Campgrounds and RV parks near Abita Springs, LA

The Tammany Trace runs straight through town. The 31-mile paved rail-trail links Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe and Slidell, and doubles as a wildlife corridor connecting parks, historic landmarks and wetlands. Bike rentals are available near several trailheads, and the Abita Springs Trailhead sits at the center of downtown. In town, visitors can stop at the Abita Mystery House, the Abita Brewing Company, and the Abita Springs Trailhead Museum. The Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market offers locally grown produce, seafood, poultry, honey, baked goods, and plants. On the water, Fontainebleau State Park has a Lake Pontchartrain beach, a splash pad, and a marsh boardwalk. The Tchefuncte River near Fairview Riverside yields bass, bluegill, white perch, and bream, with channel catfish, speckled trout and redfish where the river meets the lake. Crabbing in both the lake and the river is also popular.

Spring and fall are the practical peak windows for RV travel on the Northshore. Temperatures are mild, humidity drops from summer levels, and biting insects are less aggressive. October through March offers the most comfortable conditions with the fewest mosquitoes, and fall is widely considered the ideal time to visit for pleasant weather and minimal bugs. State-park loops fill quickly on spring weekends and during Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and Thanksgiving. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms nearly daily and heat indices that regularly climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Mosquitoes peak from June through September, especially at dawn and dusk. It is also Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June through November and peaks in August and September. Storm-related closures and evacuations can affect state parks in this region; coastal and lakeshore parks routinely close ahead of named storms. Winters are mild but wet. Freezes are brief and infrequent, oak canopy stays green with Spanish moss, and campground availability improves. Snowbirds passing between Florida and Texas keep full-hookup private resorts busy in January and February.

State-park sites in the area are shaded and spacious. Fairview Riverside offers 101 sites along the Tchefuncte River, with 81 sites providing water and electric hookups, plus a dump station, hot showers, and flush toilets. Fontainebleau State Park recently completed a campsite improvement project that added full hookups to a 96-site campground, joining a larger inventory of water-and-electric sites that can accommodate rigs up to 70 feet, with a few pull-throughs handling rigs up to about 120 feet. Expect concrete or gravel pads, picnic tables, fire rings, and clean bathhouses. Where sewer isn't at the site, a dump station handles waste. Private resorts typically offer full hookups, laundry, and pool access. Wildlife is part of the experience: raccoons, wild pigs, and mosquitoes are common, so food should be secured and repellent packed. Pets are allowed on leashes no longer than six feet.