Campgrounds and RV parks near Lacombe, LA

The Tammany Trace rail trail runs through the area for biking, and Fontainebleau State Park offers a sandy beach on Lake Pontchartrain, a large playground, marsh boardwalks, and the brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville. Kayaking and canoeing are common on Cane Bayou, which forms the park's eastern boundary, and the surrounding wetlands draw birders year-round. At Fairview Riverside State Park, freshwater fishing from the river bank or a boat is popular, and crabbing in the lake and the river is also common. The Otis House Museum, built in 1885, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New Orleans, Mandeville, Covington, and the Abita Brewery are all within a short drive for day trips.

Peak season on the north shore runs from mid-March through May and again from mid-September through early November, when daytime highs sit in the seventies and low eighties and humidity backs off. Wildflowers and migrating songbirds show up in spring, and fall brings the year's driest, clearest weather. Waterfront sites at both state parks book out weeks ahead for these months. Summer is hot, humid, and stormy, with afternoon thunderstorms most days and heat indexes routinely above 100°F. August is the wettest month, averaging around 197 mm of rainfall across roughly 17 rainy days. Mosquitoes and biting flies are heaviest from May through September, so bring screens and repellent. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, peaking in August and September, and lakefront parks can close on short notice for tropical systems. Winters are mild and short. Freezes happen a few nights each year but rarely persist, and campgrounds along the lake stay open through the season. Rain is common in winter, so campers should expect soft, occasionally soggy ground in low-lying loops.

A recent state project added full hookups to Fontainebleau's 96-site campground, and the upgraded campsites now include water, electricity, and sewer utilities. Loops are wooded, mostly level, and shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss. Rigs over 35 feet should call ahead to confirm site length. Fairview Riverside has 100 campsites, a short nature trail, and a boardwalk that reveals forested wetlands along the Tchefuncte River, along with a playground, group pavilion, and comfort stations. Cell service is generally reliable across the north shore. Pets are welcome at Louisiana State Parks provided they are on a leash no more than 6 feet in length, caged, or crated.