Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to rent in Louisiana, listed by private owners and local rental businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for RV rental in the USA, then book online with insurance included.
Louisiana is easy country for an RV: flat roads, hops of an hour or two between stops, and scenery that shifts from swamp to river levee to Gulf marsh. Allow 5 to 7 days for a circuit of Cajun Country, the Mississippi plantation road and the Creole Nature Trail. Late October to April is the most comfortable window, and the Atlantic hurricane season shapes everything else.
Louisiana RV trip at a glance
| Best months | Late October to April. June to September is hot and humid, and the hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November. |
|---|---|
| Days needed | 3 to 4 days for one route, 5 to 7 days for all three |
| Where to pick up | New Orleans, the main hire point: RV rental in New Orleans |
| Main highways | I-10 (east to west), I-12, I-49, US-90, US-61, LA 27 and the River Road along the Mississippi |
| Overnight options | Louisiana State Parks campgrounds, private RV parks (see RV parks and campgrounds) |
| Typical RV hire cost | About $150 to $350 a night, depending on size and season; see how much it costs to rent an RV |
Road-trip routes across Louisiana
Route 1: Cajun Country and the Atchafalaya Basin (3 to 4 days)
Take I-10 west to Lafayette, about 135 miles from New Orleans. West of Baton Rouge the interstate crosses the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, about 18 miles long. Crashes can close it, so check traffic before you set off and fill up beforehand. Use Lafayette as a base for Vermilionville, a living-history museum of Acadian and Creole life, and for Lake Martin near Breaux Bridge, where cypress swamp holds alligators and nesting birds. Then head to St. Martinville and Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, a 6,000-acre site in the Basin. Come back on US-90 or I-10. In autumn, Lafayette hosts Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, a weekend of Cajun and Creole music, so book a campsite early if your dates overlap. Chicot State Park, inland on the Cajun prairie, makes a quieter alternative to the Basin.
Route 2: the Great River Road to St. Francisville (2 to 3 days)
The Louisiana River Road runs about 70 miles between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, on both banks of the Mississippi, and connects plantation houses such as Oak Alley, Laura and Houmas House. Choose one bank on the way up and the other on the way back, and allow more time than the map suggests because the road runs through small river towns. Continue north of Baton Rouge to St. Francisville, where the byway's plantation stretch ends, and on to Natchez, Mississippi, if time allows.
Route 3: the Creole Nature Trail (2 days, 180 miles)
Lake Charles is about 75 miles beyond Lafayette and about 206 miles from New Orleans. The All-American Road starts at Sulphur, just west, and follows LA 27 south through four wildlife refuges to Holly Beach, with 26 miles of Gulf beaches. The Sabine National Wildlife Refuge has a 1.5-mile Wetland Walkway for alligators and birds. The loop uses the Cameron ferry across the Calcasieu Ship Channel, which was out of service for mechanical problems earlier this year and reopened in early September. Local news then reported that vehicles over 50 feet could not cross, but on 3 October the state's status page listed the ferry as open with no length limit, so check the current rule before you go. Price Lake Road at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge is closed from 1 December to 1 March for migrating waterfowl. Check the state ferry status page or call 1-888-613-3779 before you commit. The alternative is a 107-mile detour on I-10.
Parks and campgrounds across the state
- Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville: 96 premium sites with full hook-ups, 23 of them pull-through, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
- Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, St. Martinville: 26 premium sites with water and electric, some with sewer, on the edge of the Atchafalaya Basin.
- Chicot State Park, near Ville Platte: 198 improved sites with water and electric around a large lake in the Cajun prairie.
- Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles: 30 premium pull-through sites with 50-amp electric and sewer, a handy base for the Creole Nature Trail.
Louisiana State Parks sites are booked through the state reservation website or on 1-833-609-0686, up to 13 months ahead. Bookings need 48 hours' notice, the maximum stay is 15 consecutive days, and a $4.50 fee applies to each reservation. Premium sites cost about $33 to $49.50 a night, plus tax.
Driving and rules in Louisiana
- Hurricane season: the Atlantic season runs 1 June to 30 November, peaking around 10 September, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October. Follow the National Hurricane Center forecast, and keep fuel in the tank.
- Evacuations: state parks have closed ahead of storms, as they did before Hurricane Ida. If an order is issued, leave early, and tell the owner and the campground what you plan to do.
- Long bridges: the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10 runs for about 18 miles, and crashes or lane closures can cause long delays or detours. Fill up before you cross and check DOTD traffic updates.
- Ferries: the Cameron ferry runs 24 hours a day, but expect delays nightly from midnight to 1am for maintenance, and service can stop for mechanical problems. Allow spare time in the schedule.
- Heat and humidity: summer is hot and humid, so carry plenty of water and check with the owner that the air conditioning and engine cooling are in good order before long drives.
Picking up your RV
New Orleans is the place to collect a vehicle, and it works for all three routes. The New Orleans RV rental page covers pick-up points, the city's narrow streets and where to stay near the Quarter. For background on hiring in the USA, see the USA RV rental guide or the USA overview. A Class C motorhome is a comfortable all-round choice for these routes, and a Class B campervan is easier on the narrow river roads. More ideas are in our road-trip guides.
Louisiana RV trip FAQs
How many days do I need for a Louisiana RV trip?
Plan on 3 to 4 days for Cajun Country alone, and 5 to 7 days to add the River Road and the Creole Nature Trail. The distances are short, but the best stops reward slow days.
Can I take an RV on the Cameron ferry?
Usually, yes. The ferry was listed as open 24 hours a day in early October 2026, with delays each night from midnight to 1am for maintenance. A 50-foot length limit was reported when it reopened in September, and it has had service breaks this year, so check the state status page or call 1-888-613-3779 first.
When is the best time to visit?
Late October to April is usually the most pleasant, with the hurricane season ending on 30 November. Summer brings heat, humidity and the highest storm risk in August to October.
How far ahead should I book campsites?
State park reservations open 13 months ahead, and popular weekends and festival dates fill quickly. Book the campsites as soon as your dates are fixed, then arrange the RV.
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