Camping near Barataria, Louisiana provides access to bayou waterways and Gulf Coast ecosystems where elevations rarely exceed 5 feet above sea level. The region's subtropical climate creates year-round camping opportunities with particularly comfortable conditions from October through April when humidity levels drop significantly. Several campgrounds offer water-based recreation alongside traditional camping amenities.
What to do
Bayou fishing experiences: St. Bernard State Park provides excellent fishing access with proximity to multiple waterways. One camper noted, "We enjoyed the fishing. Nice hiking trail in the area, but beware of the ginormous banana spiders that weave their webs across the trail."
Water recreation: At Bayou Segnette State Park, campers can enjoy boating and water activities. "Nice campground. Close to town with stores and restaurants. Just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans," reports one visitor. The park offers boat launches and water access points for paddling.
Historic site exploration: Within 30 minutes of most Barataria area campgrounds, you'll find Chalmette Battlefield National Park. A visitor at St. Bernard State Park mentioned, "When here, you are very close to the Chalmette Battlefield National Park and Cemetery where the famous battle of New Orleans took place. This park offers great history lesson and period dressed reenactments."
Levee trail walking: The Mississippi River levee system provides elevated walking paths with river views. A camper at New Orleans West KOA noted, "A 10 minute walk will have you on the multi-use trail on top of the levee and that is a wonderful place for a walk, jog, or bike ride."
What campers like
Proximity to New Orleans: Most campers appreciate the easy access to New Orleans while staying in more natural surroundings. A visitor at French Quarter RV Resort shared, "Walking distance to French Quarter. Bit noisy as it's by the highway but didn't bother us. Great pool and friendly staff."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The wetland environments support diverse wildlife. A camper at Fontainebleau State Park mentioned, "We love this campground cause has lots of wildlife," and another noted, "The raccoons are smart, and not scared of humans, lol."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept facilities despite challenging wetland conditions. At St. Bernard State Park, a visitor reported, "The campground, as we as the restroom/shower house, is well maintained. Electric & water hookups. Water actually tasted good."
Spacious sites: Campers frequently comment on site sizes. One visitor to Bayou Segnette noted, "Pads are level, wooden deck fire ring, plenty of room for tents, laundry room bathroom & showers were clean, playground well kept."
What you should know
Weather and insects: The subtropical climate means high humidity and insects are common year-round. A Bayou Segnette visitor advised, "You have to expect muggy conditions when camping here, it is a bayou, scale back your bedding to light weight materials and just be prepared for mosquitoes."
Seasonal flooding considerations: Low elevation means standing water is common after rain. A camper at Lake Pontchartrain Landing (now New Orleans RV Resort & Marina) described, "Pontchartrain Landing is nice RV park. We had a great weekday stay in late December and the weather was nice."
Urban proximity tradeoffs: Campgrounds closer to New Orleans often have more urban noise. One camper at Three Oaks & A Pine noted, "It's not a very safe neighborhood and you can tell by the very loud noises at night (trains, cars spinning etc), so if you're a light sleeper, you might have a hard time."
Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak periods. A Military Park camper shared, "Great location, clean sites and facilities, well spaced between sites. $30 a night. Quite part of base."
Tips for camping with families
Splash pads and swimming options: Several parks offer water features for children. A camper at Three Oaks & A Pine mentioned, "There is even a little dog run for the pups," and Fontainebleau State Park offers "a splash pad. The beach is lovely and the water felt great."
Playground accessibility: Look for campgrounds with play areas. A Bayou Segnette visitor noted, "My boys enjoyed the fishing. Short drive to French Quarter," while another camper mentioned "playgrounds and picnic areas" in the day use section.
Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer nature programs. At St. Bernard State Park, a visitor commented, "Very nice, close to new orleans, lots of history around," providing opportunities for children to learn about local ecosystems and history.
Security considerations: Family campers often prioritize secure locations. A Three Oaks & A Pine visitor shared, "I loved this place. Nice, clean, safe, lovely office manager, laundry station, shade, picknick tables and a cute rooster."
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: Many area campgrounds have concrete pads suitable for larger rigs. A Bayou Segnette camper noted, "I was here for a week. The spots are quite level. The water quality is good. Bring a preasure regulator as it seems to be higher than normal preasure."
Hookup considerations: Variations in hookup configurations may require planning. A St. Bernard visitor observed, "I did notice spaces 7, 12 and 14 had sewer hook ups. There might have been more."
Access challenges: Some RV parks have difficult approaches. One French Quarter RV Resort camper advised, "Oh, our GPS took us on a round about so ask them how best to get there when you book. I-10 is across the street and a bit loud during the daytime, but less so at night."
Dump station positioning: Plan for unusual dump station configurations. A St. Bernard camper noted, "My few complaints would be the dump station is located to where you have to use it coming into the park instead of leaving the park."
