp Grand Isle State Park, with its campsites and RV hookups, remained closed as of April 2022. Holly Beach is about four hours away from the Crescent City, but that doesnt stop many New Orleans residents from enjoying this Cajun beach community. According to the conservancy, Pontchartrain Beach has a safe level of enterococci, but the beach is closed. It is brown, and the water is muddy. Grand Isle Welcome to Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island! The main downtown area is on Washington Avenue and Government Street. They need to fix the crabbing dock, but we used it with extreme caution anyway to do some fishing and crabbing. I suggest you call the state park directly. Wish they could extend the boardwalk all the way to tent sites. Swimming Beaches Grand Isle. Here's the quick answer if you make this quick drive without any stops. The Blind Tiger and Mockingbird Cafe are solid options. The island is addicting! The island also hosts thousands of migrating birds each year, making it a prime location for bird watching. Grand Isle - New Orleans, LA - Yelp Let us know in the comments below! Look for two crumbling signs across the street on Hayne, which used to be for parking lots. It is located directly across Caminada Pass from Grand Isle. Louisiana native. $19 - $29 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Questions & Answers What is the cheapest way to get from New Orleans to Grand Isle? Either way, its worth staying the night so you can get up early to cast a line in the waters. One of the top destinations in Louisiana, its about 110 miles from New Orleans and is one of the closest Gulf coast beaches to the city. Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Isle State Park. Craving a relaxing beach getaway? Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The park is very well maintained. Grand Isle is the end of the road for Louisiana Highway 1, and it's arguably one of the most dramatic locations along the 436-mile-long highway. Louisiana State Parks - Culture, Recreation, and Tourism There's no data on the status of Lincoln Beach from the conservancy this week. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune). Restaurants and bars are available for food and bathrooms, in addition to the bait shop. Damaged homes line the Gulf of Mexico as potable water and permanent power are restored in Grand Isle on Jan. 18, 2022, 142 days after Hurricane Ida. The Sweet Serenity Of The Mandeville Lakefront Near New Orleans Is Worth The Drive, Youll Never Run Out Of Things To Do When You Book A Stay At Paloma Lake Near New Orleans, Experience The Lakeside Of New Orleans Like Never Before On A Private Yacht, One Of The Coolest Aqua Parks Near New Orleans, White Sands Lake Will Make You Feel Like A Kid Again, Some Of The Best Drivers In The Nation Are Found In New Orleans According To A New Study, Escape The Ordinary With A Stroll Through The Northlake Nature Center Near New Orleans, A Tiny Diner Across The Lake, Lizs Where Yat Diner, Is A Worthy Hidden Gem Near New Orleans, Explore Over 400 Acres Of Swamps and Marshes At The Northlake Nature Center Near New Orleans. If you are in the mood for shopping, swing by Realizations for prints and merchandise featuring Walter Anderson's art. Navarre Beach is actually best known for its role in Jaws, as the movie was filmed there. Our 7 yr. old Cocker Spaniel was entertained for hours with the small green frogs occupying the puddle. There was a problem saving your notification. This park is excellent, with large pull through camp sites. Other reviews mentioned the Lighthouse but it was closed so we ended up at the Starfish. Families enjoy the luke warm water at the bach on Grand Isle, Saturday, April 16, 2022. Hammerheads are seen "from time to time" at Alabama beaches, biologist says, Beach weather is here, and many people are bringing their dogs along to splash and run. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Louisiana's Must See-It-To-Believe-It Festivals, Dont Miss the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival, Louisiana State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways, Keep an Eye Out for These Birding Events and Activities in Louisiana, Surf Fishing in Coastal Areas Around Louisiana, Day Trip Itinerary: Alexandria & Pineville, Summer Fun Along the Louisiana Culinary Trails. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Louisiana's Must See-It-To-Believe-It Festivals, Dont Miss the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival, Louisiana State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways, Day Trip Itinerary: Alexandria & Pineville, Summer Fun Along the Louisiana Culinary Trails. We tent camped for two days in Grand Isle State Park. