Houmas House New Orleans: Antebellum Mansion & Gardens Tour

Step Inside a 250-Year-Old Sugar Plantation Without Leaving the River Road

You get a guided tour of the mansion with costumed interpreters walking you through 250 years of plantation history, then access to 38 acres of self-guided gardens. The whole visit runs 2–3 hours. Your local guide is included, as are entry fees and local taxes. On-site restaurants let you eat without leaving the property, and the entire estate is wheelchair accessible with golf carts available on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Houmas House guided tour and gardens

• Arrive at Houmas House Estate
• Join guided mansion tour
• Listen to costumed guides' stories
• Explore 38 acres of gardens
• Enjoy Southern meal at on-site restaurant

The experience

You pull up to Houmas House and the scale hits you first: the white columns, the manicured lawns stretching out, the weight of the place. A guide in period dress meets you at the entrance and starts talking about the 250 years this mansion has been standing, and suddenly you're not just looking at a building, you're walking through rooms where decisions got made, where people lived and worked and the whole economy of the region turned on sugar. The tour moves through the estate at a pace that lets you actually absorb it (the artifacts, the antiques, the way the light falls through the windows) instead of rushing past. Costumed staff share stories that ground the history in real detail, not just dates on a plaque.

After the mansion tour, you've got time to walk the 38 acres of gardens on your own. They're self-guided, so you move at whatever speed feels right. Some people spend an hour here, some spend more. The paths are wide enough that you're not fighting through overgrown stuff, and if you need a break or want to cover more ground faster, golf carts are available. The whole experience (mansion and gardens) takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on how deep you want to go. It's the kind of place where you can linger in a room because something caught your eye, or move through quickly if you're on a tighter schedule.

When you're done walking, there's food on-site. The Carriage House Restaurant does refined Louisiana cuisine if you want something more involved, or the Dixie Café if you're after something casual. Both are separate from the tour price, but they're there, which means you don't have to leave the grounds and hunt for lunch. The whole property is wheelchair accessible. The mansion has an elevator, the walking paths are smooth, and staff can arrange a golf cart if stairs or long distances are an issue. It's the kind of detail that matters if you're traveling with someone who needs it, or if you just want to move through the day without worrying about access.

What’s included

• Your day includes a local guide, a guided tour of the Houmas House mansion with costumed interpreters sharing 250 years of plantation history, access to 38 acres of self-guided gardens, and all local taxes.
• Meals at the on-site restaurants (The Carriage House Restaurant for refined Louisiana cuisine or the Dixie Café for casual dining) are available at an additional cost.
• Golf cart service is available upon request for guests who need it.

Information

Lasts 1h–3h, runs every day, 18 start times, from US$ 38.33 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day18 departure times: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Houmas House Plantation and Gardens

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to understand the region's history without spending a full day traveling far from New Orleans, and if you prefer a guided narrative over self-directed reading: the costumed interpreters and the scale of the estate do the heavy lifting of making the past feel present and real.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the Houmas House tour take?

Plan for 2–3 hours total, including the guided mansion tour and time in the 38-acre gardens. You set your own pace through the gardens after the mansion.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The mansion has an elevator, all walking paths are wheelchair accessible, and golf carts are available upon request to move around the grounds.

What's included in the ticket price?

The guided mansion tour, access to the gardens, a local guide, and local taxes. Meals at the on-site restaurants cost extra.

Can I eat at Houmas House?

Yes. The Carriage House Restaurant serves refined Louisiana cuisine, and the Dixie Café offers casual dining. Both are on-site but charged separately from the tour.

Is it close to New Orleans?

Houmas House is a short drive from New Orleans on the River Road, making it an easy day trip from the city.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed throughout the property.