The Most Remote Small Town in Louisiana Is the Perfect Place to Get Away From It All

While I thoroughly enjoy living in a big city (New Orleans), I often find myself yearning to escape the city lights and spend some time in a more remote area of Louisiana. When the urge to escape strikes, there’s one little village that holds a special place in my heart, and that’s Venice, Louisiana. 

Venice is a remote small town in Louisiana that feels like you’ve reached the end of the earth. Venice is located down in Plaquemines Parish, less than 80 miles from New Orleans. The drive to Venice takes about an hour and a half and will lead you through some of the most rural parts of southeastern Louisiana. It’s one of my favorite scenic drives in the state. 

One of the reasons the drive is so special is that this is where you'll find the southern end of the Great River Road. The Great River Road is a 3,000-mile scenic byway that runs alongside the Mississippi River from northern Minnesota all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. It passes through 10 states before ending here in Venice. It makes for a neat photo opportunity if nothing else!

While the town of Venice is small (fewer than 200 people), there are a few main draws to this little slice of paradise that bring people from all over the world: fishing.

Its location plays a key role in why fishing is so popular here. Venice sits on the west bank of the Mississippi River with access to the Gulf of Mexico. Venice is known for its epic fishing charters that’ll take you out to deeper waters where you can haul in tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, swordfish, marlin, and many others!

A visit to the Venice Marina is a must. The Venice Marina has been a landmark of sorts for Venice for more than two decades. They offer lodging, slip rentals, fish processing and shipping, and both inshore and offshore fishing charters. There's also a restaurant and bar here, where you can sit back and enjoy a meal while swapping fishing stories with your buddies and anyone within earshot.

Taking a photo with your catches from the day under the Venice Marina sign is a bit of a rite of passage here. Everyone who comes down is hoping to reel in their award-winning catches and take a photo under this sign. Fingers crossed that you have your moment!

There are plenty of charters available for deeper waters. The charters are offered year-round. The season will determine what’s most likely to be reeled in. If you’re looking for a record-breaking tuna, your best bet is in the fall, or hold off until January through March.

There truly isn't anything like visiting Venice, Louisiana. It'll remind you of Louisiana's roots, that's for sure.

Visit the Venice Marina website for more information, and start planning your adventure today! While you're planning, be sure to check out our road trip packing list. It covers everything you'll need for the perfect road trip down to Venice. Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.

If you want to stay in a unique spot, check out this houseboat in Venice. Staying on the water when you visit Venice is a no-brainer, and there are plenty of places to stay in Venice, including houseboats!