14 Awesome Weekend Getaways From New Orleans (2024)
Louisiana’s most extensive city, New Orleans, is known for its European-style architecture, major tourist resort, medical, industrial, and educational center. Being the backbone of music: Jazz, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and Zydeco, it is also famous for mouth-watering Creole cuisine and all-around good-time vibes. But for many tourists, Mardi Gras is the primary cause to see New Orleans.
14 Awesome Weekend Getaways From New Orleans
So, are you preparing for a weekend trip to New Orleans? Then you can see these best weekend getaway ideas for your visit to New Orleans.
New Orleans is that kind of place where you can undoubtedly get lost for so long. But if you want to live in this area for a few days, you might have to look for a good getaway spots within easy driving distance. You can check out these below-mentioned fascinating getaway places to inspire you from New Orleans.
1. Biloxi, Mississippi
Distance: 77.24 Miles
Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes by car
Biloxi is a small Gulf Coast city located in the state of Mississippi. This city has many sightseeing portions like the lighthouse, Mardi Gras Museum, Ship Island, Beau Rivage resort which is a prime destination for every visitor, etc. The fun part is that this city has a tour train, formerly known as the” Biloxi Shrimp Tour Train,” which includes a ride around the city’s historical parts and a complete program of information about Biloxi’s unique culture and historical roots.
Visiting Places: Beau Rivage Casino, Beauvoir, Biloxi Visitors Center, Biloxi Beach, Biloxi Lighthouse, Biloxi Bay Bridge, MGM Park, Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, New Palace Casino Point Cadet, Treasure Bay Casino, etc.
2. Houmas House and Gardens
Distance: 53.4 Miles
Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes by car
Houmas House and Gardens is a Historical Estate open for daily outings in Darrow, Louisiana, which experiences the life of a wealthy sugar baron. A unique collection of art, furniture, and antique artifacts tell you the story of plantation life. You can plan on spending 3 hours visiting this site entirely.
Visiting Places: Laura Plantation, Oak Alley Plantation, San Francisco Plantation, Rural Life Museum, Tanger Outlet Mall, Holiday Inn Express, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, Towneplace Suites, etc.
3. Grand Isle, Louisiana
Distance: 108 Miles
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes by car
The visitors of Grand Isle treasure the city’s laid-back feel and amiable residents and travelers. It is situated in southern Louisiana, famous for fishing, bird watching, and sports. If you’re in the mood for a road trip to the beach, you can go to this Grand Isle that offers several public activities like fishing, walking and hiking, camping, and swimming. It will be the ideal spot if you want to escape the town and enjoy a simple residence and closeness to nature.
Visiting Places: Grand Isle State Park, Fort Livingston, Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge, Grand Isle State Park, Elmer’s Island Beach, Grand Isle Veterans War Memorial, Ninety West Park, Louisiana Department of Wildlife Fisheries, Kayak launch, etc.
4. Dansereau House
Distance: 60 Miles
Duration: 1 Hour 10 minutes by car
This Dansereau House, or the Caldwell Home, mainly known for its architectural masterpiece, is located in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The house gives you a feeling of historical architecture, and your stay ensures a new glance into history with their attractive suites, adding to the heritage home’s splendor.
Visiting Places: Martha Sowell Utley Memorial Library, St. John’s Historic Cemetery, Acadian Cultural Center, etc.
5. Memphis, Tennessee
Distance: 395 Miles
Duration: 5 hours 42 minutes by car
You must go from New Orleans to Memphis if you love to take a long drive. You will treasure this place if you value music and are curious about learning musical history. You can also get some delicious barbecue and bar hop along Beale Street to catch a performance on your weekend trip.
Visiting Places: Sun Studio, Graceland, National Civil Rights Museum – Lorraine Motel, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis Zoo, The Peabody Ducks, Shelby Farms Park, Beale Street, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Slave Haven / Burkle Estate Museum, AutoZone Park, Memphis Botanic Garden
6. Dauphin Island, Alabama
Distance: 119.8 Miles
Duration: 5 Hours 30 Minutes by car
If you head towards the East of New Orleans, you can reach the popular southern destination of Dauphin Island, Alabama. Various historic forts were situated in this place which is part of the Civil War. So, you can visit these locations and learn about them while enjoying beautiful sunsets with fresh seafood and a laid-back vibe.
Visiting Places: Mobile Bay Ferry, Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Fort Gaines, Gulf Breeze Motel, Kiva Dunes, etc.
