Slidell sits in southeastern Louisiana, near the state border with Mississippi, where wetlands and waterways define the landscape. Camping options span across both states with sites located on the Tchefuncte River, Pearl River, and along Lake Pontchartrain. Water access is a key feature for most campgrounds in this region, with many sites offering fishing and boating opportunities.
What to do
Hiking nearby: Fontainebleau State Park Campground offers paved bike trails accessible directly from the campground. According to one visitor, "We enjoyed riding our bikes around the campground and the trails in the park. We also, took the trace to town and rode along the lake."
Wildlife viewing: Both Pearl River WMA and Fontainebleau State Park provide opportunities to spot local wildlife. At Fontainebleau, campers report: "We love this campground cause has lots of wildlife." Pearl River WMA offers more remote wildlife observation along the river with its natural setting that "felt very private" according to one camper.
Swamp tours: When staying at Pearl River WMA, you can explore nearby swamp tours. The campground is located "just before the swamp tours parking lot at the end of the road," making this a convenient activity. One camper noted, "Swamp tour company very close by."
What campers like
Clean facilities: McLeod Park Campground maintains clean facilities throughout. A camper mentioned, "The park is clean. They have a splash pad and playground for the kids." Another noted, "Nearly every site has a level concrete pad and many have full hookups."
Water recreation: Buccaneer State Park Campground features a water park with wave pool for additional recreational options. A visitor shared: "There is a water park with a wave pool which is fitting since its Waveland, MS. The bathrooms and showers are extremely nice and it also has a place to do laundry."
Proximity to New Orleans: New Orleans RV Resort & Marina (formerly Lake Pontchartrain Landing) provides convenient access to New Orleans. A camper reported, "Pontchartrain Landing is nice RV park... Its not far from downtown New Orleans... The occasional noise from airplanes taking off from nearby Lakefront Airport was a small detraction."
What you should know
Permits required: For Pearl River WMA, you need a Wildlife Management Area permit. One camper explained: "You must have a (free) permit on Louisiana's app LDWF WMA & sign in & out. I def recommend & I'll be coming back if I need to camp out near NOLA!!"
Site conditions: Be aware of possible wet conditions at Fairview-Riverside State Park. According to a camper: "I want to give them a 5, but they have a water problem. It doesn't take much rain to have standing water in many sites. Lots of the pads are old and narrow. You find yourself stepping out your coach into sloppy mud."
Seasonal considerations: The water park at Buccaneer State Park is seasonal. A visitor noted: "Certainly more expensive than any state park we have stayed in - especially when the season has ended and the pool & water park are shut down."
Tips for camping with families
Splash pads: McLeod Park Campground offers a splash pad that's perfect for children. A visitor observed: "We spent most of our time at the playground! It's really not that bad of a park... our daughters loved the play ground and little splash pad!"
Beach access: Buccaneer State Park Campground provides beach access for family outings. "The beach is lovely and the water felt great. There is also a splash pad," one camper shared about their experience.
Winter camping: For cooler weather camping with kids, Fairview-Riverside State Park works well. A family noted: "Reserved 3 primitive spots for new years weekend. 13 ppl total - 6 adults, 7 kids (ages 4-14). There was a great boat launch spot for the kids to put kayaks and canoes in the water... clean and nice bath houses (heated)."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Fontainebleau State Park, select your site carefully for larger RVs. One camper advised: "Be careful booking a pull thru site if your unit is over 25', they're horseshoe shaped. We could not fit on a pull thru site, and Betty at the entrance was awesome and found us the perfect back-in site that made our stay amazing!"
Leveling considerations: At Fairview-Riverside State Park, be prepared for leveling challenges. A visitor cautioned: "The grade on some sites are too much for class A coaches. But if the weather is good and you get a good pad, it's a beautiful campground."
Dumping facilities: For RVs without on-board tanks, note that Fairview-Riverside State Park has limited sewer connections. A camper pointed out: "Like a lot of state parks there is not a sewer connection (they do have a dump station) but we knew that going in. We were close to the on-site facilities and stretched our tanks for the 11 days."
