Lake Pontchartrain

Technically, Lake Pontchartrain is not a lake at all; it’s an estuary that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Whatever its official designation, it makes a fun day trip from the city of New Orleans, whether for a fishing excursion, pleasure cruise, airboat swamp tour, or a shoreline picnic.

There are also a number of lakeside beaches open to the public, including Fontainebleau State Park on the North Shore. The North Shore is accessible by a 24-mile (39-kilometer) causeway (one of the longest bridges in the world), which connects the shoreline communities with downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter.

• For a great photo opportunity, drive across the causeway at sunset when the lake reflects the colors in the sky to impressive effect.

• There’s a pleasant running/walking path that follows the route of Lakeshore Drive past the University of New Orleans.

• If you drive across the causeway, stop off for a bite to eat at one of the pretty lakeside restaurants in the town of Madisonville along the North Shore.

• Lake Pontchartrain is somewhat accessible for wheelchair users, with a few ADA-compliant hiking trails nearby.

Lake Pontchartrain sits to the north of New Orleans city. Most people access the lake via I-610, using the West End exit. From there a scenic road—Lakeshore Drive—hugs the shore through the Metairie district and is ideal for a sightseeing drive. To reach the North Shore, take the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

Lake Pontchartrain is publicly accessible at all times. The shoreline beaches are busier on weekends when local families come to enjoy picnics.

Many New Orleans visitors first glimpse the lake on the way to explore the region’s swamps and bayous. From airboat swamp tours to kayaking and more, bayous are an essential part of Louisiana life, and each one is home to an incredibly diverse ecosystem. On a bayou visit, you might see alligators, many types of birds, nutria (large rodents a similar to groundhogs), and the famous stands of cypress trees covered with low-hanging Spanish moss.

Yes, Lake Pontchartrain is worth visiting. Many people like to go there to fish, have a picnic, go on a cruise, or just for a scenic drive. Driving over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway alone is worth the trip as it’s 24 miles (38 kilometers) long and has good views, especially at sunset.

Traveling across Lake Pontchartrain on the 24-mile (38-kilometer) causeway takes a minimum of 25 minutes. It can take much longer in bad weather when the speed limit is reduced. It’s the longest continuous bridge over water in the world, and the land disappears from sight at a certain point in the journey.

No, there is currently no ferry service that crosses Lake Pontchartrain, although there have been in the past. The easiest way of getting from one side of the lake (which is an estuary) to the other is to drive the 24-mile (38-kilometer) causeway. While a ferry doesn’t operate, you can charter boats to take you on the lake.

Yes, Lake Pontchartrain is often safe enough to swim in, but you should be careful when you do so. Although the lake (really an estuary) was too polluted to swim in for many decades, it has been significantly cleaned up. However, the water quality can still be too poor for swimming for a few days after heavy rain.

Yes, there are alligators in Lake Pontchartrain, but they’re not very commonly seen. Lake Pontchartrain was too polluted and salty for alligators to live in for a long time, but it has since become somewhat cleaner. Wildlife experts believe alligators don’t permanently live in Lake Pontchartrain but sometimes spillover from nearby wetlands.

Yes, dolphins can sometimes be found in Lake Pontchartrain, but they don’t live there permanently. Despite its name, Lake Pontchartrain is an estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico, so dolphins and other marine animals can come and go. Although the waters are much cleaner than they used to be, they’re still not ideal for dolphins.