New Orleans is much more than late-night music and Bourbon Street. With the right pace, families can mix hands-on museums, giant parade floats, wildlife, sculpture gardens, streetcars, beignets, and a real Louisiana wetlands adventure. Here are the best family-friendly stops for New Orleans with kids, plus three popular experiences worth saving for another trip.
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City Park
1. Storyland and Carousel Gardens
City Park gives younger children two easy wins in one location. Storyland is an outdoor storybook playground with large-scale nursery rhyme scenes, including a pirate ship, Pinocchio’s whale, and Jack and Jill’s hill. Next door, Carousel Gardens adds rides, a miniature train, a historic carousel, and the Ladybug Roller Coaster.
- Cost: Storyland is $8.50 for visitors 36 inches and taller; children under 36 inches are free. Carousel Gardens daily tickets are $27 for guests 36 inches and taller, $17 for an adult chaperone, and free for children under 36 inches. Carousel tickets include Storyland admission.
- Hours: Storyland is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. Carousel Gardens’ posted 2026 hours are Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., during its February 28–November 1 season.
- Best ages: Toddlers through about age 9.
- Accessibility: Both are outdoor attractions with restrooms and food nearby. Check current ride requirements before visiting; some rides require children to meet height minimums or ride with a paid adult.
- Gotcha: Storyland and the amusement park do not share identical schedules. Check the calendar before planning a weekday visit.
2. Louisiana Children’s Museum
The Louisiana Children’s Museum is one of the most dependable rainy-day choices in New Orleans. Its 56,000 square feet of interactive exhibits are designed for play, exploration, pretend, literacy, and STEM learning.
- Cost: $22.95 plus tax for adults and children 12 months and older; $18.95 plus tax for seniors and active military. Louisiana SNAP/EBT households may qualify for $4.95 admission for up to four people.
- Hours: Fall hours are Wednesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Best ages: Babies through about age 10, with the strongest fit for preschool and elementary-age children.
- Accessibility: The museum provides accessible experiences, a lactation pod, family restrooms, free parking, and an on-site café.
- Gotcha: Timed-entry tickets are strongly recommended, especially on weekends and holidays.
Uptown and the Warehouse District
3. Audubon Zoo
Audubon Zoo is a full morning or afternoon, not a quick stop. Families can see Louisiana swamp wildlife, elephants, big cats, primates, and the zoo’s distinctive Louisiana-themed habitats.
- Cost: Date-based admission is currently about $30–$40 for adults and $25–$35 for children and seniors. Children under age 2 are free.
- Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; last ticket sales are at 4 p.m. and last entry is at 4:30 p.m.
- Best ages: All ages, especially animal-loving preschoolers and elementary-age children.
- Accessibility: The zoo has accessible routes and accommodations, but it is large and includes plenty of walking. A stroller is useful; compare lightweight options such as this travel stroller with canopy.
- Gotcha: New Orleans heat and humidity can make the middle of the day exhausting. Arrive early, carry water, and plan indoor or shaded breaks.
4. Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium
For hot or rainy weather, the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium is often easier than the zoo. The combination offers underwater habitats, Gulf Coast species, penguins, butterflies, reptiles, and hands-on insect exhibits.
- Cost: Combined Aquarium/Insectarium admission is currently about $45–$55 for adults and $40–$50 for children and seniors. The all-three Audubon ticket, covering the zoo, aquarium, and insectarium, is listed at $60 for adults and $55 for children and seniors. Children under 2 are free.
- Hours: Both are open daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; last ticket sales are at 4 p.m.
- Best ages: Toddlers through teens. The insect displays are especially memorable for curious elementary-age kids.
- Accessibility: Indoor routes, elevators, accessible restrooms, and stroller-friendly areas make this a practical mixed-age stop. Confirm current exhibit access with Audubon Nature Institute.
- Gotcha: Ticket prices vary by date and demand. Compare the combo ticket with individual admission before paying.
5. The National WWII Museum
This is one of New Orleans’ strongest attractions for older children, but it is not a universal toddler recommendation. The exhibits tell the story of the American experience during World War II through artifacts, vehicles, personal stories, and immersive galleries.
- Cost: General admission is $37 for adults, $34 for seniors, and $27 for K–12 students, college students, and military visitors with ID. Children under 5 and WWII veterans are free. Optional experiences cost extra.
- Hours: Exhibits and the museum store are open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The museum closes on Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
- Best ages: Tweens, teens, and history-focused older elementary students.
- Accessibility: Compact strollers are allowed, manual wheelchairs are available first-come, first-served, and the museum provides accessibility information for visitors who need additional accommodations.
- Gotcha: The campus is large and emotionally serious. Use the museum’s two-hour itinerary instead of trying to see everything with younger children.
6. Ogden Museum of Southern Art
The Ogden is a manageable art stop near the WWII Museum. Keep it short with younger children: choose a few colorful works, talk about what they notice, and let the museum be one part of a Warehouse District afternoon.
- Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $7 for ages 5–17, and free for children under 5. Louisiana residents receive free admission on Thursdays.
- Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; check the calendar for holiday closures.
- Best ages: School-age children through teens, especially kids who enjoy drawing or storytelling.
- Accessibility: Manual wheelchairs are available, and accessible restrooms are on the second and fifth floors.
- Gotcha: Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and large backpacks and totes must be checked.
French Quarter-Adjacent and Riverfront
7. A gentle French Quarter family loop
A daytime loop through Jackson Square, the French Market, Café du Monde, and the riverfront gives families a taste of New Orleans without committing to an all-day attraction.
Jackson Square is free and known for its artists and street performers. The French Market’s farmers and flea market vendors operate seven days a week. At Café du Monde, share beignets and expect powdered sugar on everything.
