Louisiana is absolutely full of amazing sights to see. From ancient New Orleans graveyards to restored plantations, defensive forts and more, you’re sure to find some Louisiana landmarks that pique your interest. The most famous landmark in Louisiana is Bourbon Street.
Other famous landmarks in Louisiana include:
1. Bourbon Street
2. St. Louis Cathedral
3. Gallier House
4. St. Louis Cemetery #1
5. George Washington Gable House
6. Evergreen Plantation
7. Fort Jackson
8. Charpentier Historic District
9. USS KIDD
10. Old Louisiana State Capitol
Bourbon Street
Arguably not just a single Louisiana landmark but a whole string of them, Bourbon Street is located in the French Quarter and easily one of the most famous avenues in any American city—or any city in the world for that matter.
The happenin’ heart of New Orleans, Bourbon Street is filled with bars, nightclubs, music venues, and other places to party. That said, it’s also only a short walk away from more wholesome to-dos like art galleries, restaurants, and the absolutely requisite beignet-and-coffee pairing available at Cafe du Monde. (For best results, order at or after midnight.)
Obviously, we recommend RVing over the hotels mentioned, but the rest of this quote seems pretty on point:
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RVing to Bourbon Street
While it is totally possible to drive an RV to New Orleans, you’ll want to limit driving your rig around the narrow streets of the city, and avoid driving the French Quarter and Bourbon Street altogether. Fortunately, there are plenty of RV parks nearby, including one within walking distance of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street.
Rent an RV near Bourbon Street!
Camping Near Bourbon Street
As mentioned above, there are several RV camping options in and around New Orleans. Here are our top picks:
- French Quarter RV Resort (full-hookup RV parking within walking distance of the French Quarter)
- New Orleans RV Resort and Marina
St. Louis Cathedral
Also located in the French Quarter, the St. Louis Cathedral is one of the must-see Louisiana landmarks for those exploring NOLA. While a church has stood in this location since the early 1700s, this particular building was started in the 1800s and finally completed in 1914. The finished product is absolutely gorgeous and well worth a look, even if you aren’t particularly religious.
If attending service does appeal to you, you are welcome to attend mass at the cathedral on Sunday mornings.
RVing to St. Louis Cathedral
As mentioned before, you can drive an RV to New Orleans, but driving through the French Quarter is not a good idea. The roads are narrow and very difficult to navigate even in a modern car, so an RV certainly wouldn’t fare well.
Rent an RV near St. Louis Cathedral!
Camping Near St. Louis Cathedral
Any of the camping options listed above would be excellent choices for an RV trip to St. Louis Cathedral. Otherwise, you could try one of these great picks:
Gallier House
Only steps away from historic Jackson Square in the French Quarter, the Gallier House is considered a kind of microcosm of the city of New Orleans as a whole and is one of the most interesting landmarks in Louisiana.
The Gallier House has seen a lot of history—and a lot of physical changes—over the 200 years it’s been standing. Named after its original tenant and well-known architect James Gallier Jr., construction started on the house in 1857 and Gallier and his family moved in by 1860.
Because of Gallier’s design acumen, the house is filled with cutting-edge-for-the-time features, such as hot and cold running water taps, a skylight, and intricate interior design. Like other homes from the era, it also included slave quarters, and today, tours educate and inform visitors on the lives of both Gallier and the people who were forced to work for him.
RVing to Gallier House
Nope, you still shouldn’t drive an RV in the French Quarter, and even if you did, you’d find it impossible to park in order to explore the area. Parking and walking, taking a taxi, or riding a bike into the French Quarter are much better options.
Rent an RV near Gallier House!
Camping Near Gallier House
So far we’ve listed four excellent NOLA RV camping options. Here are a couple more to choose from:
St. Louis Cemetery #1
New Orleans is well known for its many historic cemeteries, and all of them are worthy Louisiana landmarks to visit. That said, if you’re looking to commune with the oldest spirits in town, St. Louis Cemetery #1 is the destination you want to aim for.
Initially opened in 1789, this is the oldest cemetery in the city—and home to some of the most famous gravesites, including those of Bernard de Marigny, Marie Laveau, and Paul Morphy. This cemetery is located close to the Mississippi River, and these days, visitors can’t get in without a professional tour guide. Honestly though, this is for the best, since you’ll get a better sense of what you’re actually looking at.
Tour services are available to introduce you to several more famous New Orleans cemeteries while you’re at it, too.
RVing to St. Louis Cemetery #1
While the cemetery is not in the French Quarter, it is right across the road. Therefore, you can expect heavy traffic and parking may be difficult. There is a parking lot nearby where some RVers have reported parking that you could try. Some people have also reported finding street parking during slower times of year. If you do happen to find a place to park, it would be possible to walk to the French Quarter from this lot.
Rent an RV near St. Louis Cemetery #1!
Camping Near St. Louis Cemetery #1
Want even more awesome NOLA RV camping options? Try these on for size:
George Washington Cable House
Okay, we promise we’re going to move away from New Orleans after this—but what can we say? This Louisiana city has more than its fair share of incredible landmarks. To add to that list is the George Washington Cable House.
This lovely house was home to the American writer of the same name in the late 1800s. Cable was famed for writing about the Creole life experience, and his home was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. Tucked away in the west side of the city’s beautiful Garden District, the house was originally a single-story construction but today has two levels. Legend has it Gable hosted none other than Mark Twain here as a guest!
RVing to George Washington Cable House
While it’s probably better than attempting to navigate the French Quarter in an RV, we don’t really recommend driving a big rig through the Garden District. Instead, find parking elsewhere and either walk, bike, or take public transportation to the George Washington Cable House. Be sure to enjoy the beautiful homes, flowers, and greenery as you make your way there!
