New Orleans Airboat Ride

Escape the hustle-bustle of New Orleans on an exhilarating airboat ride. Spot alligators, snakes, turtles, and more as you explore the beautiful swamp scenery.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • New Orleans - Drive-out along the Mississippi River approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the embarkation point of your airboat from your New Orleans hotel. Depending on the option you selected, board a large airboat holding 15 to 25 passengers or a small airboat limited to six to eight passengers for a more intimate, personalized experience.
  • Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve - Set out on a 1 hour and 45 minute tour on a 20,000-acre (8,095-hectare) tract of tidewater cypress swamp close to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Your airboat is powered by an aircraft propeller to allow a fast, fluid trip through the shallow marshes. Feel the wind on your face as you zip into bayous lined with mossy cypress and tupelo-gum trees.

Prepare to see plenty of alligators in the warmer months (and warmer days in winter), some of which may be out sunning themselves on rocks! Your guide may even feed the gators, affording amazing photo opportunities. Keep your eyes open for turtles, snakes, egrets, herons and ibis. You may even catch sight of a hawk, owl or bald eagle. In the cooler months, look for white-tailed deer, raccoons and the large rodents known as nutria.

Be sure to check out the indoor exhibits of alligators, including an albino alligator.

Note: This tour does not include hotel pick-up or drop-off unless option selected at checkout.

What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Airboat ride
  • Small storage space under seat
  • Roundtrip transportation (if option with transport is selected at time of booking)
  • Ear protection
  • Unobstructed views
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks (gift shop and bar available on site)
Additional Information

Take a break from the hustle-bustle of New Orleans and escape to nature on this exhilarating, family-friendly airboat ride! Spot alligators, snakes, turtles, egrets and herons as you take a fast, fun ride over a tidewater cypress swamp close to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Admire moss-covered cypress and tupelo-gum trees as you explore bayous teeming with life and take advantage of incredible photo ops.

Th premium small-group tour is limited to 6 people, regular small airboat (up to 10 people) or large airboat (up to 30 people) to allow for better views of the wildlife.

Please note: If you book the self-drive option you will not receive hotel pickup. If you book the option with pickup, pickups will begin 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to tour time.

There are no rideshare or taxi services to this area. Gators are more commonly spotted in summer months.

  • Operates in all weather conditions (sunny or rainy); please dress appropriately
  • Minimum age is 5 years
  • Reservations booked separately will NOT be guaranteed to be on the same boat
  • Taxi & Ride Share services not available in our area
  • We offer a full refund in case of inclement weather that is unsafe to operate tours (lightening/ thunderstorms/ high wind). We still operate in the rain.
Location
5145 Fleming Park Rd
Fleming Park Road
Please turn right on Texas Street (the next right), not Fleming Park Rd to enter the facility.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(3916 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Joseph_m
Jul 30, 2024
Well worth it - The tour was amazing and the tour guide was absolutely spectacular. The tour guide was knowledgeable and he was basically like Crocodile Dundee. He brought the alligators close to the boat and made them open their mouths, he grabbed onto their jaws underneath to control them, and also he held their jaws shut at certain points. He knew some of the larger alligators individually by their physical features and scars. We also saw a pack of raccoons and a bald eagles nest on the tour. This was a great two hour experience.
Review provided by Viator
Brittany_s
Jul 29, 2024
Mark is a badass - Mark was absolutely amazing, very informative, brave and hilarious! We saw so many alligators and Mark even kissed one! We enjoyed his tour so much and I will be telling everyone to go to this place!
Review provided by Viator
Kristy
Jul 29, 2024
Great Family Trip - We had a great experience!!! Our kids from 5-17 had a blast and we would definitely do this again!! Our guide was knowledgeable and we saw lots of alligators!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carsten
Jul 28, 2024
Great experience - Very interesting and great fun for the whole family. Seeing the alligators in their natural habitat was a great experience. The captain on the boat knew everything about the area and the animals and was good at conveying the information. I’m sure everyone on the boat had a great time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joseph_m
Jul 28, 2024
Fun boat ride - Tour guide was very funny and friendly, was super knowledgeable about all the wildlife and area. Boat ride was fun and felt safe the whole time. Would definitely recommend and do again.
Review provided by Viator
Christine_y
Jul 28, 2024
Fun experience had by all. - Our airboat captain was amazing. Tictoc was informative and fun. We got up close to many alligators. Had an ansolutly wonder full time would highly recommend and will be doing it again when we return.
Review provided by Viator
Courtney_m
Jul 27, 2024
Awesome - Our tour guide was Kristi and she was amazing!!! We seen 19 gators which was so cool we got really close and seen her play with them and feed them so cool!!!
Review provided by Viator
Brian_k
Jul 27, 2024
World class tour! - This is a great tour and Captain Tick Tock was knowledgeable, personable, and funny! We’ve done these tours in Africa, Australia, and now New Orleans. This was by far our favorite.
Review provided by Viator
Gobubbles2
Jul 28, 2024
A little less "adventurous" than I envisioned, but a fun trip with alligators and nice scenery - Neat outing, and the alligators were unexpectedly adorable! Coming from the north, I admit I did not have quick the right impression of the trip. I envisioned much more backwater, swampland, and more alligators. Instead, it was really inlets along the "lake", with a few small alligators here and there that are very used to the boats and people. (Totally fair, and still neat.) On the plus side, the boat was not at all scary, and the breeze more than made up for heat an sun. Our guide was fun. The boat was wide and you couldn't see much of the water on the other side, but he made sure to always turn the boat around when we saw a gator so both sides got a look. Nice scenery!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ashley_g
Jul 29, 2024
Fun but SHORT - We did enjoy ourselves. My issues is it only lasted 1 hour and 20 mins. It says approximately 2-4 hours. He could of just drove around in the boat for awhile longer. All the boats came back the same time so I know it wasnt just my boat. He was a great Captain though.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 10 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today