Beaches in Louisiana

While Louisiana beaches might not necessary spring to mind, the state offers several clean, sandy strips with great lake and ocean access. Both lakeside and ocean side beaches in Louisiana offer plenty of fun and many different things to do depending on where exactly you are. A Louisiana beach vacation might take a little pre-planning and some extra thought than a Caribbean vacation, but all in all a getaway to state beaches can be just as exciting as a trip to the islands. And much cheaper. Take a refreshing swim, relax with a good book, take part in world-renowned Louisiana fishing, and snooze beach side to recharge.

Both Lake Charles and Grand Isle boast some of the best beaches in Louisiana. Grand Isle has about the best fishing beach in Louisiana there is. The area is considered one of the top ten best fishing spots in the world and is visited by tens of thousands of people annually. Lake Charles is another winner with beach lovers. While Lake Charles is enveloped by an urban area with great history and city-wide attractions, Grand Isle is the rougher, rawer beach version with plenty of nature to explore. Both border on the Gulf of Mexico which means access to clear, warm ocean water, and excellent sport fishing.

Suffice it to say, the best Louisiana beaches are in the southwest and along the Cajun Riviera. It’s not difficult to find a beach in Louisiana on the Gulf of Mexico but it is hard to find an uncrowded one in the summer. The Cajun Riviera begins at Holly Beach in Cameron Parish and ends at Cypremort Beach in Vermilion Parish. There are more than 30 miles of beaches in Louisiana inside Cameron Parish proper. Between these two areas there are a number of excellent beaches in Louisiana including LaFleur Beach, North Beach, and Rutherford Beach aside from the two aforementioned.

Cypremort Point Beach is roughly a day and half drive from Lafayette. This beach in Louisiana offers the only Gulf access after the string of Cameron Parish Louisiana beaches. Vermilion Parish, Louisiana is the nearest town where there are a small number of Louisiana hotels to choose between. More than 1,000 acres are protected by three, surrounding barrier islands. Sailing, boating, and fishing take top spots as do wind surfing, water skiing, and swimming. Barbeque grills, picnic facilities, and restrooms are all available.

LaFleur Beach amenities include a public boat launch, restrooms, picnic tables, parking for rented transportation, and an enclosed pavilion. North Beach is in the Lake Charles vicinity. It is the sole white sand beach found from Texas through to Florida. The atmosphere among these Louisiana beaches is mainly relaxed and abuzz with many families. Rutherford Beach is a more natural setting where bird-watching, hiking, fishing, and shelling are ideal. Camping is allowed on both Holly and Rutherford Beach. The beaches in Louisiana might almost be called a secret of the southwest. Anyone unfamiliar with the area might not think there are so many great waterside locations to choose from. For visitors, the beaches can be a pleasant surprise, but for locals they are a tried and true recipe for recreation and relaxation.