Planning a Northshore getaway? The best things to do near Mandeville, Louisiana pack a whole lot of fun into one pretty stretch of the state. Mandeville sits on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, and it’s loaded with state parks, shady trails, a swamp full of gators, and one of the oldest craft breweries in the South. From our spot at Fireside RV Resort in Ponchatoula, you’re about 35 to 40 minutes away, a straight shot east on I-12, so you can spend the day exploring and still be back by the pool before dark.
We put this guide together for the folks who stay with us and want a full itinerary without the guesswork. Every drive time and price below comes from us sending guests out this way, week after week.
TL;DR: The top things to do near Mandeville are Fontainebleau State Park (beach and trails, $3 a person), the 31-mile Tammany Trace bike path, Northlake Nature Center’s boardwalk, an Abita Brewing tour, Honey Island Swamp Tours, and the Global Wildlife Center safari. All of them are an easy day trip from Fireside RV Resort, roughly 35 minutes to an hour away.
What are the best things to do near Mandeville?
Our six favorites around Mandeville are Fontainebleau State Park, the Tammany Trace trail, Northlake Nature Center, Abita Brewing Company, Honey Island Swamp Tours, and the Global Wildlife Center. You’ll find beaches, bike trails, a boardwalk, a brewery, a gator-filled swamp, and a wildlife safari, all a short drive from Fireside RV Resort.
Fontainebleau State Park
Fontainebleau is the crown jewel of Mandeville, and it’s where we point first-timers. This 2,800-acre park hugs Lake Pontchartrain with a sandy beach, a 4.8-mile hiking trail, and the brick ruins of an 1829 sugar mill you can walk right up to. Birders love it, since more than 400 species have been spotted in and around the park. Day use runs $3 per person, seniors 62 and up get in free, and the gates are open 7am to 9pm. It’s at 62883 Highway 1089, about 38 minutes and 30 miles from the resort. Pack a picnic, and if you’re on two wheels, the Tammany Trace runs right through it. When you’re ready to head back, your full-hookup site is waiting. Check dates at book.firesidervresort.com.
Tammany Trace
Stretching 31 paved miles, the Tammany Trace was Louisiana’s first rails-to-trails conversion, and it strings together Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell. It’s flat, shaded, and totally free, which makes it perfect for a family bike ride or a morning jog. The Mandeville Trailhead at 675 Lafitte Street is the easiest place to hop on, and it’s open to the public daily. If you visit on a Saturday, the trailhead hosts a community market from 9am to 1pm with 80-plus local vendors selling produce, crafts, and food. It’s about 33 minutes and 28 miles from Fireside. Load the bikes on the golf cart rack and make a day of it.
Northlake Nature Center
Tucked between Mandeville and Lacombe, the Northlake Nature Center is 400 acres of quiet, donation-supported wilderness with raised boardwalks winding through cypress swamp and wetland. It’s one of the calmest spots on the Northshore, and it’s a favorite of ours for birdwatching and slow morning walks. You’ll find hiking paths, pond overlooks, and interpretive signs about the Florida Parishes ecosystem. The center sits at 23135 Highway 190 East, roughly 37 minutes and 30 miles from the resort. Bring bug spray in summer and leave a few dollars in the donation box to keep the trails open.
Abita Brewing Company
Just outside Abita Springs in Covington, the Abita Brewing Company is the original craft brewery in Louisiana, brewing since 1986. A guided tour is $10 and includes a pint of your own, and the tap room is open 11am to 9pm daily if you’d rather just pull up a stool. Kids are welcome, so the whole family can tag along. The brewery’s longtime tagline sums it up: Abita is “Louisiana Culture on Tap.” It’s at 21084 Highway 36, about 35 minutes and 30 miles from Fireside. This one pairs nicely with a Tammany Trace ride, since the trail rolls right through Abita Springs.
Honey Island Swamp Tours
For a real Louisiana bucket-list day, Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours takes you deep into one of the least-altered river swamps in the country. The guides call Honey Island “almost a pristine wilderness,” and on a two-hour boat tour you’ll drift past gators, herons, wild boar, and cypress draped in moss. Drive-out tickets are $39.99 for adults and $28.99 for kids under 12, launching from 55345 US-90 in Slidell. It’s the farthest trip on this list at about 50 minutes and 48 miles, but it’s worth every mile. Book a morning departure to beat the afternoon heat.
