Located on the scenic Tchefuncte River, Madisonville is a small, historic town in Louisiana named after former president James Madison. The town is home to less than 900 people, but its welcoming atmosphere, pleasant weather, and beautiful setting make it a destination for many travelers.
Because of its proximity to the water, outdoor activities are popular in and around Madisonville. Most people enjoy sailing along the river, and there are many opportunities to rent a boat or take some sailing lessons. The river and town are also sites for frequent festivals, such as the Wooden Boat Festival, which is held each fall, and Mardi Gras. Visitors can also stop at the nearby Fairview-Riverside State Park to enjoy a hike, bike ride, or picnic or simply spend some time in nature. The nearby Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum is a fantastic indoor option for anyone interested in history. There are also several wonderful restaurants, such as the T Rivers Bar & Grill, to stop for lunch or dinner.
The weather in Madisonville is pleasant throughout most of the year. Winter temperatures drop into the low 60s. Fall and spring are the most popular times of year to visit the area, as temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and rain is relatively infrequent. Summers can be hot and humid, with temperatures reaching into the 90s. People are sometimes discouraged from visiting from June through November, as this is hurricane season in Louisiana. However, each hurricane season is different, and if you don’t mind hot temperatures and some rain, it can be a quieter time to visit the town and surrounding area.
Campgrounds Near Madisonville, Louisiana
One of the best options for RV camping near Madisonville is Pontchartrain Landing in New Orleans. The park is located on the water, so you’ll have beautiful views and plenty to do. There are 125 sites and full hookups available, and visitors can often choose between back-in or pull-through sites. The park also has an on-site restaurant, a pool, a convenience store, and shuttles to the nearby French Quarter of New Orleans.
The Three Oaks and a Pine RV Park, also located in New Orleans, is another excellent option and accomodate RVs up to 80 feet in length. The park is known for its friendly, helpful staff. Full hookups, laundry facilities, and showers are available, and your pets are welcome at this RV park.
A third New Orleans park, called Parc d’Orleans RV Park, offers daily rates starting at only $50. Weekly and monthly rates are also available. The park provides 70 RV sites with full hookups. A bathhouse and showers make a stay at this park refreshing and luxurious.
State Parks Near Madisonville, Louisiana
Only about 20 minutes from Madisonville, Fontainebleau State Park began life as a sugar plantation. Today, the park provides some historically interesting areas for visitors to explore, but it’s mostly geared toward recreational activities. There are many biking and hiking trails. The park is also located on Lake Pontchartrain, so there are plenty of opportunities for swimming, sailing, or enjoying some time on the lake’s beach. Nearby campgrounds, including the Abita Springs RV Park, make it easy for families to enjoy a stay right near the park.
Bogue Chitto State Park is another park centered around fun and adventure on the water. The park, which is about 40 minutes from Madisonville, is centered around the Bogue Chitto river, but its 1,786 acres also cover cypress swamps, hardwood forests, and beautiful meadows. Visitors can float down the river, kayak, or swim in less turbulent areas. Fricke’s Cave is also a must-see spot in the park. There are also many opportunities for fishing and hiking, and the area’s mystical landscape, including moss-covered trees and foggy wetland areas, makes for incredible landscape photography opportunities.
Tickfaw State Park is one of the most popular in the area, thanks to its unusual and fascinating ecosystems. The park is home to pine and hardwood forests and the Tickfaw River, but it also covers parts of a large swamp. Visitors can boat, swim, hike, bike, or camp in the area, but the biggest draw to the park is often the amazing diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors can view cypress trees, Spanish moss, and wild animals such as beavers, foxes, alligators, snakes, armadillos, opossums, and deer. The park is about 45 minutes from Madisonville.
National Sites Near Madisonville, Louisiana
New Orleans is known for its incredible culture, which includes a long history of music. The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park celebrates this history. Visitors to the park can learn more about early jazz musicians and how the music of the city spread and evolved. Several historic locations, particularly clubs and theaters where jazz was promoted, are also featured. Visitors can wander through the information panels and photographs by themselves or enjoy a ranger-led talk for even more information. Self-guided walking tours through the city are also available.
Another must-see location for anyone interested in history is the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and Chalmette National Cemetery. This area helps to educate visitors about the life of Jean Lafitte who was a famous pirate, but also celebrates the life of Homer Plessy, a civil rights activist, and the many soldiers who passed away during conflicts ranging from the Civil to the Vietnam War. The preserve also affords visitors a chance to explore the area’s unique ecosystems, including wetlands.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is another excellent option for a visit, but you can also use the parkway as a great opportunity for a road trip. The parkway runs for 444 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, to Natchez, Mississippi, and passes by not far from Madisonville. A historic route, the parkway started as a hunting trail for Native Americans and gradually transformed into an important trade route. Today, visitors to the parkway can traverse the same journey, take in the scenery, or stop to enjoy many camping, hiking, and fishing opportunities.
National Forests Near Madisonville, Louisiana
Located not far from Madisonville in Mississippi, the De Soto National Forest is the largest national forest in the state. It covers about 500,000 acres, including sections of the Gulf Coast ecosystem. The area is home to savannas, wetlands, and longleaf pine forests. Visitors to the area can take in the gorgeous scenery or spot wildlife, but there are also many opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and fishing. A nearby golfing destination also offers another form of recreation, and, because the cities of Biloxi and New Orleans are only a short drive away, visitors will have plenty of options for entertainment.
Another Mississippi forest, the Homochitto National Forest, offers a new area for visitors to enjoy and explore. The Homochitto spans about 190,000 acres and includes the small Clear Springs Lake and a much larger 1,075-acre lake called Okhissa Lake. Visitors can swim, boat, or fish at either lake, and there are also many opportunities for hiking, camping, and picnicking. Several trails in the forest are also renowned as some of the best in the area for mountain biking. Because of the clear nights in the area, stargazing is also popular.
Bienville National Forest, also located nearby in Mississippi, is slightly smaller than the Homochitto National Forest but doesn’t lack recreational activity opportunities. The forest is mostly made up of pines and hardwoods, but there are also several lakes, ponds, and streams in the area. Visitors can spot wildlife such as bobcats, deer, wild turkeys, and wild hogs or spend time fishing or swimming. There are several options for hiking trails as well, and the forest is home to many RV campgrounds.
