Lake Pontchartrain Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Lake Pontchartrain. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation

• Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

• New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour

• New Orleans City and Cemetery 2-Hour Bus Tour

• Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

While it’s free to visit Lake Pontchartrain, many travelers visit as part of a tour. Swamp boat cruises through the surrounding wetlands start at US$38 per person, while half-day tours of New Orleans, including a drive along the lakeshore, start at US$50 per person.

Yes, Lake Pontchartrain is one of the largest coastal lagoons in the United States, and one of New Orleans' most-visited natural attractions. Whether you drive across the famous Lake Pontchartrain Causeway or go hiking in the lakeside Fontainebleau State Park, the lake is an unmissable part of any New Orleans itinerary. For the best views, charter a fishing boat or set sail on a sunset cruise.

Per one customer who booked the Private New Orleans 2-Hour Sail Aboard a Luxury Yacht, "This tour was so much fun! The owners of the sailboat are so knowledgeable on sailing and work so wonderfully as a team. They were very friendly, and we had the best time just chatting and joking around. They had a great selection of snacks and beverages. The sunset was breathtaking. I can't wait to return to do this tour again. I highly recommend it."

Traveling across Lake Pontchartrain on the 24-mile (38-kilometer) causeway takes a minimum of 25 minutes. It can take much longer in bad weather when the speed limit is reduced. It’s the longest continuous bridge over water in the world, and the land disappears from sight at a certain point in the journey.

No, there is currently no ferry service that crosses Lake Pontchartrain, although there have been in the past. The easiest way of getting from one side of the lake (which is an estuary) to the other is to drive the 24-mile (38-kilometer) causeway. While a ferry doesn’t operate, you can charter boats to take you on the lake.

Yes, Lake Pontchartrain is often safe enough to swim in, but you should be careful when you do so. Although the lake (really an estuary) was too polluted to swim in for many decades, it has been significantly cleaned up. However, the water quality can still be too poor for swimming for a few days after heavy rain.

Yes, there are alligators in Lake Pontchartrain, but they’re not very commonly seen. Lake Pontchartrain was too polluted and salty for alligators to live in for a long time, but it has since become somewhat cleaner. Wildlife experts believe alligators don’t permanently live in Lake Pontchartrain but sometimes spillover from nearby wetlands.

Yes, dolphins can sometimes be found in Lake Pontchartrain, but they don’t live there permanently. Despite its name, Lake Pontchartrain is an estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico, so dolphins and other marine animals can come and go. Although the waters are much cleaner than they used to be, they’re still not ideal for dolphins.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Lake Pontchartrain. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in New Orleans:

• French Quarter

• LaLaurie Mansion

• St. Louis Cathedral

• Garden District

• Jackson Square

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in New Orleans.