Fontainebleau State Park
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Fontainebleau State Park offers a unique blend of natural beauty, historic exploration, and family-friendly activities across its 2,800 acres, with stunning views of Lake Pontchartrain. It stands out for its diverse offerings including a new all-inclusive playground, a splash pad, historic 1829 sugar mill ruins, and both tent and unique over-water cabin camping options. It's particularly valuable for families seeking a comprehensive outdoor experience with varied attractions.
Key Highlights
- ✓Beautiful park scenery and amazing views of Lake Pontchartrain.
- ✓Cabins are available with 4 bunk beds, a master bedroom, a nice-sized private bathroom, and private parking.
- ✓Features a new, all-inclusive playground and a splash pad.
- ✓A sandy beach is available for family enjoyment.
- ✓Offers nature trails and connects to the Tammy Trace for biking.
- ✓Historic 1829 sugar mill ruins are situated among towering oaks, adding a unique educational element.
Standout Features
- ⭐2,800 acres offering vast outdoor space and beautiful scenery.
- ⭐Direct access to Lake Pontchartrain views.
- ⭐Cabins equipped with 4 bunk beds, a master bedroom, a nice-sized bathroom, and private parking.
- ⭐A new, all-inclusive playground.
- ⭐A splash pad for warm weather fun.
- ⭐Historic 1829 sugar mill ruins providing a cultural and scenic backdrop.
- ⭐Availability of an all-terrain track wheelchair for visitors with limited mobility.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Carefully review all camping fees; budget for a $25 deposit, potential $15 date change fees, and $20 arrival fees, as tent camping can total $60 for two nights.
- →Do not leave valuable items unattended at your campsite due to reported thefts and lack of effective resolution from management.
- →If booking a cabin, be prepared to make your own beds upon arrival, even though sheets are provided.
- →Bring bicycles to take advantage of the park's connection to the Tammy Trace trail.
- →Explore beyond your immediate campsite to discover the beach, playground, splash pad, and historic sugar mill ruins.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Complex and potentially high pricing for tent camping ($60 for two nights, including a $25 deposit, a $15 date change fee even for tornado warnings, and a $20 arrival fee).
- ⚠Reports of items (water guns, nerf guns, slime, water balloons) being stolen from campsites, with inadequate management follow-up.
- ⚠Cabins, while highly rated, can cost almost $200 a night, and guests are required to make their own beds.
Price & Value
Tent camping can be perceived as poor value, totaling $60 for two nights, which includes a $25 non-refundable deposit, a $15 date change fee, and a $20 arrival fee, despite offering no electricity or private bathroom. Cabins cost almost $200 a night; sheets are provided but guests must make their own beds. The value of cabins is generally considered good due to amenities like bunk beds, a master bedroom, private bath, and parking.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •An all-terrain track wheelchair is available for use by visitors with limited mobility.
- •The 'new, all-inclusive playground' suggests features designed for children with diverse needs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not explicitly mentioned in the reviews, but as a state park, it is generally expected that visitors bring their own food for camping and day use.
🚗Parking Info
- •Cabins include 'your own parking'. General parking within the park is implied but not specifically detailed regarding availability or cost for day visitors.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Described as 'the most-visited park in Louisiana,' indicating it can be popular, though specific crowd times or issues are not detailed in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •A significant concern regarding campsite safety due to reported theft of personal items (water guns, nerf guns, slime, water balloons) and a lack of follow-up from park management, suggesting potential gaps in security or oversight for campers' belongings. No explicit safety measures like patrols or surveillance are mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Leaving any valuables or personal belongings unsecured at campsites.
- • Booking without fully understanding the deposit, change, and arrival fees for camping, as costs can accumulate unexpectedly.
- • This park may not be ideal if you prioritize security for personal belongings at your campsite and expect immediate resolution for issues like theft.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Mjpaff
a month agoThe one star is for the beauty of the park & for the people who work there who seem very nice. Both deserve 5 stars HOWEVER how they charge for services and camping is why i say go to another park! I had to move my reservation from last wk to this wk because of a damn TORNADO WARNING! No ones fault. On top of the $25 deposit (i already paid- that i wouldnt get back if i canceled due to a TORNADO warning)i also had to pay &15 to change dates! ASININE! Then $20 more when i got there. So $60 for two nites camping in a TENT! No housekeeping or electric or bathrm- im being sarcastic- ITS A TENT SITE! $60! The $15 irks the shlt outta me. Go to another beautiful park. A shame. State rules? Maybe theyll see this in the grapevine and make changes coz it lessens the value of the great workers there and beautiful scenery.
Johnny White
a month agoBeautiful trip to take the kids and family out on the weekend. They have cabins with bunk beds 4 to be exact and a master bedroom a nice-sized bathroom your own parking and the view is simply amazing! I highly recommend this place.
Carmen Watson
a week agoI left my kids things at my camp site (water guns, nerf guns, slime, water balloons, etc) before leaving the campsite to go and explore the rest of what Fontainebleau has to offer I seen a person who works for the campsite he was cleaning he ask me if we was done at our campsite I said NO we are here until Wednesday and I proceeded to leave we was gone about 5 hours at the beach I later returned and all of our stuff was gone I was told I was going to be receiving a phone call by the camp manager she has yet to call me it's been two days. If you book don't leave your stuff at your campsite they might steal it
Gary Arvey
2 months agoThe cabins out over the water are a beautiful place to stay, and the park connects with the Tammy Trace if you ride bikes. You do have to make your own beds, but the sheets are provided. At almost $200 a night, I was surprised by this, but it wasn't a big deal.
Nichole MacMillen
3 months agoWhat is not to love about dining a historic park that offers 2,800 acres and beautiful views of Lake Pontchartrain. This place did not disappoint and what a lovely day to explore. Established in 1942, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, the most-visited park in Louisiana has nature trails, a sandy beach, a new, all-inclusive playground, a splash pad, and the ruins of an 1829 sugar mill situated among towering oaks. Love there is An all-terrain track wheelchair is available for use by visitors with limited mobility. Win win for everyone.