Henderson
Henderson is a small town of about 1600 residents in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. The town is situated on Interstate 10 at the western edge of the Atchafalaya Basin. It is protected from seasonal flooding by one of the major levees constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is a popular access point to the Atchafalaya Swamp, with campgrounds, boat launches, and swamp tours as well as groceries, gas, and other basic traveler services.
Understand
Henderson is the last town on the western side of the Atchafalaya Basin if traveling east on Interstate 10. It was a few swamp shacks until the U.S. Highway Administration built I-10 in the 1960s and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the levees.
Get in
Interstate 10 to exit 115.
Get around
Be careful driving in Henderson and keep an eye open for local cops---they are not there for public safety. The town derives almost all of its budget from traffic fines and nobody ever heard of an out-of-towner getting off with "just a warning" from an often imagined traffic offense.
See
1 Prehistoric Park (Dinosaur Park), 1135 North Barn Rd (From exit 115, head north on 347, then right on North Barn Road), ☏ +13379813466. Family attractions with lifesize fake dinosaurs, playgrounds, picnic area, etc. $12 (adults).
Do
- 1 Atchafalaya Landing and Airboat Tours, 1377 Henderson Levee Rd, Henderson, LA, ☏ +13372287880. Boat launch with large parking area to accommodate trailers, swamp tours in large slow boats, or speedy airboats, your choice. Turtle Bar on site.
- 2 McGee's Swamp Tours, 1337 Henderson Levee Rd, ☏ +1 337 228 2384. Boat launch with campground and large parking area to accommodate trailers, swamp tours in large slow boats, or speedy airboats, your choice. Store and gift shop on site. Used by the Boy Scouts as launch site for their "Swamp Base" high adventure treks.
Buy
Eat
1 Pats Fishermans Wharf, 1008 Henderson Levee Rd, ☏ +1 337-2287512. Genuine Cajun cooking with a real feel of Acadiana. Live music, big mixed drinks, delicious food, homey dining room indoors, wandering cats outdoors. This is the kind of place you come to Louisiana to experience. Zesty seafood gumbo, tender alligator tails, home made jambalaya.
Drink
Sleep
1 Camp Margaritaville RV Resort, 1055 N Barn Rd (From exit 115, head north on 347, then right on North Barn Road). Sprawling RV parking lot with connections, swimming pools, store, laundry. US$150.