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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Covington, Louisiana
Spend a half‑day in Covington’s historic downtown and riverfront; add a night if you want a relaxed stay at a B&B.
Covington is the seat of St. Tammany Parish on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, about an hour north of New Orleans. Its compact historic core, riverfront park and a handful of eateries are easily explored on foot, while nearby towns are reachable by car.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (hot, humid, occasional storms)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–$110 excl. bed · Mid $110–$150 excl. bed · High $150–$200 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Po' boy sandwich (Bear's) | $8–12 |
| Coffee (St. John's Coffee House) | $3–5 |
| Beer (Columbia St. Tap Room) | $5–7 |
| Parking (downtown street meter, 2 h) | $2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSY · Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
- ≈1 h drive to Covington (check)
Typical fares
- I‑10/US‑190 drive New Orleans → Covington
- ≈ 1 h, fuel $12–15 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is primary; the historic downtown is walkable. I‑10 and Highway 190 provide easy access to New Orleans and the North Shore.
See and do
Known for
- Historic downtown on Columbia Street
- Columbia Street Landing riverfront park
- H J Smith & Sons General Store museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mandeville, Louisiana | Drive north on US‑190, about 15 min | ≈20 min total |
| Abita Springs | Drive west on I‑12, about 30 min | ≈45 min total |
| New Orleans | Take I‑10 west to the Causeway, then US‑190 north, about 1 h | ≈1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Best Western Northpark Inn
- Convenient to Highway 190, basic amenities, suitable for short stays.
- Blue Willow Bed and Breakfast
- $125–250 per night, historic B&B in downtown.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moieks-kyoo-zay mwah |
| Thank you | Mercimehr-see |
| How much is this? | Combien ça coûte ?kohm-byen sah koot |
| Where is the bathroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo sohn lay twah-let |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat and humidity can be intense; stay hydrated.
- Check opening hours of the H J Smith museum (no fixed hours listed).
Covington is generally safe; typical U.S. city precautions apply—keep valuables secure in cars and be aware of traffic on busy highways.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Covington, Louisiana yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Historic downtown on Columbia Street
- Columbia Street Landing riverfront park
- H J Smith & Sons General Store museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Covington (Louisiana), revision 5242043 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242043
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Covington, Louisiana
À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US citizens can contact the nearest consulate in New Orleans (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/covington-louisiana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.