The best waterside camping near Gretna

Across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, Gretna offers a quiet camping getaway from the nightlife of the Big Easy. Motorhomes can roll into the local RV park, which features full hookups, laundry facilities, and restrooms with showers. Or, find a private tent site with water and electrical hookups as well as a cabin rental equipped with kitchenettes and private bathrooms right in town. For a day at the beach, head an hour north to Fontainebleau State Park, perched on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Build sandcastles on the beach, explore the water by kayak, and walk or bike the old railroad track now dubbed Tammany Trace. Tent and big-rig campsites offer full hookups, while an on-site cabin rental features double beds, cooking utensils, and linens. Extend the trip with a visit to Bogue Chitto State Park, roughly two hours north. Mountain bike a 14-mile single-track trail, tube down the Bogue Chitto River, and then rest up at a modern cabin with a full-size kitchen and queen-size bed.