Overview
Slidell is a small city in St. Tammany Parish, one of the Florida Parishes of Louisiana.
Named after the statesman, John Slidell, this town is a growing suburb of the New Orleans area. Since Hurricane Katrina, Slidell and its surrounding areas have seen a tremendous population surge.
3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Slidell
Heritage Park
A place where you can relax and appreciate the Spanish moss blowing in the breeze along Bayou Bonfouca.
Camp Salmen Nature Park
Offers a good sample of marsh/thicket biome, with boardwalks. (Temporarily closed as of Dec 2021 due to Hurricane Ida repairs).
North Shore Beach
For the beach lovers who don't mind a little bit of whatever washes up in Lake Pontchartrain waters.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 46°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby New Orleans)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 35 mi away (major hub). Directions
- GPT Gulfport Biloxi International Airport, Gulfport — 43 mi away. Directions
Two Amtrak trains a day pass through. Your other alternative is automobile. Shuttle services that run between the New Orleans airport and hotels on the Mississippi gulf coast may also be available.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Heritage Park, Camp Salmen Nature Park
- Lunch Assunta's
- Afternoon North Shore Beach
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Two Amtrak trains a day pass through. Your other alternative is automobile. Shuttle services that run between the New Orleans airport and hotels on the Mississippi gulf coast may also be available.
Get around
You'll pretty much need a car. There are several unreliable cab services in town, the worst of which is Camelia Cab.
Do
Find a swamp tour in the nearby Honey Island swamp. It will change how you view Louisiana
- Mardi Gras. Slidell's season celebrations are smaller than the mega-celebrations in New Orleans, but still fun and much less visited by tourists. The main parades don't even interfere with the biggest New Orleans parades; several are 2 weekends before Mardi Gras. The Krewe of Selene parades the Friday evening before Mardi Gras. Offbeat early parades include the "Krewe of Bilge", a boat parade on local waterways, and "Mona Lisa & Moon Pie", known for its silly humor and creative hand made non-motorized floats.
Do Heritage Park
A place where you can relax and appreciate the Spanish moss blowing in the breeze along Bayou Bonfouca.
Do North Shore Beach
For the beach lovers who don't mind a little bit of whatever washes up in Lake Pontchartrain waters.
Eat
Drink
- Olde Town - hopping bar scene
Sleep
Go next
- Central New Orleans is about a 30 mile drive west on I-10.
- Mandeville is some 20 miles west on I-12; with Covington and Abita Springs a few miles further to the north.
- The Mississippi Gulf Coast is some 25 miles east on I-10
Nearby
Picayune
City / town · 1 listings · 18 mi away
Mandeville
City / town · 12 listings · 19 mi away
Abita Springs
City / town · 9 listings · 20 mi away
Waveland
City / town · 4 listings · 24 mi away
Covington
City / town · 11 listings · 24 mi away
Chalmette
City / town · 1 listings · 25 mi away
Bay St. Louis
City / town · 6 listings · 26 mi away
New Orleans
City / town · 33 listings · 28 mi away
My experience
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