Oak Alley Plantation: Day Trips and Tours from New Orleans
Oak Alley Plantation is a historic plantation located near Vacherie, Louisiana, on the Mississippi River. It's famous for its remarkable avenue of 28 live oak trees, planted in the early 18th century long before the present house was built, giving the plantation its name. Day trips to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans educate visitors about the plantation's history, including the lives of the people who lived and worked there, both the wealthy owners and the enslaved. The main house at Oak Alley is also a tour highlight and is known for its iconic columns and classic Southern plantation design. Oak Alley Plantation offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era of American history, allowing for reflection on the complex and often troubling history of plantations in the South. It stands as a testament to architectural beauty and a somber reminder of the history of slavery in the United States.
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Oak Alley Plantation is a historic plantation located near Vacherie, Louisiana, on the Mississippi River. It's famous for its remarkable avenue of 28 live oak trees, planted in the early 18th century long before the present house was built, giving the plantation its name.
Day trips to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans educate visitors about the plantation's history, including the lives of the people who lived and worked there, both the wealthy owners and the enslaved. The main house at Oak Alley is also a tour highlight and is known for its iconic columns and classic Southern plantation design.
Oak Alley Plantation offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era of American history, allowing for reflection on the complex and often troubling history of plantations in the South. It stands as a testament to architectural beauty and a somber reminder of the history of slavery in the United States.
Here's your guide to visiting Oak Alley Plantation, one of the most insightful day trips from New Orleans.
How to get to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans?
Oak Alley Plantation is located around 86 kilometers west of New Orleans, in the US state of Louisiana.
From New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation by car
The drive from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation will take around 1 hour by car along I-10 W and LA-3127 N.
From New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation by bus/public transport
There is not a direct bus route to Oak Alley Plantation, but you can catch a bus to Gonzales from New Orleans and then continue the final leg of your journey by taxi.
Guided tour to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans
To fully appreciate Oak Alley Plantation and its link to the history of New Orleans, this incredible attraction is best visited on a guided tour. Standard half-day excursions last around 4.5 hours while longer tours can last up to 8 hours. Guided tours usually include a hotel pick-up or meet at a central point in the city.
How much is the entrance ticket to Oak Alley Plantation?
Ticket prices to enter Oak Alley Plantation are as follows:
Standard prices
- Adults (18 years and older): US$28 per person
- Youth (6 to 17 years old): US$10 per person
- Toddlers (0 to 5 years old): Free
Discounts are offered to members of the military and seniors over the age of 65 years on presentation of ID.
Ticket prices without the “Big House” exhibit
- Adults (18 years and older): US$25 per person
- Youth (6 to 17 years old): US$8 per person
- Toddlers (0 to 5 years old): Free
Discounts are offered to members of the military and seniors over the age of 65 years on presentation of ID.
What is the typical itinerary of a day trip to Oak Alley Plantation?
A typical tour itinerary starts with a pickup in New Orleans. If you have booked a half-day tour, you will head directly to Oak Alley Plantation and you will spend your time exploring the various aspects of the plantation and learning about its history.
If you have booked a full-day combo tour, you can expect to stop to experience the Louisiana swamps or Laura Creole, another historic sugar farming plantation originally called l’Habitation Duparc. Tours that include a city tour may include this activity either before or after the excursion to Oak Alley Plantation.
There will be opportunities to enjoy some refreshments or snacks on your tour, and there is a gift shop where you can buy a souvenir at the plantation. These extras are not included in the tour price.
Departure times for each type of tour vary depending on the itinerary and tour length.
What kinds of tours are available to go to Oak Alley Plantation?
There are different kinds of tours from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation. A half-day tour focuses exclusively on the plantation, while full-day tours also include other Louisiana attractions.
Half-day guided tours to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans
Focus your sightseeing on the historical Oak Alley Plantation on a half-day guided tour from New Orleans.
This insightful tour uncovers the history of the Old South at Oak Alley Plantation, where historians and tour guides share stories of the “Big House”, the life of the enslaved workers and the tree-lined drive that is the prominent feature of this historical location.
The tour includes a guided tour of the Big House exhibit and there will be time to browse in the gift shop and get a snack before returning to New Orleans.
