Poverty Point National Monument
Now a nearly forgotten culture, Poverty Point at its peak 3,000 years ago was part of an enormous trading network that stretched for hundreds of miles across the continent. It was - and is - also an engineering marvel, the product of five million hours of labor. Explore the culture of a highly sophisticated people who left behind one of North America’s most important archeological sites.
Alerts
- InformationWhat To Know Before You Visit
Park grounds and visitor center are open, but you're encouraged to call the visitor center at 318-926-5492 for the latest information and COVID-19 precautions before you visit.
Fire nearby
- WildfireDowling
44 mi from the park's reference point · 106 acres · 5% contained
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Poverty Point World Heritage Site | Daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Standard Hours | Daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
Standard Hours: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Closed | Hours not published |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Closed | Hours not published |
| Jan 1, 2027New Years Day Closed | Hours not published |
Visitor centers
- Poverty Point World Heritage Site ↗Passport stamp
Located in northeastern Louisiana, Poverty Point National Monument can be visited in any season. This site, which contains some of the largest prehistoric earth works in North America, is managed by the state of Louisiana. These state park facilities are open to the public.
No campgrounds, no webcams, no things to do or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the South
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Activity guides for this park Hiking in the national parks
Weather & climate
Summers are sunny, hot, and humid. Winters tend to be mild; however, humid rainy periods occur throughout the year. Sudden and severe thunderstorms are common, so stay alert to weather forecasts. Check with rangers at the Visitor Center and/or USS Cairo Museum for updates on weather patterns. Wear comfortable sportswear appropriate for the season, with walking or hiking shoes recommended.
Questions people ask
Does Poverty Point charge an entrance fee?
No. Poverty Point is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Poverty Point?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM, every day.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Poverty Point right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: What To Know Before You Visit.
Source: Alerts
Is there cell service at Poverty Point?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Poverty Point?
Summers are sunny, hot, and humid. Winters tend to be mild; however, humid rainy periods occur throughout the year.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
More in Louisiana
