The Best Hotels to Book Near the Whitney Plantation, Louisiana

LaPlace’s beautiful bayou weather will inspire you to work on your handicap – thankfully, Fairfield Inn & Suites is around the corner from Riverlands Golf and Country Club. Wake up after a few winks and get a good stretch in at the fitness center. Mini waffles, fruit and Greek yogurt at the breakfast bar will provide the energy you need to play 18 holes. Return with a satisfactory score card then dive into the hotel pool without taking a penalty stroke.

Forget island time, Madewood Plantation Mansion will have you setting your watch to bayou time. This laid-back hotel only has eight rooms, keeping your quarters as quiet as they are quaint. You can swap small talk with the other guests during breakfast before heading out to Whitney Plantation or the E.D. White Historic Site. If you do desire a little chit-chat, Bob’s old-school bar in Napoleonville hosts the local chatterboxes.

Get lost in the tranquility and hospitality of the South at The Inn at Houma House and Gardens. Take one walk through the ancient oak alleys and 38 acres (15ha) of lush gardens and you’ll see why so many movies – like The Green Book – were filmed here. Wander around after a tour or simply sit and enjoy some silence on the private porch of your king room – after a few hours in the wine room, of course.

Home2Suites in Gonzales is your home base for exploring both the Whitney Plantation and Baton Rouge. Sunbathing like a bayou gator right in between the two, this all-suite hotel has fully equipped kitchens in every room – that will almost certainly go unused as you eat your way through all of the fried chicken joints in the area. If you’re lucky enough to swing by in May, your stomach won’t forgive you for missing the Cajun Country Jam and Jambalaya Festival.

It may be one of the oldest historic manor homes in the region, but it’s the restaurant that’ll bring you to this B&B. Wild-caught Des Allemands catfish swimming in butter, plump eggplant stuffed with rich crabmeat, and a basket of hand-battered Ormond onion rings will send you to your four-poster bed with a satisfied grin. Soak for a spell in the bridal suite’s clawfoot tub then drift off to sleep, wondering what delicious Creole dishes await during Sunday brunch.

It may be a half-hour from the Whitney Plantation, but Hampton Inn in Laplace offers a special change of scenery. Wake up to a free plate of hotcakes and eggs then gear up for a journey into the Maurepas Swamp. A boat tour through this wildlife refuge cruises you right beside Louisiana’s oldest residents, alligators. If an introduction to these beasts doesn’t make you break a sweat, the balmy bayou will, so head back to the hotel for a dip in the pool.

There are few better places to park your RV than Poche Plantation. Their motor court has laundry facilities, bath houses, a movie room and a twelve-person hot tub. Need a little room for yourself? The antique bedroom sets and private front porches of their cottages should do the trick. A little more room for your kin can be found in the family suites, swimming with space and jetted jacuzzi tubs. No matter which you choose, you won’t have trouble sharing the wide Mississippi River views.

Double down on your education of Louisiana’s history when you stay at Oak Alley Plantation Bed & Breakfast. These private cottages are great overnight stays before touring the former plantation. You’ll love this quiet area along the Mississippi, even more so knowing that their staff will send a lovely local dinner to your room every evening. We urge you to wake up and take a seat in the restaurant for breakfast – Cajun french toast should not be slept through.