Shell Beach

Pebble beach
1515 Yscloskey Hwy, St Bernard, LA 70085, USA
213 miles from Lake Charles, LA
Cleanliness
Water quality
Crowded
Impressions
Overall
Grades suggested by our reviewer
Water Quality
Unknown (read more)
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About this beach

Warnings and hazards

Plenty of rain in August – it’s better to visit the beach in any other month.

Shell Beach is located in close proximity to New Orleans, which makes it a perfect place for a quick and cheap beach trip to relax and shake the city off without too many efforts and expenses. This scenic place offers peace, quiet, and beautiful views in every direction. It’s good for chilling out, sunbathing, boating, and fishing.

Location And Access

Shell Beach is located on the Gulf Outlet Canal near Lake Borgne, which is just 30 miles southeast of New Orleans. It takes about one hour to reach the beach from the city by car. Be aware that this area gets plenty of rain in August, so it’s better to plan your visit before or after this month.

Accommodation

There are no hotels or major development around, so Shell Beach is usually considered for day trips. Nevertheless, if you wish to stay longer, you can find some rental options on Airbnb. Moreover, you can also camp at campgrounds or RV parks nearby.

Beach Access

Despite its name, Shell Beach isn’t actually a beach and is rather for boating and fishing than swimming. There are many fishing boats on the water and you can often see fishermen doing their job on the shore. Nevertheless, many people do enjoy sunbathing and swimming here. The beach is formed by the Gulf Waters and is actually an inland lagoon. In summer, the water warms to a comfortable temperature, making it enjoyable to swim.

Fort Proctor

From Shell Beach, you can see Fort Proctor or reach it by boat. It sits on the shore of Lake Borgne just north of the mouth of Bayou Yscloskey. Also called Fort Beauregard or Beauregard’s Castle, this 19th-century fort is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

Additional Outdoor Opportunities

Close to the beach, there is Bayou Segnette State Park, where you can enjoy swimming, boating, and canoeing. Its facilities include a children’s playground, a wave pool, and dedicated picnic areas with tables.

Driving Time

  • 50 minutes from New Orleans, LA
  • 1 hour from Slidell, LA
  • 2 hours 5 minutes from Baton Rouge, LA

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 Shell Beach which you can visit:

Beach reviewed by:
Vera
Photos from Google Maps
Memorial boardThe Cross near Shell BeachBoats near Shell BeachMotor boat
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Visitor questions:

Question: What's the origin of Shell Beach name?
Asked by Joseph R. Guercia over 2 years ago
Answer: Shell Beach is both the name of the beach and of the like-named unincorporated community. The origin of this name is unknown, and, obviously, there are no shells on this beach. This place is located on Lake Borgne bay that has a form that resembles a seashell (take a look at the map). Perhaps, this was the reason to call this unincorporated community and beach in such a way!

Shell Beach videos

Fort Proctor from Shell Beach Louisiana
An amazing drone made video of a historic fort visible from Shell Beach
An epic trip to Shell Beach, LA
An intriguing video about fishing near Shell beach

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 St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana 1515 Yscloskey Hwy, St Bernard, LA 70085, USA (Open on Google Maps)
Drag and zoom the map to view lodging options near the beach.
Other beaches nearby
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Shell Beach reviews and photos
Reviewed on: August 8, 2019