- Cost: Jackson Square and the French Market are free to enter. Café du Monde prices vary by order. The Riverfront streetcar is $1.25 per ride; the unlimited one-day Jazzy Pass is listed at $3 through the Le Pass app.
- Hours: French Market retailers generally operate 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; flea market hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Café du Monde’s French Market location is open 7:15 a.m.–11 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and until midnight Friday–Saturday. Riverfront streetcar service generally runs from about 5:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
- Best ages: All ages, with the most flexibility for families with toddlers.
- Accessibility: Sidewalks and historic paving can be uneven. The streetcar is useful, but confirm current stops and service alerts with NORTA.
- Gotcha: Jackson Square does not have a reliable posted daily schedule, and individual French Market vendors set their own hours.
8. Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World is a behind-the-scenes look at where parade floats are designed, sculpted, painted, and stored. The one-hour tour includes a short film, a guided walk through the working float studio, photo opportunities, and a slice of king cake.
- Cost: Ticket prices vary by date and visitor type; use the official Mardi Gras World ticket page for current 2026 pricing.
- Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; tours depart every 30 minutes, with first admission at 9:30 a.m. and last admission at 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Mardi Gras Day.
- Best ages: Preschoolers through adults.
- Accessibility: The tour includes a working warehouse and walking surfaces that may be uneven. Ask about current route accommodations before booking.
- Gotcha: The free downtown shuttle is temporarily unavailable according to the official page, so plan rideshare, driving, or public transportation.
9. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Older children may enjoy learning why New Orleans uses above-ground tombs, but this is not a casual walk-in attraction. Entry requires a properly ticketed guided tour, and advance booking is recommended.
- Cost: The official booking calendar should be checked for the current 2026 tour price.
- Hours: Tours run on the official schedule, with departures approximately every 15 minutes. Exact times vary.
- Best ages: Older elementary children, tweens, and teens who can follow a guide and respect a working cemetery.
- Accessibility: Ask the tour operator about the current route and surfaces before booking. The cemetery requires certified service animals only.
- Gotcha: No food or alcohol is permitted, and independent entry is not allowed.
City Park Nature and Wetlands
10. Besthoff Sculpture Garden and Jean Lafitte wetlands
These are two very different nature experiences, so treat them as separate options depending on your itinerary.
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is a free, peaceful add-on near the New Orleans Museum of Art. It has paved paths, water, mature trees, and large-scale sculptures that can turn into a fun family scavenger hunt.
- Cost: Free; donations are appreciated.
- Hours: October–March, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; April–September, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Best ages: All ages.
- Accessibility: The garden is generally stroller-friendly, with accessible parking near NOMA. Supervise children around sculptures and water.
- Gotcha: It is outdoors with limited shade in some sections.
For a true wetlands experience, visit Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s Barataria area, but check conditions first. As of the official 2026 update, the Barataria visitor center and most trails are closed for demolition and construction. The Twin Canals parking area, trail, and canoe launch are open for day use, and visitor services have moved to the Town of Jean Lafitte Civic Center. The nearby Wetland Trace Boardwalk is open daily.
- Cost: The national park preserve is fee-free.
- Hours: Access is currently condition-dependent; check the NPS Barataria Preserve page before driving.
- Best ages: Elementary-age children and older who can stay on the trail and follow wildlife-safety rules.
- Accessibility: NPS lists accessible facilities, restrooms, and wheelchairs, but current construction may change which areas are usable.
- Gotcha: Alligators are wild animals. Never approach, feed, or harass them. If you need a car for this outing, compare rental-car discounts.
3 New Orleans Experiences to Skip, or Save for Another Trip
- Bourbon Street at night: The adult nightlife, crowds, noise, and open-container culture are not a good family evening plan. See the French Quarter in daylight instead.
- The casino: Caesars New Orleans is adults only, 21 and over, so it is not a fit for most family itineraries.
- Classic adult nightlife stops: Cocktail bars, late-night clubs, and some ghost or true-crime tours may be fascinating for adults but are usually tiring, inappropriate, or simply too late for children.
Where to Base Yourself With Kids
For walkability, look at the French Quarter’s quieter edges, the Central Business District, or the Warehouse District near the WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, and the riverfront. Families who prioritize a pool, parking, and easier drives may prefer Uptown or the Garden District, especially if Audubon Zoo is a priority.
A stroller, refillable water bottles, sun protection, and a compact activity kit can make long waits and streetcar rides easier. For restaurant downtime or travel days, consider a mess-free coloring set or a compact booster seat.
If You Only Have One Day
Start early at the Louisiana Children’s Museum or Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium. After lunch, take the streetcar or a rideshare toward Jackson Square, walk through the French Market, share beignets at Café du Monde, and finish with a short riverfront stroll. If your children are older, replace the museum with the National WWII Museum or Mardi Gras World.
New Orleans can absolutely be one of the best places to travel with kids south, as long as you plan for heat, walking, early evenings, and a mix of high-energy attractions with simple, low-cost breaks.
Before You Go: Details Worth Rechecking
- Audubon Zoo and Aquarium/Insectarium prices: These are date-based and can change with demand, so double-check the total before you book.
- Mardi Gras World admission: Current pricing is shown through the live ticketing page, which is the best place to confirm your total before visiting.
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 tours: Tour prices and departure times can change, so check the official booking calendar before you go.
- Riverfront streetcar service: Fares, stops, and service patterns may shift for maintenance or special events, so look for current updates before riding.
- Barataria Preserve conditions: Construction and hurricane recovery can affect access, so review current NPS conditions right before your wetlands outing.
- Jackson Square and French Market timing: Jackson Square does not follow a dependable daily schedule, and individual French Market vendors may keep different hours, so build a little flexibility into your plan.