8 Best Plantation Tours in New Orleans in 2024

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the captivating history and beauty of the Deep South is on one of the plantation tours in New Orleans. From the famous Oak Alley Plantation to the lesser-known gems like Whitney Plantation, these Louisiana plantation tours offer a glimpse into the region’s rich past and cultural heritage.

You will get to explore the grand antebellum plantation houses, stroll through some picturesque gardens, and learn about the lives of those who once inhabited these grand estates.

For those seeking plantation tours near New Orleans, the Destrehan Plantation will be the closest option, conveniently located just a short drive away from the city.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a nature lover, these tours promise an unforgettable outing that pulls you back in time and an opportunity to learn more about the troubled past of these New Orleans plantations on this Big Easy adventure.

Quick Guide: Plantation Tours in New Orleans

Best New Orleans Plantation Tours

1. From New Orleans: Whitney Plantation Ticket & Transportation

⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 5 Hours | Check Rates and Availability

Step into the historical charm of the Whitney Plantation in New Orleans with the From New Orleans: Whitney Plantation Ticket & Transportation tour. This highly-rated tour has earned an impressive rating throughout its numerous visitors, and it continues to ensure a delightful and enriching experience for those who book it.

Lasting approximately 5 hours, this round-trip bus tour provides convenient transportation to the Whitney Plantation, known for its stunning Spanish Creole plantation architecture.

Once you arrive, you’ll embark on a self-guided tour, allowing you to explore the plantation at your own pace. As the only plantation museum in Louisiana with a focus on the history of slavery, the Whitney Plantation tour offers a unique educational experience, shedding light on the lives of enslaved individuals and their contributions to history.

The tour itself was a self-guided audio which was fantastic, well structured, substantive, and comfortably paced. The drive out was also great!

GetYourGuide Traveler (Read More Reviews)

You can immerse yourself in the rich history of the plantation as you stroll through its historic outbuildings, each holding its own intriguing story.

The well-structured self-guided audio tour provides substantive information about the plantation’s past, culture, and significance, ensuring you have an informative and captivating journey.

The opportunity to visit the Whitney Plantation in New Orleans, where Spanish Creole architecture, a focus on slave labor, and a variety of historic outbuildings come together to create an unforgettable eye-opening experience and powerful testimony of plantation life.

▶️ BOOK From New Orleans: Whitney Plantation Ticket & Transportation

2. New Orleans: Destrehan Plantation Tour

⭐️ RATING: 4.6 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: Valid for 1 Day | Check Rates and Availability

Explore the Closest Plantation to New Orleans with the New Orleans: Destrehan Plantation Tour. Approximately a 30-minute drive away from the heart of New Orleans, this highly-rated tour continues to impress its crowds, so make sure you don’t miss it!

The tour is valid for one day, allowing plenty of time to immerse yourself in the plantation’s rich history and culture.

Upon arrival at Destrehan Plantation, you will have the opportunity to explore the plantation store and gift shop, where you can find unique souvenirs and mementos. Throughout the tour, you will have a personal interpreter who will guide you through the plantation, sharing stories about both free and enslaved people who once lived here.

I enjoyed the whole tour from the history lessons to the artifacts and most especially the presentation. Will recommend this tour.

– GetYourGuide Traveler (Read More Reviews)

One of the highlights of the tour is the chance to see an original document signed by historical figures Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, adding an extra layer of historical significance to the experience. Additionally, visitors can witness folk-life demonstrations that showcase traditional skills and crafts.

As you explore the plantation, don’t miss the Legacy Room, which displays original documents and artifacts from the family members who resided here, providing an intimate glimpse into their lives.

▶️ BOOK New Orleans: Destrehan Plantation Tour

3. New Orleans: Houmas House Plantation Tour

⭐️ RATING: 4.8 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 1 Hour | Check Rates and Availability

You can experience the grandeur of the Houmas House Plantation with the New Orleans: Houmas House Plantation Tour. This tour promises a fully immersive and captivating experience. Guides dressed in period attire enhance the authenticity of the tour, offering a glimpse into the plantation’s storied past.

As you explore the fully restored mansion, you will be transported back in time, enjoying a fully immersive experience that reflects the opulence and grandeur of the sugarcane plantation in the 1800s. The tour provides an opportunity to see rare and period artwork and artifacts, adding a rich layer of historical significance to the visit.

Absolutely loved the tour. The house is amazing and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. The grounds are so vast and gorgeous.

– GetYourGuide Traveler (Read More Reviews)

The Houmas House’s vast grounds are equally impressive, featuring water features, secret gardens, sculptures, and magnificent live Oak trees. Visitors can enjoy self-paced tours of the expansive gardens, taking in the natural beauty that surrounds them.

Whether you’re fascinated by history, appreciate architecture, or simply seek an escape into the beauty of the past, this tour promises to be an enriching and memorable experience.

