Oak Alley Plantation Guided Tour

Explore a famed antebellum mansion and walk beneath 28 towering oaks on a half-day coach trip from New Orleans.

From$84/ person

Duration

5 Hours & 25 Minutes

Includes

Coach transport, Guided mansion tour

Highlights

Journey by air-conditioned coach to Oak Alley Plantation and uncover its Greek Revival mansion, lush gardens and slave history.

Stand beneath a quarter-mile canopy of 28 centuries-old oak trees and tour the "Big House" with a knowledgeable guide.

Travel across Bonnet Carre Spillway with views of Lake Pontchartrain
Tour the 1839 Greek Revival mansion with a guide
Wander self-guided exhibits on slavery, sugarcane and blacksmithing
Stroll East and West Gardens and the iconic oak alley
Pass historic River Road plantations en route

What's Included

Round-trip coach transport
Guided mansion tour
Self-guided access to grounds and exhibits
Local guide and taxes

Things to know

The second floor of the mansion is only accessible by stairs, and some pathways are uneven despite paved routes throughout the property.

FAQs

Q: How long is the visit at Oak Alley Plantation?

A: The visit typically lasts several hours, including transportation, the Big House tour, exhibits, and time to explore the grounds.

Q: Is lunch included?

A: No. Food is not included, but snacks, salads, and sandwiches are available for purchase at the Plantation Cafe.

Q: How much walking is required?

A: Walking the grounds is part of the experience. There are paved pathways throughout the property.

Q: Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

A: Most exhibits are accessible. The second floor of the Big House is not, but a video tour is available for guests unable to climb the stairs.

Q: Can I take photos during the tour?

A: Photography is not allowed inside the plantation home. Photos are allowed on the balcony, grounds, and in the self-paced exhibits.

Q: Where can we park?

A: Parking is available in nearby French Quarter lots on Decatur Street and next to the dock. These lots are not affiliated with the tour company and offer hourly or daily rates.

Cancellation policy

Bookings are non-refundable. All sales are final.

Meeting location

400 Toulouse St New Orleans, LA 70130 US

Experience provided by New Orleans Steamboat Company

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Oak Alley Plantation Guided Tour

Explore a famed antebellum mansion and walk beneath 28 towering oaks on a half-day coach trip from New Orleans.

From$84/ person

Duration

5 Hours & 25 Minutes

Includes

Coach transport, Guided mansion tour

Highlights

Journey by air-conditioned coach to Oak Alley Plantation and uncover its Greek Revival mansion, lush gardens and slave history.

Stand beneath a quarter-mile canopy of 28 centuries-old oak trees and tour the "Big House" with a knowledgeable guide.

Travel across Bonnet Carre Spillway with views of Lake Pontchartrain
Tour the 1839 Greek Revival mansion with a guide
Wander self-guided exhibits on slavery, sugarcane and blacksmithing
Stroll East and West Gardens and the iconic oak alley
Pass historic River Road plantations en route

What's Included

Round-trip coach transport
Guided mansion tour
Self-guided access to grounds and exhibits
Local guide and taxes

Things to know

The second floor of the mansion is only accessible by stairs, and some pathways are uneven despite paved routes throughout the property.

FAQs

Q: How long is the visit at Oak Alley Plantation?

A: The visit typically lasts several hours, including transportation, the Big House tour, exhibits, and time to explore the grounds.

Q: Is lunch included?

A: No. Food is not included, but snacks, salads, and sandwiches are available for purchase at the Plantation Cafe.

Q: How much walking is required?

A: Walking the grounds is part of the experience. There are paved pathways throughout the property.

Q: Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

A: Most exhibits are accessible. The second floor of the Big House is not, but a video tour is available for guests unable to climb the stairs.

Q: Can I take photos during the tour?

A: Photography is not allowed inside the plantation home. Photos are allowed on the balcony, grounds, and in the self-paced exhibits.

Q: Where can we park?

A: Parking is available in nearby French Quarter lots on Decatur Street and next to the dock. These lots are not affiliated with the tour company and offer hourly or daily rates.

Cancellation policy

Bookings are non-refundable. All sales are final.

Review summary

4.4

Very Good

4.5K reviewsGoogle Maps

The Steamboat Natchez delivers an authentic slice of New Orleans culture, combining live jazz, Mississippi River views, and Creole cuisine on a genuine paddlewheel steamboat. When things click, guests rave about it being a trip highlight: the jazz bands get people energized, the Creole buffet impresses with fresh, high-quality dishes, and there's something undeniably magical about cruising at dusk with the city skyline as your backdrop. The calliope music adds charm, and many appreciate simply sitting down after walking all day around the city. The southern hospitality from staff gets consistent praise, and for those seeking a quintessential New Orleans experience, this checks all the boxes. However, operational hiccups can dampen the experience considerably. Boarding logistics appear inconsistent, with some guests reporting waits over an hour that cut into their reserved dinner times, creating a crowded, chaotic situation where people couldn't find deck seating. The actual cruise pace feels slow to some visitors, and extended periods without music or commentary leave gaps that make the shoreline views drag. Food service has its issues too: items running out before everyone gets seconds, cold dishes that should be warm, and confusing protocols about requesting refills. A few travelers found the whole experience fairly mundane, suggesting it's skippable if your New Orleans itinerary is packed. The consensus leans positive overall, but timing your visit and managing expectations about the relaxed pace will help determine if this classic riverboat experience is worth your time.

What people are saying

Wonderful jazz cruise on an authentic New Orleans steamer (though I believe the steam mechanism is superseded by electrical power). The paddle is very impressive, and mesmerising to lose yourself into for periods of time. The cruise is a perfect length of time, and leaves you well situated to make your way to Bourbon, Frenchmen or the hotel district as you depart. The boat took approximately 1 hour before departing, and we were inundated with interesting facts about the boat as we departed, before the band returned for a second ~1 hour long set. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the crew do not seem to prevent you from moving chairs around and sitting in paces that perhaps aren’t intended. The band were good, and broadcast throughout the ship, though there were some mixing issues at the start and only the sousaphone could be heard. Merely a minor teething issue. The sousaphone player gave us some notes as we were departing the boat which was a nice extra surprise. Overall a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend!