Northshore Transportation Guide: Mandeville, Covington, Slidell and the Trip Across the Lake

Look at a map of greater New Orleans and the dominant feature is not the river. It is Lake Pontchartrain, a broad, shallow estuary that sits between the city and the communities on its far shore. Locals call that far side the Northshore. It is home to many of the region's commuters, a growing number of wedding venues and a steady flow of travelers heading to and from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Getting there is simple in concept and occasionally complicated in practice.

The Towns of the Northshore

The name generally refers to St. Tammany Parish and its neighbors along the lake's northern edge.

• Mandeville sits directly on the lakefront at the northern end of the Causeway, with a historic old town along the shore and Fontainebleau State Park nearby.
• Covington, the parish seat, lies a short drive farther north, with a walkable downtown of galleries and restaurants.
• Madisonville is a small riverfront town on the Tchefuncte River, west of Mandeville.
• Abita Springs is a quiet, wooded town east of Covington, known for its springs and its namesake brewery.
• Slidell anchors the eastern end of the parish, where Interstates 10, 12 and 59 meet.

Interstate 12 ties these communities together from east to west and continues toward Hammond and Baton Rouge.

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

The Causeway is a pair of parallel bridges running straight across the middle of the lake between Metairie on the south shore and Mandeville on the north. At roughly 24 miles, it is among the longest bridges over water in the world, and for a stretch in the middle, land is out of sight in every direction.

It is a toll bridge with its own police force and a few rules of its own. Speed limits are enforced, and because the spans have limited room to pull over, a breakdown or collision can slow traffic for a long time. In dense fog or high winds, the bridge authority may reduce speeds, escort vehicles across in groups or close the bridge altogether. Those conditions are most common on cool mornings in the fall, winter and spring. Bridge status is published by the Causeway authority, and a professional chauffeur checks it before every crossing.

The I-10 Twin Span and Other Eastern Crossings

On the eastern side of the lake, Interstate 10 crosses between New Orleans East and Slidell on a pair of bridges known as the Twin Span. The current bridges were built after Hurricane Katrina damaged the originals, and they are higher and wider than their predecessors. This is the natural route between Slidell and the city, and it carries traffic bound for the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well. The older Highway 11 bridge runs nearby and offers a local alternative.

There is also a way around the western end of the lake. Interstate 12 meets Interstate 55 near Hammond, and I-55 runs south across the Manchac swamp to join I-10 west of the airport. It is a much longer drive from Mandeville or Covington than the Causeway, but it is the usual fallback when the Causeway is closed.

The Commuting Reality

Thousands of Northshore residents work on the south shore, and the bridges reflect it. Traffic is heaviest southbound in the morning and northbound in the late afternoon. The slow points are typically the ends of the bridges and the roads that feed them, such as Causeway Boulevard and I-10 in Metairie, the approaches in Mandeville, and I-10 through New Orleans East.

There is no passenger rail between the Northshore and New Orleans, and public transit across the lake is very limited. Rideshare operates on the Northshore, but fewer drivers work there than in the city, so wait times can be longer, particularly early in the morning and late at night. Drivers may also be reluctant to accept a long trip across the lake that leaves them far from where they started. For anything with a deadline, planning ahead is the norm here. Our Uber vs. limo service guide discusses long-distance rides in more detail.

Getting to MSY From the Northshore

The airport's location works in the Northshore's favor. MSY is in Kenner, on the western side of the metro area, and the Causeway lands in Metairie only a short drive along I-10 from the terminal. From Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville and Abita Springs, the usual route is straight across the Causeway and then west. From Slidell, the route crosses the Twin Span and follows I-10 across the city to Kenner, which is a longer drive and more exposed to city traffic.

As a cautious guide, travelers from the Mandeville and Covington area often allow about an hour for the drive, and travelers from Slidell a similar amount or somewhat more, depending on traffic, weather and the time of day. Add a further cushion on foggy mornings and at rush hour, and always on top of the airline's recommended check-in time.

A reserved car is the common choice for Northshore airport trips. MSY Limo Service serves the Northshore with flat rates confirmed before you ride, real-time flight tracking on arrivals and 45 minutes of complimentary wait time for domestic flights and 60 for international. Pre-dawn pickups are scheduled in advance, so you are not searching for a driver at four in the morning. See the route pages for Mandeville, Covington and Slidell, or the full MSY airport transportation guide.

Weddings and Events Across the Lake

The Northshore has become a sought-after setting for weddings, with venues among the pines, along the Tchefuncte River and on the Mandeville lakefront. The challenge is that many guests fly into MSY and stay in New Orleans, or stay on the Northshore and want an evening in the city. Either way, there is a long bridge and a late night involved.

Chartered transportation solves both the logistics and the safety question. Nobody should drive the Causeway after a reception. A Mercedes Sprinter van can run guests between hotels and the venue on a set schedule, and a limousine or luxury sedan can carry the couple. The same approach works in reverse for Northshore residents heading to a Saints game, a concert or a Carnival ball in the city. Learn more about wedding transportation, special events and Saints game day service, or read why hire a chauffeur for what the service includes.

Book a Northshore Ride

To reserve an airport transfer or event transportation anywhere on the Northshore, book online or call (877) 609-1919. Dispatch is available 24 hours a day. Sedans and SUVs can be cancelled free of charge up to 3 hours before pickup, and Sprinter vans, limousines and special events up to 12 hours before.