Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans & Swamp Option

Quarter-Mile of 250-Year-Old Oaks & Plantation History from New Orleans

You get round-trip coach transport from downtown New Orleans, a guided tour of the 1839 plantation home, and time to walk the grounds and see the 250-year-old oak alley. The optional 90-minute swamp tour adds the wetlands and cypress trees to your day. Everything is included except food, and the air-conditioned coach handles the drive both ways.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Oak Alley Plantation2h · entry included
2. New Canal Lighthousepass by
3. St. Joseph Plantationpass by
4. Laura Plantationpass by

Oak Alley Plantation and Scenic Views

• Depart from New Orleans
• Pass by New Canal Lighthouse
• View Mississippi River spillway
• Pass St. Joseph Plantation
• Pass Laura Plantation
• Arrive at Oak Alley Plantation
• Tour Oak Alley Plantation house
• Walk the oak-lined esplanade
• Learn plantation history from guide
• Optional snack at cafe or coach
• Return to New Orleans

The experience

The coach pulls out of downtown New Orleans heading toward the River Road, and you're already past the noise of Bourbon Street. Oak Alley Plantation sits about an hour away, and the drive itself moves through the landscape that shaped Louisiana: the Mississippi River on one side, the swamps and cypress trees on the other. Your local guide starts talking about what you're about to see: a quarter-mile alley of 28 oak trees, each one over 250 years old, planted long before the main house went up in 1839. It's the kind of detail that doesn't hit until you're standing under them.

The plantation home itself is what most people come for, and the guided tour walks you through the rooms, the architecture, the stories: some of them difficult ones. The house has been in films like "Interview with a Vampire" and "Primary Colors," but that's almost beside the point once you're inside. The grounds are open to walk, and you can see the slave quarters and the working sugar cane fields that still border the property. If you upgrade, you get a 90-minute pontoon swamp tour added on, which takes you out into the wetlands to see the cypress trees and the landscape that surrounds everything here. It's not rushed. The whole experience is built to let you absorb it, not just check it off.

Transportation is included both ways, and the air-conditioned coach means you're not dealing with the heat while you're moving between stops. The tour also passes St. Joseph Plantation (a working sugar plantation from around 1830) and Laura Plantation (an 1805 Creole plantation with 12 buildings on the National Register), so you're getting more than one perspective on the region's history. There's a cafe at Oak Alley if you want to grab a sandwich or ice cream to eat at the picnic tables, though that's separate from the tour price. The whole thing is half a day, which means you're back in New Orleans with the afternoon still ahead of you.

What’s included

• Round-trip coach transportation from New Orleans.
• local guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• guided tour of the plantation home built in 1839.
• access to the plantation grounds and the quarter-mile oak alley.
• optional 90-minute pontoon swamp tour (upgrade).
• wheelchair-accessible facilities including gift shop and restrooms.

Options for this experience

2 options

Oak Alley visit only, without the swampGuide in English · 10:00 and 12:00Covers only the Oak Alley Plantation visit, with no swamp boat ride included.

Oak Alley plus Manchac swamp boat rideGuide in English · 09:00 and 11:00Adds a pontoon swamp tour of the Manchac swamp after the Oak Alley visit, with snacks and drinks for purchase at the swamp pavilion.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River, just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line New Orleans

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Oak Alley Plantation and the River Road plantations without arranging your own transport or timing the drive yourself. The coach handles both, and the local guide fills in the history as you go.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): 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 24h before the start.

How long is the tour?

It's a half-day experience. The full tour with transportation takes roughly 4–5 hours depending on traffic and how long you spend on the grounds.

What's included in the tour price?

Round-trip coach transportation from New Orleans, guided tour of the plantation home, access to the grounds, and a local guide. The 90-minute swamp tour is an optional upgrade.

Where does the tour pick up?

The tour departs from a convenient point in downtown New Orleans, within walking distance of most hotels in the French Quarter. You're asked to walk to the departure point if possible to help reduce traffic in the Quarter.

Is the plantation wheelchair accessible?

Partial access. The gift shop, restrooms, museum, and basement are accessible via ramp. The grounds are accessible but have narrow and uneven dirt paths. The main house tour is not wheelchair accessible as it's a historic home. Contact the supplier 48 hours ahead if you need a wheelchair lift-equipped bus.

What if I want to add the swamp tour?

The 90-minute pontoon swamp tour is an optional upgrade. It takes you into the wetlands to see cypress trees and the landscape surrounding the plantation.

Can I buy food at Oak Alley?

Yes. There's a cafe and ice cream parlor where you can purchase snacks, salads, and sandwiches. You can eat at picnic tables or bring food back on the coach. Food is not included in the tour price.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.