Day Trips from Houma
The best excursions and trips you can do in a day
Full-Day Trips
Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.
New Orleans French Quarter & Garden District
80-120The drive from Houma places you in New Orleans in about an hour and a half. This route makes for a very doable day of exploring. Wander the French Quarter and listen to street music. Take the St. Charles streetcar up through the Garden District to see the grand historic homes. Pick one neighborhood. Focus on two areas max. Avoid spreading yourself too thin across the city.
Avery Island (Jungle Gardens & Tabasco)
25-35This trip is a uniquely Louisiana experience. Avery Island is a salt dome island where the McIlhenny family has been making Tabasco sauce since 1868. The factory tour holds real interest. The real surprise for many visitors involves the 170-acre Jungle Gardens. Expect a notable landscape of live oaks, azaleas, and a huge rookery for egrets and herons. Plan extra time for walking. Bring water.
Lafayette & Acadian Cultural Centers
40-70Considered the heart of Cajun Country, Lafayette has a more concentrated dose of the culture you find around Houma. The Acadian Cultural Center run by the National Park Service provides excellent context. Nearby you have places like Vermilionville, a living history museum. The food scene draws crowds. Boudin shops and plate lunch spots appear everywhere. Visit downtown.
Oak Alley Plantation
25-30This site delivers the postcard image of a Louisiana plantation. A quarter-mile canopy of 300-year-old live oaks leads up to the Greek Revival mansion. The tour focuses on the lives of both the enslaved people and the owning family. It is a sobering but important part of the region's history. The setting is undeniably striking. Stand quietly. Take it all in.
Grand Isle State Park
15-50Seek a complete change of scenery from the bayous. Head south to Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island. Grand Isle operates as a fishing and beach community. The state park at the eastern end holds a long fishing pier. It also has a beach for swimming. You will feel at the very edge of the continent. Look out into the Gulf. Pack sunscreen.
Lake Martin & Breaux Bridge
20-60This combination pairs a natural attraction with a charming small town. Lake Martin, near Breaux Bridge, hosts a protected rookery where you are almost guaranteed to see alligators, turtles, and hundreds of waterbirds like herons and roseate spoonbills. The town of Breaux Bridge, the 'Crawfish Capital of the World,' includes a cute main street for browsing and eating. Stop for crawfish. Walk the strip.
Half-Day Options
Shorter excursions when time is limited.
Mandeville Lakefront & Abita Brewery
10-30Heading north across Lake Pontchartrain via the Causeway delivers an experience in itself. Mandeville holds a lovely, old-fashioned lakefront park good for a stroll. The main draw for many visitors involves the Abita Brewery tour in nearby Abita Springs. The visit includes a tasting of their local beers. Sip carefully. Park early.
Thibodaux Historic District
0-10Just a short drive north of Houma, Thibodaux has a compact and walkable historic downtown centered around Nicholls State University. You can view some impressive historic homes and the old courthouse. It works well as a low-key alternative if you do not want to spend the whole day in the car. Rest your feet. Walk slowly.
Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum
5-8Located right in Houma, this museum demands a few hours if you have not visited yet. It does a good job explaining the intimate relationship between the people of this area and the water. The exhibit covers everything from fishing and trapping to the oil industry. The facility gives context that makes the surrounding landscape make more sense. Buy a ticket. Go inside.
Day Trip Tips
Make the most of your excursions.
- ✓ Summer afternoon thunderstorms appear very often. Plan to do your driving in the morning. Be prepared for a heavy, brief downpour that can slow traffic. Watch the sky. Check radar.
- ✓ Many smaller attractions, cafes, and even some museums in rural areas close on Mondays. Always check opening hours online or with a quick call before you head out. Call ahead. Verify times.
- ✓ Roads like LA 1 south to Grand Isle remain mostly two-lane with long, low bridges. Services disappear for long stretches. Fill your gas tank in Houma before you go. Buy fuel.
- ✓ For plantation visits, consider focusing on just one or two locations. Trying to tour multiple sites in one day becomes repetitive and emotionally draining. Pick carefully. Rest often. Choose wisely.
- ✓ If you are going to New Orleans, pre-book your parking via a garage app. Driving around the French Quarter looking for a spot proves a frustrating waste of time. Reserve ahead. Skip street searching.
- ✓ Carry cash, not just cards. Smaller state park entrances, roadside produce stands, and some local food spots might only take cash. Keep bills handy.
- ✓ Factor in the time of year. Summer proves hot and humid, good for water-based trips. Spring and fall offer more pleasant weather for walking tours and gardens. Pack light clothes.
- ✓ A surprising number of local events happen on weekends in the towns around Houma. Checking community calendars for festivals, markets, or fairs can easily enhance your day trip. Look online. Find events.
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