Rutherford Beach

Sandy beach
193 Gulf Dr, Creole, LA 70632, USA
33 miles from Lake Charles, LA
Cleanliness
Water quality
Crowded
Impressions
Overall
Grades suggested by our reviewer
Water Quality

Beach amenities

  • CrabbingPublic crabbing sites
  • Public grillsGrills or fire pits
  • Pet friendlyBring your little friends!
  • Picnic tablesPicnic benches available
  • WCPublic restrooms nearby
  • ShowerPublic showers available
  • ParkingCar parking nearby
👉 Download a FREE PDF map

About this beach

Warnings and hazards

Bring a repellent – swarms of mosquitoes when it's dark

Signs warn of possible water bacteria, swim at your own risk!

Exceptionally high tides. Don't park near the tide line. 

Located in central Cameron Parish, south of Lake Charles, Rutherford Beach offers stunning views, great fishing, and relaxing experience.

Location

The beach is located at the old mouth of the Mermentau River allowing for shallow water estuary canoeing or kayaking through the old Mermentau River system and Gulf activities to the east toward Grand Chenier and to the west toward Cameron. 

Every once in a while we saw a patrol car drive by. 

Amenities

Amenities include public bathrooms, showers, and picnic tables in a covered pavilion. A wonderful place to camp. We loved the fact that there's zero noise coming from the highway.

There's a parking area, but you can park your car or RV right on the beach, but be careful if you're on small rigs - the sand can be softer than it seems.

Bonfires are ok.

No lights, no signs of civilization, except for a few portable toilets and a shower. The nearest convenience store is 6 miles away, so bring everything you might need along. 

Everything is absolutely free. You can drive onshore, set up your tent right on the beach, but bring weights or canopy because it can get really windy.

Usually, the beach is not crowded at all.

The water is muddy, but we saw people swimming and having great fun. Kids can go shell-hunting.

Driving Time

  • Approximately 3 hours from Houston, TX
  • Around 4 hours from New Orleans

What we loved

  • Great views
  • Top-notch fishing experience

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Rutherford Beach which you can visit:

Beach reviewed by:
Johan and Mary
Photos from Google Maps
Camping at Rutherford BeachRutherford Beach showerRutherford Beach view
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Visitor questions:

Question: Does this beach have a boardwalk?
Asked by Jennifer jihnsy over 5 years ago
Answer: Unfortunately, it does not.
Question: Is the beach open this weekend? Today is May 6
Asked by cassie over 4 years ago
Answer: Louisiana beaches re-opened on April 17th but with certain restrictions. You can visit the beach during day hours only.
Question: is the beach open for stay?
Asked by ashley over 4 years ago
Answer: Unfortunately, it isn't. Louisiana beaches re-opened on April 17th but with certain restrictions. You can visit the beach during day hours only. If you intend to stay on the beach overnight, the answer is no.
Question: Are people allowed to camp on the beach at this time?
Asked by Shandi Crappell over 4 years ago
Answer: Unfortunately, the beach is closed and camping is prohibited at least till the end of April due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Question: Traveling to Rockerfeller this weekend from Shreveport and I have small trailer with a rooftop tent. Can I stay at Rutherford beach using the rooftop tent during the night?
Asked by Dakotah over 4 years ago
Answer: At the moment, most Louisiana beaches are open for overnight camping. To be on the safe side, please call Rutherford Beach Campground +13379366201 and ask for details.
Question: Is the beach open for camping yet?
Asked by greg crans about 4 years ago
Answer: Rutherford Beach has recently experienced several severe hurricanes and may be damaged. Please contact Rutherford Beach Campground +13379366201.
Question: So I can camp in a tent for free overnight. I’m trying to make sure do you know if we can pop fire works?
Asked by Makayla over 2 years ago
Answer: There are no fire stations in immediate proximity to Rutherford Beach, so fireworks are prohibited for safety reasons. Also, beach patrol cars drive by regularly, meaning that you may get fined if you break this rule.
Question: What kind of fish can you catch at Rutherford Beach?
Asked by Wendell Benjamin over 1 year ago
Answer: You can catch red fish, garfish. mullets and sharks. Also, Rutherford Beach is a good crabbing site.

Rutherford Beach videos

Free camping... And things that may go wrong!
An intriguing video of the beach
Rutherford Beach video review
An interesting drone made video about free camping facilities on Rutherford Beach, Louisiana

Weather conditions

Current weather at the beach and 3 day forecast

Best times to visit

Average temperature (°F)
Beach map and directions
The beach is located in Creole, Louisiana 193 Gulf Dr, Creole, LA 70632, USA (Open on Google Maps)
Drag and zoom the map to view lodging options near the beach.
Other beaches nearby
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Rutherford Beach reviews and photos
Reviewed on: November 23, 2020