A weekend road trip sounds like the perfect day to spend a three-day weekend, right? Louisiana has so many unique attractions, you may not know where to begin. Lousiana’s wetlands are some of the most iconic natural landscapes in the country, and this epic road trip will show you three of our most beautiful swamps, marshes, and wetlands.

The entire road trip is less than 200 miles, so you can spend less time in the car and more time exploring the sights.

Google Maps

Day 1: Honey Island Swamp

Debra Durante/Google The Honey Island Swamp covers about 70,000 acres of some of the most pristine swamplands in the entire country. Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana 70461, USA

Swamp boat tours are the best way to see the swamp. Dr. Wagner’s is one of the most popular. They’ve been showing the swamps for over 30 years.

Amber DeAngelis/Google You might even learn about the legendary swamp monster that’s believed to lurk in the shadows at night.

The swamp is loaded with wildlife, and you’ll have a front-row seat to see them.

Jason Jones/Google It’s pretty common for local tours to feed the animals marshmallows, like in the picture above. Judging by the raccoon’s reaction, we’d say he likes it!

Day 2: Barataria Preserve

Justin P./Google Our next stop takes you out of the boat and onto the boardwalks where you can stretch your legs and explore on foot. Barataria Preserve Visitor Center, 6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA

There are several trails at Barataria Preserve that will lead you through the preserve’s 20,000+ acres of marshes and swamps.

Aspasea McKenna/Google There are plenty of benches peppered along the trails, too, so you can stop and admire the view.

All of the trails are less than two miles long, so you can mix and match depending on your schedule.

Kristen Knight/Google We’d recommend taking the Bayou Coquille Trail. It leads to a scenic overlook where you can see for miles!

One thing to note about Barataria Preserve is that it’s ripe with wildlife. There are hundreds of alligators, snakes, and turtles that call the area home, and you never know who… or what… will also be using the boardwalk trails! If you see wildlife along the trail, that’s your sign to spin around and find another trail.

Day 3: Atchafalaya River Basin

Nicholas Miles/Google Saving the best for last, our final destination on this epic tour brings us to the Atchafalaya River Basin, the nation’s largest river swamp. Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, USA

You’ll see a lot of the Atchafalaya along the drive, but to really witness this beautiful swamp, you’ve got to get on the water.

John Richardson/Google Because the Atchafalaya is so large, there’s really no wrong way to access it. One of our favorite tour companies is Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours. They’re located right on Lake Martin.

Try to time your day so that you’ll see Lake Martin at sunset.

Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tour/Google You may even want to rent a kayak so you can explore the area at your own pace.

Are you planning on taking this road trip this summer? Let us know in the comments!

Google Maps

Debra Durante/Google

The Honey Island Swamp covers about 70,000 acres of some of the most pristine swamplands in the entire country.

Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana 70461, USA

Amber DeAngelis/Google

You might even learn about the legendary swamp monster that’s believed to lurk in the shadows at night.

Jason Jones/Google

It’s pretty common for local tours to feed the animals marshmallows, like in the picture above. Judging by the raccoon’s reaction, we’d say he likes it!

Justin P./Google

Our next stop takes you out of the boat and onto the boardwalks where you can stretch your legs and explore on foot.

Barataria Preserve Visitor Center, 6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072, USA

Aspasea McKenna/Google

There are plenty of benches peppered along the trails, too, so you can stop and admire the view.

Kristen Knight/Google

We’d recommend taking the Bayou Coquille Trail. It leads to a scenic overlook where you can see for miles!

One thing to note about Barataria Preserve is that it’s ripe with wildlife. There are hundreds of alligators, snakes, and turtles that call the area home, and you never know who… or what… will also be using the boardwalk trails! If you see wildlife along the trail, that’s your sign to spin around and find another trail.

Nicholas Miles/Google

Saving the best for last, our final destination on this epic tour brings us to the Atchafalaya River Basin, the nation’s largest river swamp.

Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, USA

John Richardson/Google

Because the Atchafalaya is so large, there’s really no wrong way to access it. One of our favorite tour companies is Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours. They’re located right on Lake Martin.

Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tour/Google

You may even want to rent a kayak so you can explore the area at your own pace.

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