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Impact - Louisiana State Parks
Visitor spending at Louisiana State Parks returns $3.23 in state taxes for every dollar spend on operating and maintaining all our beautiful parks. Out-of-state visitors to Louisiana State Parks spent almost $12 million in Louisiana and produced an economic impact of over $24 million. Louisiana residents spent another $29.2 million while visitin...

Palmetto Island State Park - Louisiana Office of State Parks

PALMETTO ISLAND STATE PARK ROADWORK SET FOR JUNE 3-7

TRAVEL ADVISORY:Campsite availability at Palmetto Island State Park will be limited through July 1, due to necessary electrical renovations. Repairs will take place throughout the campground, beginning with vacant campsites. Existing reservations will be honored, though some visitors might be moved to a different site to accommodate the ongoing project. Additionally, extensions of current reservations and walk-in reservations will not be available. As the sites are completed, they will be reopened. The cabins and day-use facilities remain available for guests.

Palmetto Island State Park
PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism - Office of State Parks BACK TO PARK LIST
Water playground One of the two-bedroom vacation cabins Take a walk amongst the palmetto plants Fish in one of the park's lagoons, from this pavilion Interpretive aquatic pavilion Palmetto plants, for which the site is named
click any picture above to view park slideshow
Palmetto Island State Park is a Land & Water Conservation Fund site 19501 Pleasant Road, Abbeville, LA 70510
337-893-3930 or 888-677-0094 toll free
For reservations, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA (877-226-7652) toll free.
Email: palmettoisland@crt.la.gov

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Directions: From I-10 in Lafayette, take Exit 100 south onto LA 3184/Ambassador Caffery Parkway. Turn right onto US 167/Johnston Street, continuing into Abbeville. In Abbeville, turn left onto LA 14/W. Summers Drive, then right onto LA 82/N. State Street. Follow LA 82 out of town, turning left onto LA 690, then right onto Pleasant Drive. Coordinates: 29.869564,-92.150338.

Hours of Operation: Site is open daily. Gates open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

April-September,entrance station is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; October-March, entrance station is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entrance Fees: $1 per person; Free for Seniors (62 and older) and children age 3 and under

Complete listing of available facilities and activities


View Larger Map (via GOOGLE© MAPS)


Located on the Vermilion River, Palmetto Island State Park offers a real south Louisiana outdoors experience. A boat launch provides access to the river for fishing and boating, while the interior lagoons allow canoers and kayakers an up-close look at the native plant and animal life.

Click Map for Printable Version (PDF file)
Layout map of Palmetto Island SP
Overnight guests can stay in one of six vacation cabins, each sleeping up to 8 people comfortably. The cabins, nestled among the trees and foliage, are outfitted with a full kitchen and bathroom, fireplaces for those chilly winter evenings and a screened-in porch for listening to the crickets and frogs sing out their evening melodies. 96 campsites are available for RV camping (20 sites include an extra tent camping pad), for those who like to get a little closer to nature.

The visitor center complex will defintely be a "must do" for the day-use visitor, with a water playground and bathhouse. A multi-purpose room can be rented for meetings, family gatherings, weddings and many other events.The ever-present palmetto plants, for which the park is named, are echoed in many of the architectural elements around the park; so pack a picnic and have a scavenger hunt for them all!


Reservable Facilities

Cabins: Basic cookware, cooking utensils, dinnerware, silverware, towels and linens are provided. Bring your own food and personal supplies. (click here for facility pictures and layouts)
Deluxe Cabins
(map of cabins 1-6)
6 available, 2 are ADA compliant$120/night, Oct-Mar; $150/night on Fridays & Saturdays, Apr-Sept, sleeps up to 8 people with 1 double bed, 2 bunk beds and 1 sofa sleeper

Camping:  (map of sites 1-24, 74)  (map of sites 25-73, 75)  (map of Primitive Campsite)
96 Improved Campsites (water and electrical hookup)$16/night, Oct-Mar; $20/night, Apr-Sept
Primitive Campground (30 person max capacity)$30 per night
4 Backpack Campsites (walk-in only)$1 per person/night
Golden Age & Golden Access Passports (Available through the National Park Service. Click here for more information)
Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport).

Additional Information About Overnight Facilities

Meeting Room$100/dayCapacity is 50 people for Conference and Theatre set-up

Water Playground - Louisiana State Parks' water playgrounds operate 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, from April 1 through September 30. Please contact the park directly, to confirm that the playground is open or for additional information.

Rental Boats (State Park operated rentals)
Canoes$5 per hour or
$20 per day
includes paddles, life jackets
  • Additional life jackets can be rented for $1 each where available
  • Price varies with concessionaire rentals - please contact site to check availability and rates

Trails at Palmetto Island State Park:

  • Cypress Trail -- .7-mile nature trail

  • Nearby Attractions:

    Abbeville Cultural and Historical Museum & Art Gallery (200 North Magdalen Square, Abbeville) - A joint venture of the Vermilion Arts Council, the Acadian Center, The Vermilion Historical Society and the Giant Omelette Celebration, local artists are displayed and the Acadian culture is celebrated and preserved for visitors and generations to come.

    Cypremort Point State Park (24 miles south of Jeanerette, off LA 319) - This 185-acre park offers access to the Gulf of Mexico. A man-made beach offers fishing, sailing, windsurfing and other water sports. Picnic pavilions, tables, a bathhouse, and fishing pier, sailboat ramp and boat ramp adjacent to the park offer easy access to the water. Large populations and varieties of birds and animals attract nature enthusiasts.

    Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site (LA Hwy. 31, St. Martinville) - Situated on the banks of Bayou Teche, this 157-acre park interprets the history of the French-speaking peoples of Louisiana. The park features Maison Olivier, built circa 1815, and an Acadian farmstead and house. The visitor may see livestock, crops, kitchen and herb gardens, living history and interpretive programs, the Visitor Center, a picnic pavilion, and an outdoor classroom.

    Louisiana Military Hall of Fame & Museum (911 Revis Sirmon Loop, Abbeville) - Veterans and their families have provided their stories of wartime service, along with personal memorabilia, at this tribute to those who have served and sacrified.

    A.A. Comeaux Park (300 Comeaux Memorial Drive, Abbeville) - Home to baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, soccer fields, a walking track and more.

    Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum (304 South State Street, Abbeville) - The shop began operations in 1913, and was donated to the City of Abbeville in 2004. Visitors can view tools from the business' beginning through more modern equipment for repairing motorized tractors and vehicles.

    White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (Hwy. 91, south of Gueydan) - A conservation area maintained by the state Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The site contains a birding trail, allowing visitors to view the various species that reside in and migrate through the area.

    Acadian Museum of Erath (203 South Broadway, Erath) - The museum houses artifacts and exhibits highlight the Cajun and Creole cultures of south Louisiana, and the history of the Acadian settlement of the area. Le Café du Musée, next door to the museum, opens daily at 5 p.m. and offers a full Cajun food and music experience.

    Jungle Gardens (Hwy. 329, Avery Island) - More than 170 acres of exotic botanicals, established by the McIlhenny family. The garden's centerpiece is a roughly 900-year-old statue of Buddha.

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