Trying to plan the best things to do near Hammond, Louisiana? You’re staying in one of the most underrated corners of the state. From a full-blown Renaissance festival to a drive-through wildlife safari, a cypress-swamp boardwalk, and world-famous fried catfish, Hammond and its neighbors pack a real vacation’s worth of fun into a short drive. Best part? Each one is a short, easy drive from our place in Ponchatoula, just off I-12 at Exit 47.
What are the best things to do near Hammond?
The best things to do near Hammond, Louisiana include the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, a safari at Folsom’s Global Wildlife Center, Tickfaw State Park’s cypress-swamp boardwalks, historic downtown Hammond, a working alligator tour in Ponchatoula, and Middendorf’s world-famous fried catfish in Manchac. Most sit within a 30-minute drive of Fireside RV Resort, so you can pick a different adventure every day and still be back at the campfire by dark.
Here’s a quick look at each one and how far it is:
Is the Louisiana Renaissance Festival worth it?
Absolutely, and it’s the marquee event near Hammond every fall. The Louisiana Renaissance Festival runs weekends from November 7 through December 13, 2026, open 8:45am to 5pm each festival day, at a 16th-century-style village recreated each fall at 46468 River Road in Hammond. You’ll find jousting knights, live music, artisan booths, turkey legs, and cast members in full costume. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Fireside, so you can spend the whole day and still sleep in your own RV.
One tip: 2026 ticket prices hadn’t been posted yet at the time of writing. Tickets typically go on sale in August, so check the official festival site closer to your trip. The festival draws big weekend crowds, so sites at Fireside book fast during those November and December weekends. Reserve early.
What can you see at the Global Wildlife Center?
Out in Folsom, the Global Wildlife Center ranks among the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves in the country, home to more than 2,000 animals across dozens of species like zebras, giraffes, bison, and camels. You ride a covered Safari Wagon Tour, and the animals walk right up to the wagon for a feed cup. Guided tours run about 75 minutes. It’s roughly 30 minutes from Fireside, at 26389 Highway 40.
Tour times and pricing shift by season and can sell out on busy weekends, so book your wagon tour ahead at globalwildlife.com. Kids love this one, and honestly, so do the grown-ups. Getting nuzzled by a giraffe never gets old!
Does Tickfaw State Park have a boardwalk?
Yes, Tickfaw State Park has raised boardwalk trails that wind through four different ecosystems, including a genuine cypress-tupelo swamp. Day-use is just $3 per person, with seniors 62 and up and kids 3 and under free. The park sits at 27225 Patterson Road in Springfield, about 28 minutes from Fireside. Gates are open 7am to 10pm, and the Nature Center, which has an 800-gallon aquarium, runs 9am to 4:30pm.
This is the easy, low-key nature day: flat boardwalks, shade, birds, turtles, and the occasional gator sunning below the rails. Bring bug spray in the warm months and you’re set. For the full list of trails and hours, see Louisiana State Parks.
What’s happening in downtown Hammond?
Downtown Hammond is a walkable historic district centered on Railroad Park and the Downtown Pavilion, with locally owned shops, restaurants, and a lively arts scene. Every Saturday from 8am to noon, year-round, the Hammond Farmers Market sets up at the Downtown Pavilion on SW Railroad Avenue with produce, baked goods, and local crafts. Around the corner, the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, a beautifully restored 1928 venue, and the Hammond Regional Arts Center give you a real taste of the town. It’s about 15 minutes from the resort.
Want a rainy-day backup? Grab lunch downtown or catch a show at the Columbia. Hammond is the Strawberry Capital’s neighbor and the home of Southeastern Louisiana University, so there’s always a little something going on.
Where can you take a swamp or alligator tour?
For a genuine Louisiana gator experience, Kliebert & Sons offers alligator tours in Ponchatoula, only about 10 minutes from Fireside at 40511 West I-55 Service Road. It’s a working operation where you’ll see alligators up close and learn how they live. Rates are modest and it’s a hit with kids. It runs seasonally, roughly spring through fall, and walk-ins are welcome.
Prefer a boat? Several guided swamp tours run out of the wider Northshore and river-parish area, gliding you past cypress knees, herons, and, yes, more gators. Either way, you’re seeing the real Louisiana wetlands, not a postcard version.
Where should you eat near Hammond?
You cannot come out here and skip Middendorf’s. Open since 1934 in Manchac, Middendorf’s calls itself the “Home of the World-Famous Original Thin Fried Catfish,” and that thin-cut catfish really is the thing to order. You’ll find it at 30160 Highway 51 South in Akers, right off I-55 Exit 15, about 30 minutes from Fireside. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30am to 9pm, with lake views and a line out the door on weekends for good reason.
Closer to camp, downtown Hammond and Ponchatoula both have plenty of local spots for boudin, po-boys, and cold drinks. You will eat well on the Northshore.
Where should you stay to do it all?
Fireside makes an easy home base for this whole list. We sit just off I-12 at Exit 47 in Ponchatoula, which keeps this whole list an easy drive away, with the New Orleans French Quarter a little under an hour away and Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge about 45 minutes out. Pick from 165 full-hookup RV sites wired for 30 and 50-amp power, or a cozy cabin that sleeps up to six if you left the rig at home.
One thing guests bring up again and again: the price you’re quoted is the price you pay. No add-on resort charge, no fee just to lock in the exact site you want, and nothing extra piled onto your reservation. Just honest camping with modern comforts: a lazy river and pools, plus shaded, peaceful sites tucked under tall pines. Check our RV sites and cabins, browse more things to do nearby, then check dates and book.
When’s the ideal time to visit Hammond?
The best times to visit Hammond are spring, roughly March through May, and fall, September through November, when the weather is mild and the outdoor attractions are at their best. The Louisiana Renaissance Festival fills weekends from November into December, while spring brings the region’s famous strawberry season. Summers are hot and humid but great for the pools and lazy river, and winters here are mild and quiet, ideal for a peaceful getaway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish and a lively hub next to the Strawberry Capital of Ponchatoula, and it's home to Southeastern Louisiana University. It's also the gateway to the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, cypress-swamp state parks, and easy day trips across the New Orleans Northshore.
Hammond sits about 58 miles from New Orleans, a little under an hour away via I-55 and I-10. Fireside is a similar hop from the French Quarter, which makes a Saints game or a day wandering the Quarter an easy call.
Yes! Fireside sits right at I-12 Exit 47 in Ponchatoula, about 15 minutes from downtown Hammond. We offer 165 full-hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service, cabins, and none of the resort, site-lock, or reservation service fees you'll run into elsewhere.
On the Northshore near New Orleans you can visit the Global Wildlife Center, Tickfaw State Park, the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, take a swamp or alligator tour, and eat famous fried catfish at Middendorf's, all within about 30 minutes of Fireside RV Resort.
Slidell and Covington, both on the Northshore, offer historic downtowns, the Tammany Trace bike trail, breweries, and nature preserves. They're an easy drive from Fireside, making them simple to add to a Hammond-area RV trip.
No matter which adventure you pick, home base stays close. Fireside sits about 15 minutes from Hammond right at I-12 Exit 47, so check your dates and reserve your site today.