7. Fairhope, Alabama
Distance: 162 Miles
Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes by car
If you want an afternoon of horseback riding, or opt for a hayride if you have small children, then you must visit the Oak Hollow Farm. When selecting a Fairhope vacation rental on the shore, you can soak up the Bay of Mobile’s natural beauty.
Visiting Places: Fairhope Municipal Pier, Tolstoy Park, The Henry Stuart House, Fairhope Museum of History, Fairhoper’s Community Park, Marietta Johnson Museum, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Bohemian Park, Fairhope AL, North Beach Park, etc.
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Distance: 81 Miles
Duration: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
You can make a manageable weekend trip from New Orleans to the Louisiana capital city of Baton Rouge. If you want to exercise on the levee trail that runs along the Mississippi River, you can check out the Capitol Park Museum. You can also catch a game at LSU Tiger Stadium or Alex Box Stadium if you visit during the right season.
Visiting Places: USS KIDD Veterans Museum, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Mike the Tiger’s Habitat, Magnolia Mound Plantation, BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, Capitol Park Museum, etc.
9. Ormond Plantation
Distance: 9 Miles
Duration: 30 minutes
If you want a romantic weekend getaway at a short distance, you can easily choose this place. Ormond Plantation is a place of bed and breakfast with a rich dating history. You can expect to find comfortable rooms with luxurious facilities, like air conditioning, spa facility, heating, private bath, etc. A great tip is that! On top of this plantation, many beautiful antiques furnish the rooms, adding magnificence.
Visiting Places: Destrehan Plantation, Bulow Creek State Park, Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, Fairchild Oak, Dummett Sugar Mill Ruins, etc.
10. Lafayette, Louisiana
Distance: 135 Miles
Duration: 2 hours by car
After a scenic drive through the region, a two-hour trip to the west will take you to Lafayette, Louisiana. If you visit this place in September, you can experience various traditional Cajun culture music, food, and family fun at the annual festival.
Visiting Places: Vermilionville Historic Village, Azalea Trail – Lafayette LA USA, Acadian Cultural Center, Lafayette Science Museum, The Lafayette Museum, Children’s Museum of Acadiana, Ragin’ Cajun Water Tower, etc.
11. Lake Charles
Distance: 206 Miles
Duration: 3 hours by car
If you love fishing, you can go to Lake Charles to enjoy the lake’s view with a boating facility. It would be the best fun place for you to visit some outdoor entertainment since it’s a top area for any boating and fishing destination. You can also enjoy some hiking at the Creole Nature Trail, where you can see different types of birds and learn about the ecosystem.
Visiting Places: Lake Charles Visitor Center, Millennium Park, Prien Lake Park, Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, Cypress Pond, Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Lock Park, etc.
12. Mobile, Alabama
Distance: 144 Miles
Duration: 2 hours by car
Mobile is Mardi Gras’s motherland, the most attraction for all visitors. Any Tuesday will be the best for attending this carnival when the Mardi Gras festivals are in full swing. Mobile has fantastic restaurants and bars to treat you to a night out.
Visiting Places: History Museum of Mobile, Richards-DAR House Museum, Oakleigh House Museum, USS Alabama, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, Exploreum Science Center & Poarch Band of Creek Indians Digital Dome Theater, etc.
13. Pensacola, Florida
Distance: 201 Miles
Duration: 3 hours by car
You can feel the warm, white sand along the bay of Mexico in Florida. You can plan for this weekend’s getaway if you’re looking for beautiful beaches and family-friendly attractions. If you have kids, you can see the National Aviation Museum and learn more about the area’s history.
Visiting Places: Fort George, Plaza De Luna Memorial Monument, Pensacola Museum of History, at the University of West Florida, Historic Pensacola Village, Plaza Ferdinand VII, Dorr House, etc.
14. Natchez, Mississippi
Distance: 176 Miles
Duration: 2 Hours 50 Minutes by car
It is the mainland for finding everything from antique shops to cafe restaurants. Like the others in the South, Natchez presents Civil War history and permits you to take a phase ago in the period.
Visiting Places: GardenSong Guest House, Longwood, Forks of the Road, The Towers of Natchez, Natchez National Historical Park, Natchez Museum-African American Culture, Grand Village of Natchez Indians, Lansdowne Plantation, Magnolia Bluffs Casino, Charboneau Distillery or the Old South Winery, etc.
With these road trips from New Orleans right at your fingertips, you should have no trouble planning your next weekend getaway!
Conclusion
You never get bored due to its numerous types of visiting places for exploration. So, when you are in New Orleans, pack your bags, sit tightly in your car, and enjoy exploring the cities.
