Bayou Segnette or St. Bernard?

[ladypatriot]

I'm starting to plan a March trip to New Orleans. While I hope to see a bit of historic New Orleans, my main goal is to visit the WWII museum. The state parks closest to New Orleans seem to be St. Bernard and Bayou Segnette. Does anyone have opinions on either of these state parks? Is one park better than other for ease of driving into the city?

We have an small C (just over 25 feet), and we normally drive it everywhere, but we have rented a car on occasion. (Pittsburgh is not friendly to RVs, even small ones.) Would it be better to rent a car, or could a small RV manage the roads in New Orleans? DH is an excellent driver (ask me about driving in Key West!), but I'm more concerned about parking.

And if anyone has visited the WWII museum, I'd like your opinion on that, too. And anything else you might think worth mentioning about New Orleans.

Thanks so much.

[bull1]

Bayou Signette is way easier access From the Park to The Freanch Quarter and downtown. As far as resturants there are plenty on the West bank and some are very good. When you get there ask at the park about West bank resturants and tdhey can give you directions. We go and stay in BS almost every Feb for a couple of weeks and we love it. The seafood market right outside the gate is wonderful and don't miss shoping there.

[ladypatriot]

MCDDY and Wadcutter: Thanks so much for the suggestion of taking the ferry! That sounds like a lot of fun, and so much easier than the hassle of driving in an unfamiliar city. The walking distances aren't much of a concern because we spend most of our time hiking while on camping trips. But I do hate trying to navigate in cities and trying to find parking.

Everyone has been really helpful. Thank you!

[Wadcutter]

ladypatriot wrote:

Wadcutter: Thanks for the information on easier access. If we park at the WWII museum, how far is the walk to the French Quarter and other historical sites? We're early risers, so I intend to be at the museum when it opens and, as Trirboy suggested, have lunch there. Then spend a few hours in the afternoon seeing the French Quarter.

It's about a 1+ mile walk from the Museum to Jackson Square so it's walkable if you want to walk that far. The thing to remember tho is if you want to walk it it's also a mile back. And then add in the distance you walk while in the French Quarter. If you haven't been then you have to see the French Market which is 1/4+ mile further on from Jackson Sq. The FQ is about 1/2 mile long so to get a quick look a walk down Decatur, down Royal for the nicer shops, and of course if you haven't seen it Bourbon St. Then add in the side streets getting from one to the other.
If I were to drive a C or oversize vehicle I'd do as MCDDY suggested. I'd camp at Bayou Signette, drive to the Algiers side of the Canal St ferry and park in Algiers. Take the free ferry (for pedestrians) which drops you off at Canal St. The walk from the ferry is about a mile to the WWII Museum. Hop the trolley to the WWII Museum. The trolley use to be a good way to see the Garden District but when we were there last month it stopped just before getting to the really nice homes and area. When you're done at the WWII Museum then take the trolley back to Canal and it's just a couple of blocks to the FQ.

garmp1 wrote:
Basically want a nice woodsy campground with a near by seafood market and a few good restaurants. Civil war history is always nice and the WWII museum sounds very interesting. A plantation or two could be interesting.

For plantation tour then Bayou Signette would be more convenient for you. The big ones are on the same side of the city as BS. Oak Alley is probably the most famous one that people see pictures. It's a quick 1 hr drive from BS to Oak Alley. Several plantations along the way to Oak Alley and in the area of Oak Alley.
For fresh sea food markets 1 block from the entrance to Bayou Signette is a sea food market with several vendors.
As far as good restaurants near BS they're lacking in the area. There are places to eat but not the good Nawlins food you can get other places. From BS take the Huey P Long Bridge to Uptown or the Garden District and find all kinds of decent places to eat depending on what you want and how much you want to spend.

[MCDDY]

You shouldn't have a problem getting a site @ Bayou Segnette or St. Bernard or anywhere after March 4th. which is Mardi Gras. 2wks. prior, forget it. Consider parking your C near the ferry landing, in a public lot rather than take it to downtown and use public transport from there. Magazine St. bus will take you there and the Camp St. bus will bring you back to Canal St.

Enjoy the "Big Easy"
Come Hungry

Dave

[Teacher_s_Pet]

We stayed at Bayou Segnette last March for a couple of days and explored the area. If and when we go back, it again would be our stop of choice. We had our 40' DP towing a small truck and had no problems parking.

[ladypatriot]

Enblethen: Thanks for the info on Bayou Segnette, and I'll make sure we get reservations.

Trirboy: Great pictures! It seems likely that we'll be staying at Bayou Segnette. And I especially appreciated the pictures of the museum. I'm a history and WWII buff (DH not so much but he indulges me), and I've been excited to visit this museum since I heard about its opening. As long as we can park at the museum, I really do feel confident that DH can maneuver in the city. But the more I read about New Orleans, I think I would like to spend an extra day exploring the rest of the city. Maybe renting a car would be better. I'll need to think a bit more on that.

Wadcutter: Thanks for the information on easier access. If we park at the WWII museum, how far is the walk to the French Quarter and other historical sites? We're early risers, so I intend to be at the museum when it opens and, as Trirboy suggested, have lunch there. Then spend a few hours in the afternoon seeing the French Quarter.

Garmp1: We're typical campers who stay in state parks for the hiking, boating, observing nature in all its diversity, eating and living outdoors. BUT, I've got an insatiable curiosity about history. Historical sites are like a magnet for me.

My thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I really appreciate it.

[garmp]

We were planning a similar trip arriving in that area about the end of March. We not much on the city life when on trips, as we live in one and drive around in it daily, want to get AWAY! We also were tossed up between Bayou Segnette and St. Bernard. We drive a B and might make a mad dash through the French Quarter and possibly the Garden District. Basically want a nice woodsy campground with a near by seafood market and a few good restaurants. Civil war history is always nice and the WWII museum sounds very interesting. A plantation or two could be interesting. Basically came south for sea food and warm weather. And camping. Any and all suggestions are more than welcome.

[Wadcutter]

RE access to Bayou Signette or St Bernard - Bayou Signette is easier to access. With St Bernard you have to drive thru more of the city. Depending on the time of day that can be congested. Coming to Bayou Signette from the west is pretty painless.
Both parks are nice.
You should be able to park your C at the WWII Museum unless it's really congested. However, if you want to park near and visit the French Quarter you might have some problems finding a place to park. There are several large parking lots along St Peters/Decatur St in the FQ but they don't allow large vehicles, trucks with duals, or motorcycles. We park in them with our F-350 SWD, 4X4 with 8 ft bed which is 22 ft long but we have to watch where we park it to leave clearance. You might get lucky to find a metered spot along the French Market but you'll need to get there before 9 AM. You also might get lucky and find an metered on-street spot on Front St just east of the Weston Hotel.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Excellent photos - many of my favorite camping places.

[Trlrboy]

Take a look at my signature photolink and you'll see a lot of pictures from Bayou Segnette SP. Great place to stay, just about 20 minutes from the WWII museum if you stay away from rush hour. We would highly recommend staying there. I would have some concerns about driving your class C around New Orleans although at 25' you might be OK. Parking should not be a problem since the parking lot for the museum is a good size. The museum is outstanding. Plan on at least 4-5 hours and be sure to have lunch there. Great menu.

[enblethen]

We stated at Bayou Signette the last trip through. Sites were good, interior roads were good. trip into New Orleans was easy.
We used the park for overnighting and day-tripped with toad.
Make sure you get reservations. We did not but lucked out as another rig had to leave unexpectedly.
Bayou Segnette