Rent an RV near the George Washington Cable House!
Camping Near George Washington Cable House
Honestly, we’re all out of great New Orleans RV parks to recommend. That said, we’d be surprised if one of the aforementioned parks won’t work for you.
Evergreen Plantation
While the American South is dotted with the remains of plantations, Evergreen Plantation sits between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and stands apart as the most intact complex you can visit today. 37 of the plantation’s buildings claim spots on the National Register of Historic Places—22 of which are slave cabins.
Today the plantation welcomes visitors and offers educational information on all aspects of plantation life, including the darker history of forced labor. The Ancestor Project brings the history of enslaved people to the fore, offering personal context for these often-unheard narratives.
Note: Currently, visitors are required to schedule private tours in advance, so make sure to plan ahead.
RVing to Evergreen Plantation
While it is likely possible to drive an RV to Evergreen Plantation, we couldn’t find anything confirming the parking situation. Therefore, we recommend asking if there is a spot for an RV to park when you call to schedule your private tour.
Rent an RV near Evergreen Plantation!
Camping Near Evergreen Plantation
When visiting Evergreen Plantation, we recommend staying at the Bonnet Carre Spillway Campground. This is an Army Corps of Engineers location, and though there are no RV hookups available, the rates are incredibly affordable.
Fort Jackson
Traveling the other way from New Orleans along the river—east, toward where it dumps out into the Gulf of Mexico—you’ll find yourself at Fort Jackson in Plaquemines Parish.
This fort served as coastal defense for the city of New Orleans in the 1820s and ’30s. A National Historic Landmark, it was the site of a Civil War battle and is labeled “Battery Millar” on some maps of the area. The Union forces were able to claim the fort, which was eventually used as a Union prison later on in the course of the war.
Unfortunately, the interior fort is not currently open to the public, but you can walk around the outside and snap some cool photos. There is also a small museum nearby that helps explain the history of the fort.
RVing to Fort Jackson
You could probably drive an RV around the fort, but be prepared for rutted-out roads. The museum parking lot is very small, but because the museum is rarely busy, you might have luck parking an RV there.
Camping Near Fort Jackson
If you’re hoping to spend the night near Fort Jackson, consider River Oaks West RV Park. This campground is located just down the road from the fort and features full hookups, plenty of shade, and a welcoming staff.
Charpentier Historic District
The Charpentier Historic District landed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, and for good reason. This Lake Charles neighborhood is home to nearly 300 buildings originally constructed between about 1880 and 1939. This includes the Church of the Good Shepherd, which was erected in 1896 and separately listed on the National Register in 1983.
The neighborhood exhibits Queen Anne Revival, Colonial Revival, Bungalow, and Eastlake architecture types, and altogether represents the lumber boom that made Lake Charles blossom around the turn of the 20th century.
RVing to Charpentier Historic District
You could drive an RV through the area and look at the houses. That said, we think the carriage tours offered there are a much better option, and even walking would be more immersive and relaxing than driving a big RV through neighborhood roads. Therefore, we recommend finding a place to park the RV for your tour of the district.
Rent an RV near Charpentier Historic District!
Camping Near Charpentier Historic District
There are a few great camping options in and around Lake Charles. Some of the best choices include the following:
USS KIDD
An authentic Fletcher-class Navy Destroyer, the USS KIDD is today docked in Baton Rouge and has been designated a Veterans Museum open to the public.
Once aboard this Louisiana landmark, visitors will learn all about this vessel’s storied history, from its namesake—Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr., who died aboard the USS Arizona during the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor—to its cameo in the Korean War, to its Pacific Tour, and more. The museum also offers lots of general information about what life aboard a ship like this was like for the sailors who called her home for a time.
Organized events make it even easier and more interesting to get in on all the fun.
RVing to USS KIDD
Driving your RV to see the USS KIDD is totally doable, and parking for large vehicles is available in the nearby Baton Rouge Casino. This is great because it means you can have access to the comforts of your home-on-wheels as soon as your visit is finished.
Camping Near USS KIDD
It’s not difficult to find excellent RV camping in Baton Rouge. Some of the top places to stay are listed below:
Old Louisiana State Capitol
Perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state of Louisiana, the Old Louisiana State Capitol building is both a historical and architectural wonder. Known for its colorful stained-glass dome, this Baton Rouge landmark served as the state’s capitol building from the mid-1800s until the current building was completed around the time of the Great Depression.
Today, the building serves as a museum and is open to the public. It’s chock-full of original interior decor, fascinating information, and a host of rotating exhibits. Best of all, it’s totally free to enter!
RVing to Old Louisiana State Capitol
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to avoid driving RVs in crowded downtown areas. Considering that the Old Louisiana State Capitol is in downtown Baton Rouge, you probably don’t want to try to drive your rig there. The only parking options for this Louisiana landmark include street parking and garage parking, meaning you’d have trouble finding a place to leave the RV once you arrived anyway.
Fortunately, there is a free trolley that carries passengers all over downtown Baton Rouge, meaning you can find a spot to park on the outskirts of downtown and ride the trolley to the old capitol building.
Rent an RV near the Old Louisiana State Capitol!
Camping Near Old Louisiana State Capitol
The two Baton Rouge RV parks listed above are great picks. If you’re looking for something different, see what you think about the parks listed below:
Continue Exploring Louisiana
As you can see, there are tons of great landmarks in Louisiana for you to explore. On top of that, the state is full of awesome state parks and urban landscapes. Rent an RV today, pick a few landmarks from the list above, choose a couple more attractions, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime in the Bayou State!
