Louisiana
Small-Town Weekend Getaways from New Orleans
Piney-woods springs, river-parish plantations, and a Gulf Coast arts colony within 90 minutes of the French Quarter.
The short version
Small towns near New Orleans worth a 48-hour trip
New Orleans weekend trips split between the piney North Shore, the river-parish plantation country upriver, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Within two hours you reach a springs-and-brewery town, a bluff-top plantation village, and a Gulf Coast arts colony. These are weekend trips from New Orleans built on springs, river bluffs, and the Gulf.
Abita Springs (45 minutes north across Lake Pontchartrain) is the piney-woods town built around artesian springs, the Abita brewery, and the Tammany Trace bike trail. St. Francisville (1.5 hours northwest) is the river-parish seat on a bluff above the Mississippi, with plantation homes and the woods where Audubon painted. Ocean Springs (1.5 hours east on the Mississippi Gulf Coast) is the arts colony of the coast, Walter Anderson watercolors, Shearwater Pottery, and a walkable beachfront downtown.
All New Orleans escapes
3 weekend trip ideas from New Orleans, sorted by how far you have to drive. Vibes covered: nature, food.
Under 1 hour
1 escape from New Orleans
1 to 2 hours
2 escapes from New Orleans
Questions & Answers
New Orleans weekend FAQ
Abita Springs (45 minutes), St. Francisville (1.5 hours), and Ocean Springs (1.5 hours) are the strongest small-town escapes from New Orleans, covering a piney-woods springs town, a river-parish plantation village, and a Gulf Coast arts colony.
Abita Springs, about 45 minutes north across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, is the closest true small-town escape, built around artesian springs, a brewery, and the Tammany Trace bike trail.
St. Francisville, about 1.5 hours northwest of New Orleans, has Rosedown and The Myrtles plantations in their original gardens, plus the Audubon State Historic Site where John James Audubon painted in 1821.
Abita Springs (45 minutes, a piney-woods springs town), St. Francisville (1.5 hours, a river-parish plantation village), and Ocean Springs (1.5 hours, a Gulf Coast arts colony) are the best weekend getaways from New Orleans.