▶️ BOOK New Orleans: Houmas House Plantation Tour

4. New Orleans: St. Joseph Plantation Guided Tour

🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 1 Hour | Check Rates and Availability

St. Joseph Plantation is one of the last operating sugar cane plantations in Louisiana, covering an impressive 2,500 acres in the River Parishes. During the guided tour, you will have full access to each room of the plantation home, allowing for a more detailed understanding of its history and significance.

Additionally, guests are encouraged to take a walking tour to explore the beautiful grounds and witness the plantation’s rich heritage firsthand.

The self-guided tour of numerous outbuildings, including original slave quarters, a detached kitchen, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter’s shed, and a schoolhouse, offers an intimate glimpse into the daily lives and struggles of the people who lived on the plantation.

If you consider yourself a history enthusiast or a movie buff, you will appreciate that St. Joseph Plantation, along with its sister property Felicity Plantation, has been featured in several notable films, such as “12 Years a Slave,” “All The King’s Men,” “The Skeleton Key,” and “Queen Sugar.”

There is also a very unique opportunity starting at the end of September from October 1st through November 3rd, where visitors can also witness the “Creole Mourning Tour.” During this time, the house is dressed for deep mourning, and live re-enactments portray the people who lived on the plantation and their mourning customs.

If you’re eager to delve into a lesser-known gem among the plantations near New Orleans, the New Orleans: St. Joseph Plantation Guided Tour is a fantastic choice.

▶️ BOOK New Orleans: St. Joseph Plantation Guided Tour

New Orleans Plantation and Swamp Tours

5. New Orleans: Single Plantation and Pontoon Swamp Day Trip

⭐️ RATING: 4.6 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 8 Hours | Check Rates and Availability

You can experience the best of both worlds with the New Orleans: Single Plantation and Pontoon Swamp Day Trip. This tour offers the opportunity to visit one of three plantations, including Laura, Oak Alley, or Whitney Plantation. With a tour length of 8 hours, it provides plenty of time to explore a plantation and venture into the enchanting swamp.

Explore one of the following plantations with this tour:

    •    Laura Plantation: Discover the Big House, gardens, and original slave cabins. Don’t miss the new museum exhibits offering insights into daily life on the sugar plantation.

    •    Oak Alley Plantation: Oak Alley house tour (including the Big House), Oak Alley exhibit, and visit an 1890s-era forge, providing a glimpse into historical craftsmanship.

    •    Whitney Plantation: Experience a French Creole Barn, a detached kitchen, and exhibits honoring the lives and struggles of enslaved individuals.

Everyone from the driver, tour guides were friendly, funny and knowledgable.

– GetYourGuide Traveler (Read More Reviews)

The tour includes convenient transportation in a 14-passenger bus, making it a fantastic option for those seeking New Orleans plantation country tours with transportation included.

From the moment you board the tour vehicle, you can expect friendly, funny, and knowledgeable drivers and guides who will make your day truly enjoyable. Visitors have praised the tour for its well-organized itinerary and the engaging narratives shared by the guides.

With this tour, you’ll have the opportunity to delve into the rich history of one of these three distinct plantations and venture into the captivating Louisiana swamp to learn about the unique Wetlands ecosystem.

The combination of visiting a plantation and taking a pontoon swamp tour allows you to learn about the history of the region while also experiencing the beauty of the Wetlands and its wildlife. A day filled with cultural heritage and natural wonders awaits on this exceptional adventure.

▶️ BOOK New Orleans: Single Plantation and Pontoon Swamp Day Trip

6. New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Swamp Cruise Day Trip

⭐️ RATING: 4.6 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 7 Hours | Check Rates and Availability

Set out on a captivating journey with this highly-rated tour that has earned an impressive rating and promises a memorable and enriching experience. With a tour length of 7 hours, visitors have ample time to delve into the history and beauty of the Oak Alley Plantation.

The Oak Alley and Swamp Cruise Tour combines the best of both worlds. It allows you to witness the breathtaking beauty of the famous plantation and the highlight of its alley of 28 evenly spaced live oak trees as well as the charm of the wetlands and its intriguing mystique is sure to not disappoint.

Along with exploring the plantation, you’ll enjoy a narrated ride across the swamps, taking in the unique scenery and spotting alligators, turtles, and water birds in their natural habitat. Our family absolutely loved our trip through the swamp and really enjoyed getting to see all of the wildlife, including alligators!

Great trip seeing the alligators and wildlife! We also were in awe of the plantation as well. So much history to learn from!

– Robyn (Read More Reviews)

For a deeper understanding of local Cajun and Creole history, the boat tour through the swamps offers an immersive and informative experience on a flat-bottom boat. As an added convenience, this tour also includes pickup from your French Quarter hotel.

Visitors can enjoy a leisurely day at the plantation, with picnic tables available if you want to prepare and bring your own lunch. However, there’s also a restaurant on-site for those who don’t want the stress of bringing along their own food. The plantation also has a gift shop and bar that certainly add more to the experience.

With so much history to learn from, this Oak Alley Plantation tour promises a comprehensive and unforgettable experience. So don’t miss the opportunity to explore the beauty of the Oak Alley Plantation and the magic of Louisiana’s swamps!

