About this campground
With more than 26,000 acres of wild Louisiana wetlands, the Barataria Preserve's hardwood forest, swamp, bayous, and marsh offer trails, picnic areas, fishing, hunting (in season and with permits), and wildlife viewing. Visitor center films and exhibits explain the wetlands habitat and current environmental challenges; ranger programs are offered daily. Admission to the preserve and to most programs is free.
Getting there
The Barataria Preserve is located 17 miles south of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River; Barataria Blvd./Highway 45 runs through the preserve. Note that not all GPS systems find the preserve successfully, so double check your GPS against a map. The Visitor Center is located just off of Highway 45.
Nearby federal campgrounds
- French Quarter Visitor CenterJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve12 mi
- New Orleans Jazz National Historical ParkNew Orleans Jazz National Historical Park12 mi
- Ogden Museum of Southern ArtNew Orleans12 mi
- Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National CemeteryJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve13 mi
- Wetlands Acadian Cultural CenterJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve43 mi
- Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol CenterBaton Rouge79 mi
Explore more Louisiana camping
Barataria Preserve doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Louisiana campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Louisiana camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.