The paved Tammany Trace rail-trail running through green woods in Mandeville, Louisiana
📷 Unknown author / Public domain

Louisiana · United States

Cycling in Mandeville

Best season: October–May

Across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, the Northshore towns of Mandeville, Abita Springs and Covington are strung together by the Tammany Trace — Louisiana’s first rails-to-trails conversion and still its best: 31 paved, mostly shaded miles on an old Illinois Central rail corridor, running Covington to Slidell through pine woods, bayous and small-town main streets.

The riding is flat and family-friendly, and the classic outing is Mandeville to Abita Springs and back — about 20 easy round-trip miles with a stop at the Abita Brew Pub, which sits right beside the trail. The Mandeville Trailhead doubles as a town square with a Saturday farmers market, and the Covington Trailhead drops you a block from that town’s restaurant row.

There are no rentals at the trailheads themselves, but shops sit steps away: Brooks’ Bike Shop rents cruisers from locations in Covington, Mandeville and Slidell. Better still, a couple of small lodgings lend bikes outright — a guest house in Old Mandeville keeps loaners for the Trace, and the Abita Springs Hotel offers complimentary bikes right on the path, with extra rentals through its Brooks’ partnership.

October through May is prime time; summers are hot and sticky even in the shade. Watch for the Trace’s road crossings in town, and budget time for snowballs or ice cream in Old Mandeville after the ride.

Weather in Mandeville

Live · NWS

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Typical by month

avg high/low · 1991–2020 normals · COVINGTON
  1. Jan 62° 40° 5.6"
  2. Feb 66° 44° 4.6"
  3. Mar 72° 49° 5.0"
  4. Apr 78° 55° 5.3"
  5. May 84° 63° 5.3"
  6. Jun 89° 69° 6.7"
  7. Jul 90° 71° 6.4"
  8. Aug 90° 72° 6.0"
  9. Sep 87° 68° 4.1"
  10. Oct 79° 57° 4.5"
  11. Nov 70° 47° 4.0"
  12. Dec 64° 43° 4.9"

Bike-friendly hotels

We earn a commission if you book through the links below, at no extra cost to you. It's how this guide stays free.

Free guest bikes Verified

Abita Springs Hotel

Small hotel right on the Tammany Trace in the center of Abita Springs, with a limited supply of complimentary guest bikes plus extra rentals through its advertised Brooks Bike Shop partnership.

Before you book: Confirm how many complimentary bikes are kept, helmets/locks, waiver, and how the Brooks Bike Shop rental partnership works — 985-951-4200.

Check rates ↗

Bike program verified via source (2026-07-11)

Free guest bikes Verified

MarVilla Guest House

Old Mandeville guest house near the lakefront whose own site invites guests to ride the Tammany Trace on the house bikes — a short pedal from the Mandeville Trailhead.

Before you book: Confirm loaner bikes are available for 2026, free vs. fee, fleet size, helmets/locks, and waiver — 985-626-5975.

Check rates ↗

Bike program verified via source (2026-07-11)

Where to rent or borrow a bike

Rental shop Verified

Brooks' Bike Shop (Covington)

From $10/hr

The Tammany Trace's rental anchor, one block from the Covington Trailhead at 416 E Gibson St — cruisers reportedly ~$10/hr or ~$25/day, with sister locations along the Trace in Mandeville and Slidell.

Call ahead: Rentals are confirmed on the shop's own site but current rates and waiver are aggregator-sourced — call 985-237-3658.

Details ↗

Verified via source (2026-07-11)

Rental shop Call to confirm

Brooks' Bikes/Trikes & Beyond (Mandeville)

Rates by phone

Brooks' Mandeville branch, convenient to the Mandeville Trailhead end of the Tammany Trace, per the St. Tammany tourism office's directory.

Call ahead: Address, hours, and rates unverified — call Brooks' main line 985-237-3658.

Details ↗

Reported via source (2026-07-11)

Rental shop Call to confirm

Shack de Ville

Rates by phone

Mandeville stop at 2020 Woodrow St pairing bike rentals with ice cream near the Trace, per Northshore tourism content.

Call ahead: No official website found — call 985-629-4003 for hours, rates, and waiver before relying on it.

Reported via source (2026-07-11)

Where these are on the map Mandeville

Hotels Rentals & loaners · 3 of this destination's listings located · © OpenStreetMap contributors