▶️ BOOK New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Swamp Cruise Day Trip

7. New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 8.5 Hours | Check Rates and Availability

Embark on a thrilling and immersive adventure with the New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour. This highly sought-after tour is one of the most booked and highest-rated experiences, offering the best of both worlds—the beauty and history of Oak Alley plantation tours in New Orleans and the exhilaration of a swamp airboat adventure.

With a tour length of 8.5 hours, visitors can indulge in the captivating beauty and history of the iconic plantation, known for its Greek Revival architecture and antique farm equipment exhibits. Expert guides in period dress enrich the experience, providing insights into the plantation’s past.

Absolutely worth every cent. The swamp airboat with Capt. Rocky was great. His knowledge and comfort with the alligators was unbelievable. He educated us on the swamp environment, the flora and fauna. The plantation was very interesting and the tour guide knew the house history very well. Great experience!

– Patricia (Read More Reviews)

On the swamp airboat tour, guests will ride through the Barataria Basin, witnessing swamps, marshes, and lakes, and have the chance to see gators, raccoons, and wild pigs in their natural habitat.

Capt. Rocky, the airboat guide, is known for impressing with his extensive knowledge of the swamp environment, flora, fauna, and alligators.

▶️ BOOK New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

8. From New Orleans: Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch

⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 9 Hours | Check Rates and Availability

This exciting and diverse adventure with the From New Orleans: Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch tour is the one not to miss. It’s an unforgettable and enriching experience. With a tour length of 9 hours, this tour provides a full day of exploration and fun.

The tour offers a perfect blend of history and nature, with guided visits to the Laura and Houmas House Plantations. You will learn about the rich Cajun and Creole cultures from your historian guide and admire the magnificent 300-year-old oak trees that line the path.

The adventure begins with a scenic, narrated drive out of New Orleans in a 13-seater high-roof van. Along the way, you will pass by Felicity Plantation and St. Joseph Plantation.

These areas are famous for being the filming location of the “12 Years A Slave” movie and “Queen Sugar” TV series, respectively. You will also stop in front of Oak Alley Plantation to admire its iconic rows of centuries-old oak trees.

Overall a wonderful experience with two different style of plantations, lunch and swamp airboat ride. Such a variety and fun, filled day! Truly enjoyable!!!

– GetYourGuide Traveler (Read More Reviews)

At the Houmas House Plantation, you will enjoy a gourmet Creole meal. The tasty lunch is a great way to break up the tour and refuel for the day’s continued adventures. Guides on this Houmas House Plantation tour are dressed in Antebellum costumes.

This is a fun touch that adds historical charm to your tour, making the experience even more compelling.

Many visitors have raved about the overall experience, describing it as a fun-filled day filled with variety and enjoyment. And, of course, the highlight of the tour is the thrilling small airboat ride with a Cajun boat captain.

▶️ BOOK From New Orleans: Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch

Frequently Asked Questions

Are New Orleans Plantation Tours Worth It?

Absolutely! New Orleans plantation tours are definitely worth it! These tours offer a unique opportunity to delve into the region’s rich history and cultural heritage.

Visitors can explore stunning antebellum houses and their beautiful gardens. It’s a wonderful way to gain insights into the lives of those who once lived on these grand estates.

What Is the Most Famous Plantation in New Orleans?

Oak Alley Plantation is one of the most famous and iconic plantations in New Orleans. It is renowned for its breathtaking alley of ancient oak trees. The line of trees creates a stunning avenue leading up to the majestic Greek Revival-style mansion.

Which Plantation Tour is Closest to New Orleans?

The Destrehan Plantation is the closest plantation to New Orleans, situated just a short drive away from the city. This spot offers a convenient and easily accessible option for those with limited time.

How Long Is the Plantation Tour in New Orleans?

The duration of plantation tours in New Orleans varies depending on the specific tour. Some tours may last as short as one hour, while others can be full-day excursions lasting up to nine hours. We recommend that you choose a tour that best fits your schedule and interests.

Conclusion: Plantation Tours Near NOLA

The best New Orleans plantation tours offer a captivating journey into the region’s history, culture, and natural beauty. From the grandeur of Oak Alley Plantation to the informative Whitney Plantation, each tour provides a unique and enriching experience.

If you’re looking to explore more than plantations, there are many other tour options to consider. A handful of New Orleans plantation tours combine the best of both worlds with a plantation and swamp tour combo. Combo options include swamp airboat rides, adding a touch of adventure to their exploration.

Destrehan Plantation is a great spot to consider exploring if you are seeking a convenient and fascinating visit. It’s the closest plantation to New Orleans, rich with cultural and historical significance.

Whether you’re drawn to the fascinating stories, compelling history, stunning architecture, or breathtaking landscapes, these plantation tours in Louisiana and their New Orleans plantation house locations promise an unforgettable adventure through time.

If you’re looking for more fun things to do in New Orleans and want to learn more about the fascinating history in this area, we recommend looking into some of the New Orleans cemetery tours.