★★★
Budget
Holiday Inn NEW ORLEANS-DOWNTOWN SUPERDOME by IHG
From $84 / night
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Things to Do in Houma in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
February Weather in Houma
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
69°F (21°C)
High Temp
53°F (12°C)
Low Temp
0.2 inches (5 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Gulf moisture slams into polar air. Barometric pressure yo-yos. If your head pounds with weather swings, stash February.
⚠ Dawn fog swallows bayous. Visibility drops to near-zero. Highway 311 turns ghostly. Wait for sun. Drive after nine.
Is February Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Mardi Gras season brings authentic Louisiana celebrations without New Orleans crowds. Houma's parades roll through downtown with locals throwing beads from pickup trucks instead of corporate floats. You stand curbside, not ten-deep. The throws feel personal, not promotional.
- + Crawfish season peaks in February. You'll find the freshest boils at roadside stands along Bayou Black Drive, where locals dump steaming sacks onto newspaper-covered tables. Eat with your hands. Lick the spice from your fingers.
- + Crabbing in the bayous is at its best. Blue crabs are fat and plentiful, and charter captains run smaller groups this time of year. You pull up traps slick with salt spray. The crabs snap. You grin.
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% from peak season. The Hampton Inn and Courtyard Marriott along Highway 311 have availability without booking months ahead. Walk in Friday. Get a room. Save cash for crawfish.
Considerations
- − Weather swings wildly. You might need a winter coat Monday and shorts by Wednesday, with 70% humidity making 20°C (68°F) feel like 25°C (77°F). Pack both. Trust me.
- − Mosquitoes can emerge during warm spells. The bayou never fully freezes, so they survive winter and swarm when temps hit 18°C (64°F) or higher. Spray early. Reapply often.
- − Some swamp tours close temporarily for maintenance. Operators use slow periods to refurbish airboats, reducing your tour options. Call first. Book second.
Best Activities in February
Top things to do during your visit
Swamp Airboat Tours
February's cooler mornings mean alligators are more active. They're cold-blooded and bask longer in the weaker winter sun. The cypress trees are still draped in Spanish moss but without summer's oppressive heat. Tours from Bayou Black route through narrower channels that summer's high water closes off. You glide past roots like twisted sculpture. Mist hangs low.
Booking Tip: Book 3-5 days ahead through licensed operators who provide ear protection and waterproof bags. Morning tours at 8 AM see more wildlife before afternoon temperature swings. Wake early. See more.
Crawfish Farm Visits
February marks crawfish season's start. Farms around Houma begin harvesting when water hits 16°C (61°F). You'll see actual rice-crawfish rotation fields, learn why farmers flood fields in winter, and taste crawfish so fresh they're still moving. It's agricultural tourism you can't fake. You wade. You learn. You feast.
Booking Tip: Contact farms directly 1-2 weeks ahead. Most offer tours Friday-Sunday only. Bring rubber boots and clothes you don't mind getting muddy. Expect dirt. Embrace it.
Bayou Fishing Charters
Speckled trout and redfish school up in February's inconsistent weather. When a cold front pushes through, fish stack up in deeper bayou bends. Local guides know which bayous (Bayou Black, Bayou du Large) hold fish based on recent rainfall. You'll likely have the water to yourself. Cast. Hook. Smile.
Booking Tip: Book 5-7 days ahead and ask about recent catches. Guides here are honest about slow periods. Bring layers. Bayou wind cuts through even 20°C (68°F) days. Zip up. Fish on.
Plantation Country Driving Tours
February's low angle sun photographs better through oak alleys at plantations like Madewood and Uncle Sam. The light hits the columns without harsh shadows. Cooler temps make walking grounds pleasant, and winter-bare trees reveal architectural details summer foliage hides. Shoot late. Stay golden.
Booking Tip: Start early - golden hour hits oak alleys around 4 PM this time of year. Many plantations close Tuesdays. Plan accordingly. Check hours. Chase light.
Downtown Mardi Gras Parade Viewing
Houma's parades (Krewe of Hercules, Krewe of Aphrodite) roll February 7-8 in 2026. Smaller crowds mean you can catch throws instead of fighting crowds. Locals set up BBQ pits along Barrow Street, sharing food with visitors. It's Mardi Gras without the tourist trap feeling. Eat free. Catch more.
Booking Tip: Arrive 2 hours early for spots near Courthouse Square. Bring a ladder for kids and a bag for beads. Downtown restaurants do special king cake desserts during parade weekends. Come hungry. Leave heavier.
Where to Stay in Houma in February
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for February travellers.
★★★
Budget
Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Canal St. French Quarter
From $109 / night
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February Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early February
Krewe of Hercules Parade
Houma's biggest parade rolls through downtown with 20+ floats. Locals throw handmade beads and moon pies. The route passes the old courthouse where families tailgate with crawfish boils. It's community Mardi Gras, not tourist Mardi Gras. You feel the difference.
Mid February
Crawfish Festival Kickoff
Local farms host tasting events when season opens. You'll eat crawfish boilediled in actual bayou water with seasoning bags locals swear by. Music comes from pickup trucks, not stages. Dance anyway.
Packing Checklist
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Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Houma Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best crawfish come from farms using rice fields. Ask vendors if their crawfish are 'rice field raised' for sweeter meat. Taste the grain.
Bayou Black's public boat launch has free parking. Most tourists pay for marina parking unaware. Save the fee. Launch free.
Local hardware stores sell better bug spray than tourist shops. Schwegmann's on Grand Caillou Road stocks what locals use. Buy there. Swat less.
Tuesday is dead everywhere. Most restaurants close, and what stays open serves yesterday's seafood. Cook instead. Or starve.
Winter tides are extreme. Low tide exposes mudflats good for shell collecting but terrible for fishing. Check charts. Wade wisely.
The Walmart on Martin Luther King Blvd becomes a social hub during cold snaps. Locals who won't brave bars meet here. People-watch. Stay warm.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming all swamp tours run year-round. Several operators close January-March for maintenance, call ahead. Confirm first. Avoid disappointment.
Wearing shorts in 20°C (68°F) weather. The humidity makes it feel colder, locals wear jeans until 24°C (75°F). Copy them. Shiver less.
Booking New Orleans hotels for Mardi Gras. Houma's parades are authentic and rooms cost half as much. Stay local. Save cash.
Ignoring tide charts. Winter tides swing 1.5 m (5 ft), stranding boats and exposing dangerous mud. Read graphs. Stay afloat.
Eating oysters in February warm spells. Bacteria levels spike when water hits 15°C (59°F), stick to crawfish. Choose red. Skip raw.
Book Experiences in Houma
Top-rated things to do in Houma this February
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