Global Wildlife Center
Over in Folsom, the Global Wildlife Center lets you ride a covered safari wagon across 900 acres where more than 2,000 free-roaming animals graze. The best part? Giraffes amble right up so you can hand-feed them right from your seat, and deer, bison, and camels roam close by too. As the center describes it, you “enjoy a one-hour and 15 minute guided safari wagon tour over 900 acres of beautiful Louisiana countryside, complete with 12 ponds and a lake.” Wagon safari tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $15 for kids 2 to 11, though prices shift by season so book ahead. It’s at 26389 Highway 40, about 35 minutes and 28 miles from the resort. Kids talk about this one for months.
How far is each attraction from the resort?
Every attraction on this list is a comfortable day trip from Fireside RV Resort, ranging from about 33 minutes to just under an hour. Here’s the full breakdown so you can plan your driving and your budget in one glance.
What is Mandeville known for?
Mandeville is known for its lakefront charm, its old-growth oak trees, and its easygoing Northshore pace right across the water from New Orleans. The town anchors the north end of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which stretches 23.83 miles and holds the Guinness record as the longest continuous bridge over water. Mandeville also draws serious tourism: according to Visit The Northshore, St. Tammany Parish welcomed nearly 3 million visitors in 2023 who spent $1.3 billion, the third-highest visitor spend of any parish in Louisiana. As the tourism board puts it, “The Northshore delivers world-class culinary flavors, thriving downtowns, aspirational adventures and plenty of outdoor recreation to enjoy.” That mix of nature, history, and small-town dining is exactly why it anchors so many Louisiana getaways.
What’s the best time to visit Mandeville?
Spring and fall are the sweet spot for a Mandeville trip, when the weather’s mild and the trails and lakefront are at their finest. Summer is still a great time to come, just know that July highs run around 89 to 92 degrees with humidity and a chance of afternoon showers, so plan outdoor stuff for the morning and save the pool for the hot part of the day. Good thing our lazy river and family pool run all season, so you’ve always got a cool place to land after a sweaty morning on the Trace.
Where to stay near Mandeville: RV sites, cabins, and glamping
The best place to stay near Mandeville is Fireside RV Resort, tucked in the pines about 35 to 40 minutes away in Ponchatoula, with 165 full-hookup RV sites and 10 furnished cabins that sleep six. Searching for camping sites near me on the Northshore? We’re an easy pick: family-owned, shaded, and refreshingly honest about pricing. We keep pricing honest here. That means no tacked-on resort charge, no fee to keep the spot you picked, and nothing extra just for booking, so your total won’t balloon at checkout. Here’s how our two main stay options stack up.
Bring your own camper and settle into a full-hookup site under the trees, or roll in with nothing and grab a cabin. Either way you’re a short drive from every attraction above, plus you get the lazy river, pools, sand volleyball, a lakeside fishing dock, and golf cart rentals right here at the resort. Take a look at our things to do, RV sites, and cabins to pick your setup.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mandeville is well worth visiting. It’s got lakefront parks, one of the best bike trails in the state, a historic craft brewery, and swamp tours all within a short drive, plus that laid-back Northshore feel. Base yourself nearby at Fireside RV Resort and you can knock out a different adventure every day.
The Tammany Trace is the best free thing to do near Mandeville. The 31-mile paved trail is open to walkers, joggers, and cyclists at no charge, and the Saturday community market at the Mandeville Trailhead adds 80-plus local vendors to the mix.
From Fireside RV Resort in Ponchatoula, Mandeville is about 35 to 40 minutes and roughly 30 miles east on I-12. That makes the resort a comfortable home base for exploring the whole Northshore.
Yes, Fontainebleau State Park is in Mandeville, right on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It’s about 38 minutes from Fireside RV Resort, and day-use entry is $3 per person.
Yes. About 35 to 40 minutes from Mandeville, Fireside RV Resort in Ponchatoula has 165 full-hookup RV sites and 10 furnished cabins. It’s family-owned with a lazy river, pools, and none of the junk fees, which makes it a favorite base for Northshore trips.
Ready to explore the Northshore? Fireside RV Resort is just 35 to 40 minutes from Mandeville off I-12 Exit 47, so every trail, beach, and swamp tour on this list is an easy day trip. Check dates and book your site or cabin at book.firesidervresort.com.