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 26 reviews of Grand Isle State Park "As you may have read, this is one of the greatest places to go fishing. Camping on the beach at Grand Isle State Park offers visitors the rare opportunity to fall asleep to the sounds of waves from the comfort of their sleeping bag. 15 Best Things To Do In Grand Isle, Louisiana - Updated 2023 Grand Isle, Louisiana Attractions | Beach, Dining & Water Sports Downtown Gulfport has been revitalized since Hurricane Katrina and has many excellent spots for drinking and dining. We'veput together a guide for 13 beach destinations that are within driving distance from New Orleans. Florescent lights make it way too bright. Own or manage this property? Tips for getting there: There's a well-trodden path to the beach. I think all of the food comes frozen and they heat it up. 5/6 Holly Beach sites. Wed already made plans. Are the facilities (showers, bathroom, laundry) open at this time? Absolutely! I wouldn't know. If youwant blue water, head to Florida or take the ferry to Ship Island in Mississippi. But not all are always safe for swimming, as testing by the Louisiana Department of Health shows. Visit Elmers Island Wildlife Refuge and see the beautiful tract of barrier beachfront located on the southwestern tip of Jefferson Parish. Cypremort Point State Park is in St. Mary Parish, an hour south of Lafayette. There are miles of public beaches and several free parking lots. Take a fishing trip, go birding or enjoy a casual stroll on the beach. Escape Louisiana and head to Mississippi instead for your next beach getaway. Beautiful Grand Isle QUIET East End Beachfront, View all hotels near Grand Isle State Park on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Grand Isle State Park on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Grand Isle State Park on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Louis Armstrong Intl Airport (MSY), Motels near Louis Armstrong Intl Airport (MSY), Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Grand Isle, Whitewater Rafting at Koprulu Canyon Antalya, Vancouver Harbor and Indian Arm Lunch Cruise, Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tour with Transportation from Downtown Dallas, Shared Two-Hour Whale Watching Tour from Oceanside, CA, Kane'ohe Bay Sandbar Self-Guided Kayak and Snorkel Discovery, Chiang Mai Thapae Muay Thai Boxing Stadium Ticket. Powered by Jayric Updated May 09, 2023 Save to Bookmarks Popularly known for its beaches, trails, parks, and world-class fishing habitats, Grand Isle in Louisiana is a great place for travelers looking to engage in many sports-like activities. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Dauphin Island is a quiet island community south of Mobile. Grand Isle Louisiana is tucked into a smattering of islands in the south, just beyond the coastline. One of the top destinations in Louisiana, it's about 110 miles from New Orleans and is one of the closest Gulf coast beaches to the city. Grand Isle boasts 280 species of fish, and you can catch them from almost any spot on or off the island. The conservancy has worked to clean up the lake since it was founded in 1989, and also runs weekly water quality tests all around the Pontchartrain basin. The public beach recently reopened, but the island is still rebuilding after being hit hard by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Because of its location and low elevation, the settlement on the island has been decimated by hurricanes several times. Home. Other attractions: The Mississippi Gulf Coast has several casinos that are popular for eating, drinking and playing. Biloxi Beach is near enough to New Orleans that a day trip here is possible. For now, if you want to dig your toes in the sand and enjoy the salty breeze, you have to hit the road. My husband and I rented a campsite April 8-10, 2014 with electric and water for our travel trailer. We loved it here! Spiced and boiled, fried, sauteed or grilled, the seafood comes from the waters off of Grand Isle, Louisiana, to your table -we call that Gulf to Table. "@context": "http://schema.org", See More, Jefferson Parish restaurants are among Louisianas best, offering the freshest ingredients, specialty dishes and friendly staff. "url": "https:\/\/files.tripstodiscover.com\/files\/2019\/06\/dreamstime_m_128286521.jpg" Ocean Springs, Mississippi. A plan to reopen Pontchartrain Beach without amusement park rides recently fell through. We experienced annoying little black flies that bite. Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. There's also the Audubon Bird Sanctuary and options for fishing, boating and kayaking. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Destin is a busy beach destination with many hotels,restaurants and shops. 9 Of The Closest Beaches To New Orleans Grab a beach towel and some sunscreen, because today were heading down to the tip of the boot to explore Grand Isles beautiful beaches. View the list of beaches nearby. 