Oak Alley Plantation and swamp tour combo from New Orleans
The grace and elegance of the Oak Alley Plantation and the unique natural elements of the Louisiana wetlands contrast one another on a full-day combo tour. The day begins with a guided tour of the plantation, its historic home and antique farm machinery.
After a lunch break, you will head out onto the waters during a swamp tour in search of alligators and learn about the Louisiana wetlands before returning to New Orleans in the late afternoon.
The tour travels along the Great River Road where you can marvel at the impressive Antebellum mansions that line part of the route.
Oak Alley Plantation and New Orleans city tour combo
If you have just arrived in New Orleans and are looking to see the city’s sights before heading out into the countryside, a city and Oak Alley Plantation tour combo is ideal.
On a small group guided city tour, you will join your guide and spend 3 hours getting to know New Orleans’ top attractions.
After learning more about Creole culture and the city’s defining features, your tour will head to the Oak Alley Plantation where you will step back in time.
This part of the tour includes a tour of the main house, and gives you some free time to explore the grounds and marvel at the magnificent 300-year-old Oak trees that give the plantation its name.
Laura Creole and Oak Alley Plantation tour from New Orleans
Choose a two-plantation tour combo when you visit the Laura Creole and Oak Alley Plantation on a day trip from New Orleans.
This guided experience offers the chance to see two very different locations, with Laura Creole being decorated with a distinct French Creole flair.
The plantation is also the site where Alcee Fortier, a folklore expert, captured tales of West African slaves. These stories were later published as the Tales of Br’er Rabbit.
At Oak Alley Plantation, you have time to enjoy a cajun lunch before undertaking a guided walking tour of certain aspects of the property. Round-trip hotel transfers are part of the package.
How much does a day trip to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans Cost?
Day trips to Oak Alley Plantation range in cost depending on the length and inclusions of the tour.
Half-day guided tours to Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans start from US$80 per adult and US$40 per child aged 6 to 12 years. Infants and toddlers do not pay for the tour when accompanying full-paying adults.
Oak Alley Plantation and swamp tour combos from New Orleans start from US$120 per person including a water experience like a pontoon or airboat ride.
Oak Alley Plantation and New Orleans city combo tours are priced from US$120 per adult and US$80 per child aged 4 to 12 years.
A combo tour of Laura Creole and Oak Alley Plantation from New Orleans is a full-day experience costing from US$120 per adult and US$110 for children between the ages of 4 and 12 years.
What will you see at Oak Alley Plantation?
The Oak Alley Plantation is an immersive and authentic historical experience.
The “Big House”
The “Big House” is open to visitors who have reserved a ticket. Exhibits on both stories of the building offer a glimpse into the life of a wealthy sugar plantation owner.
The second floor is only accessible by stairs, but a digital tour is available for guests unable to navigate the stairs.
Live oaks
There are 28 magnificent oak trees that line the drive leading to the plantation’s “Big House”. Along with these legendary trees, the property also has wide open pastures, a 1920s formal garden and other interesting nooks and crannies to explore.
Slavery at Oak Alley exhibit
A self-guided exhibit of Oak Alley focuses on some of the people who were owned and kept on the plantation. It further looks at the lives and living conditions of the workers after emancipation and into the present day.
The Sugarcane Theater
A visit to the Sugarcane Theater at the start of your tour will help you to imagine the plantation as it was as an operating plantation. A 3-dimensional map also details how the sugarcane was grown and processed.
The Blacksmith Shop
The forge is a site that pays tribute to the legacy of Louisiana craftsmen and the metalwork forged on plantations in the region.
When is Oak Alley Plantation open?
Oak Alley Plantation is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Guided tours of the “Big House” take place between 9 AM and 4:30 PM. Entry times for the “Big House” exhibit are assigned when the booking is made.
While the plantation may be open, some tours do not operate on Mardi Gras Day or Thanksgiving day
When is the best time to visit Oak Alley Plantation?
The best time to visit Oak Alley Plantation is in the months between February and May. You'll experience mild weather and catch the spring season, when the trees and gardens are especially lush and breathtaking.
Tips before you go
- Oak Alley Plantation is a popular destination, so arriving early can help you avoid the larger crowds that gather later in the day.
- Comfortable shoes are recommended as there is quite a bit of walking involved on the property.
- Louisiana can be hot, especially in the summer months. Bring water to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen.
- Remember that plantations are sites with complex and often painful histories. Approach your visit with respect.