Major city · United States
Houma
Give Houma one night, two at most: it is a bayou-and-wetlands base, not a sightseeing city. Come for an airboat run and Cajun plate lunches.
Houma is a small city of about 33,000 on Bayou Terrebonne in south-central Louisiana, the seat of Terrebonne Parish and the middle of a metro area of a little over 200,000 with Thibodaux and Bayou Cane. Visitors use it as a base for swamp tours, plantation houses and Cajun food, not as a place to walk a historic core. New Orleans is about 1 h 15 min by car, Lafayette about 2 h 10 min.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Feb–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jun–Sep (heat, humidity and hurricane season); check for storm closures
- Airports
- MSY · LFT
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Houma911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Houma Police Department (non-emergency)985-873-6371
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Houma, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyHouma is a normal small US city: the real risks are heat, mosquitoes and summer storms, not street crime.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 985-873-6371 Houma Police Department (non-emergency)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (About 1 h 15 min by car via I-310 and US-90; the usual arrival airport for Houma.).
- Getting aroundA car is effectively required: sights, swamp-tour launches and plantation houses sit outside the centre and there is no useful local transit.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–5
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry$1–10
- Budget bedBudget motel double room, a night, per roomUS$70
- Mid-range bedBudget motel double room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedBudget motel double room, a night, per roomUS$130
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$180 · High US$300
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (About 1 h 15 min by car via I-310 and US-90; the usual arrival airport for Houma.) · LFT Lafayette Regional (About 2 h 10 min by car via US-90 east.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Feb
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
May
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Dec
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Best: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Jul (15 rain days), driest Apr (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Houma: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
9 rd
Feb
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Apr
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7 rd
Nov
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Dec
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is effectively required: sights, swamp-tour launches and plantation houses sit outside the centre and there is no useful local transit. Greyhound stops at a Shop-N-Bag on West Park Avenue and links Lafayette, Morgan City, Thibodaux, Houma, Raceland and New Orleans along US-90. Amtrak's Sunset Limited stops at Schriever, about 20 min north, three days a week; the station has no facilities.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min by car
Car via I-310 and US-90, or Greyhound from West Park Avenue
Easy day trip, but better as an overnight if you want the music and food after dark.
Thibodaux
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Car via LA-24 or LA-20
Small historic downtown and a good lunch stop on the way to or from Houma.
Morgan City
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Car west on US-90
Worth it mainly if you are already driving the US-90 corridor; little to hold you for a full day.
Franklin
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
Car west on US-90
Main Street historic district and a couple of museums; pair it with Morgan City rather than going alone.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Car south on LA-1
Beach and fishing at the end of the road; too far for a comfortable return day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
West Park Avenue corridor
Chain hotels, the mall and most restaurants; you need a car for everything.
Downtown Houma (Main Street)
Closer to the bayou front and a few local restaurants; quieter at night.
Grand Caillou Road
Extended-stay and budget options south of the centre, on the road toward Chauvin.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $90–140 excl. bed
- Mid
- $140–230 excl. bed
- High
- $230+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range chain hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$150 | US$150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$180 | US$360 |
| Airboat swamp tour, per adult2 × US$40 | US$80 |
| Car rental, one day1 × US$55 | US$55 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25 | US$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$70 |
| Trip total≈ US$383 per person per day, bed included | US$765 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before sales tax. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Plate lunch (meat, rice, side) | $12–18 |
| Po-boy | $10–16 |
| Boiled crawfish, per pound, in season | $6–9 |
| Museum entry | $1–10 |
| Airboat swamp tour, adult | $40 |
| Gallon of petrol | $3–4 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov: check storm tracks and evacuation routes before booking a summer trip.
- Airboat and swamp tours run on reservation and can be cancelled by weather; confirm the day before.
- Some plantation houses and small museums keep short or seasonal hours: check before driving out.
- Distances between sights are longer than they look on a map; plan around one or two stops a day.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Houma Police Department (non-emergency)
- 985-873-6371
Pocket card
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HoumaHouma
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Houma Police Department (non-emergency)985-873-6371
Embassy
No embassies in Houma; consulates are in New Orleans and embassies in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- MSY airport → Houma by car: about 1 h 15 min, 100 km (62 mi)about 1 h 15 min, 62 mi (100 km)
- Greyhound Houma → New Orleans: about 1 h 30 min, fare check
- Airboat swamp tour, adult: $40, about 1½ hours
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
- How far is it? — How far is it?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Houma. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Sep (heat, humidity and hurricane season); check for storm closures · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MSY: drive times, last Greyhound from New Orleans, taxi fallback.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown Main Street, West Park Avenue, Southdown, Chauvin.
- Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (Southdown Plantation House, Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, Chauvin Sculpture Garden) and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialHouma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
- officialLouisiana Office of Tourism
- officialAmtrak — Sunset Limited
- officialGreyhound
- secondaryWikivoyage: Houma, revision 5243993 (CC BY-SA 4.0)