8 Best Beaches Near New Orleans - Trips To Discover We live in our RV and travel full-time and this is definitely one of the nicer state parks weve been to. Welcome to Grand Isle! - Grand Isle Crafty. Gulf Shores has a little bit of everything, with beach condos and hotels on one end and Gulf State Park on the other. Halfway Point Between Grand Isle, LA and New Orleans, LA. Read more about visiting Panama City Beach. Roshaun Higgins: roshaun.higgins@theadvocate.com; on Twitter: @row_yr_boat. The Environmental Protection Agency advises against accessing beaches with high levels of enterococcus bacteria, which can cause gastrointestinal issues if swimmers accidentally drink the water or absorb it through their skin. Canoes, kayaks and bikes are welcome and you can also rent golf carts. Whats the closest beach to New Orleans? Grand Isle Pet Friendly Beach Hotels; Grand Isle Hotels with Air Conditioning; Near Landmarks. The Yancy family from Chattanooga, Tenn., bundles up while spending time on Pensacola Breach, Fl. This barrier island offers more than just a beach; Grand Isle is great for birdwatching, fishing and camping too. We LOVED it. Beaches on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain are monitored not by the LDH, but the Pontchartrain Conservancy. Sampling was suspended following damage to the park caused by Hurricane Ida. Big mistake. While you could certainly trek it to the usual Gulf Coast spots in Alabama or Florida, but there's a beautiful beach right in our own backyard and you're going to love it. 9-Day Scotland by Design Guided Tour | 2024 Travel, 8-Nt Eastern Caribbean Cruise | Up To $1,100 Off, 7-Day Italy Guided Tour w/ YourChoice Excursions, RVshare & Hipcamp are Gifting You $70 to go Camp, 9-Day Southern Spain Guided Tour | 2024 Season, 8-Day Greece By Design Guided Tour | 2024 Season, 6-Nt Western Caribbean Cruise | Up To $1,100 Off, Denver Car Rentals to Fit Your Vacation Needs, Compare Orlando Car Rentals in One Easy Search, 7-Day Tahiti Cruise w/ Up To $1000 Ship Credit, Direct R/T Flights to Fiji w/ Award-Winning Fiji Airways. You can bring a picnic or go to one of the many restaurants along the beach or downtown. I understand the misquitoes can be terrible, but on our trip, we hardly saw a single insect. More than a hundred years ago, Kate Chopin so eloquently wrote in The Awakening, The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude. This is still the lure of Grand Isle today. Very quiet out there. The waves were really crashing on the days we camped. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune), People swim in Lake Pontchartrain at Fontainebleau State Park near Mandeville on Thursday, June 22, 2023. { Bay St. Louis in Mississippi is one of the closest beach options for New Orleanians. 4:02 pm arrive in Grand Isle. How far is it from Grand Isle to New Orleans? Remembering Grand Isle - New Orleans Review The police hide behind signs and drive ways partially blocked by boats. Things to do in Grand Isle. It is also the launching point for excellent deep-sea salt-water fishing adventures. Holly Beach and Constance Beach are in Cameron parish, about an hour south of Lake Charles. Regardless of whether youre in town for one of these festivals or just for a weekend getaway, youre in for a grand time at Grand Isle. Restaurant and shopping options abound. The Golden Meadow police department has an active speed trap on the way into grand isle. The beach in Grand Isle is open for public use, town officials announced Tuesday, for the first time since Hurricane Ida barreled into Louisiana nearly seven months ago, decimating the island. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. I was looking to pitch a ten this weekend, Hello. Grand Isle, found in Southeast Louisiana, offers miles of sandy shore for beach lovers to enjoy. Grand Isle Houses | Houses and More | Airbnb Hubby got fried shrimp which was at least edible. Still extremely torn up from last year's hurricanestill looks like a war zoneevery single building has at least a blue tarp on part of the roof, lots of for-sale signs, lots of piles of debris along the roadside. This lake beach, the closest beach from New Orleans city center, is only 30 minutes away. There are also several restaurants along the main road or you can pick up fresh fish, shrimp or crabs from marinas and local fishermen. WELCOME TO OUR PARADISE! Photo courtesy of Coastal Mississippi and photographer Alex North. Another notable characteristic of this beach is that it is home to the longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico, which is a popular spot to fish and view dolphins. I ordered stuffed crab and got a whole lot of stuffing - no crab. Keep in mind this is a barrier island so the winds can really kick up and the beach camp sites take the wind right off the water. Here are five Louisiana beaches safe for swimming this week | Health Its both an island and a town, with rustic charm, family owned shops, a state park (with camping and RV facilities) and some of the best wildlife viewing and fishing youre likely to find anywhere on your travels. Jefferson Parish Louisiana is a hot spot for events and festivals. Its also the closest Louisiana beach from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, making for a convenient daytime or overnight trip. stay for about 1 hour. Ocean Springs is an artsy community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with a beach and a walkable downtown full of shopping and dining options. Little Florida, Long Beach and Martin Beach are also in Cameron Parish, a few miles west of Gulf Breeze. Grand Isle beaches are open to the public | WGNO.com But it is a beautiful place. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. BY DAVID GRUNFELD | DIRECTOR OF. Sea birds migrate to the Grand Isle area. Time your visit right and you might get to see the fireworks. Though the park opened June 1 of this year, sampling is still suspended. The Greenhouse is a quirky coffee shop in an actual greenhouse. "url": "https://www.tripstodiscover.com", Check hours of attractions before you go. The fishing pier is an excellent day to spend the morning and evening. This is one of the best beaches near New Orleans for families to visit. So, where do I sign up???). Ashley's . The cheapest place to purchase the live shrimp is a bait shop on Elmer Island, which is on the north side of the bridge just before you enter Grand Isle. On the milder side, April's Grand . 19 of us.adults and teens and 2 younger ones. The sunrises are beautiful! In July the town becomes the center of the saltwater fishing universe with the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, an event that brings together world-class fishermen and prize-worthy catches. This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Seven miles of public beaches offer the perfect location for swimming, playing in the sand, combing for shells, soaking up rays or shore fishing. The beach here reflects the various elements at work in nature. Grand Isle | Explore Louisiana The beach at Grand Isle is not Florida. There are camps (beach homes), RV parks, motels available if you want to extend your stay. drive for about 47 minutes. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Our communities are comprised historic homes, fishing piers, Read more about Dauphin Island. Join Restore Grand Isle and the Grand Isle Garden Clubs efforts to plant trees and restore Grand Isles environment. Grand Isle, Louisiana - Wikipedia See More, The State of Louisiana maintains a mile of beach front at Grand Isle State Park on the easternmost staying e park looks out toward nearby Grand Terre island, once the lair of the legendary pirate (or Grand Isle Louisiana is not your usual travel destination. See Tripadvisor's Grand Isle, LA hotel deals and special prices on 30+ hotels all in one spot. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. By subscribing I agree to the terms and privacy policy. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The Department of Health tests for enterococcus bacteria at beach sites every week. Wi-fi available, complete kitchen, Gas Grill, charcoal grill. Lincoln Beach is in New Orleans East and is the only accessible sandy beach in the city (if you are willing to go offroad). How far is it from New Orleans to Grand Isle? "@type": "Organization", You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Check the LDH's beach monitoring website here. Scientists say those numbers paint the story of a warming world. If you are going for a day trip, there are public beaches and restaurants that make for a laid-back getaway. Only 12 miles from Biloxis coast, Ship Island makes an island getaway from New Orleans an affordable travel option. Grand Isle Louisiana - Grand Isle Louisiana Beaches - Destination 360 For some of the best beaches in the area, head to Grand Isle State Park. Drive from Grand Isle to New Orleans 108 miles $19 - $29 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Questions & Answers What is the cheapest way to get from Grand Isle to New Orleans? I don't even want to write a review so it stays remote and quiet. Families gather at Fontainebleau State Park's lakefront beach just off the Tammany Trace bike trail on a Saturday afternoon. Also, be very careful when driving to Park or any part of Grand Isle. The island is, of course, famous for its beaches, which generally consist of soft sands lapped by the Gulf of Mexico. There are also waterparks, regular and mini-golf courses, St. Andrews State Park, Ripley's Believe or Not! 1 minute it's 50 mph then within a few 100 yards it drops to 25 mph then back again to 45 or 50. Pensacola is one of the closest Florida beaches to New Orleans and has sugar-white sand and clear water. We learned from the other campers that there is also WIFI which worked pretty well. The Nature Conservancy maintains nature hikes through the islands last remaining stand of oak-hackberry forest, where the birds tend to congregate when in town. New Orleans to Grand Isle drive - plan a road trip (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate), Lincoln Beach on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans East Saturday May 8, 2021. } May 27, 2022 Updated Nov 10, 2022 The Yancy family from Chattanooga, Tenn., bundles up while spending time on Pensacola Breach, Fl. Cant wait to go back! Side trip: Downtown Long Beach is close and is an easy beach drive from Gulfport. All rights reserved. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate).