New Orleans Airboat Ride
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
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
Gratuities
Food and drinks (gift shop and bar available on site)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Small Airboat with Pickup
Small Airboat : Up to 10 Passengers
Pickup Time: Pickups start 75 minutes prior to tour time
Pickup included
Large Airboat with Pickup
Large Airboat: Up to 30 Passengers
Pickup Times: Pickups begin 75 minutes prior to tour time
Pickup included
Premium Small Airboat
Small Airboat: Up to 6 passengers
Roundtrip Transportation: Pickups start 75 minutes prior to tour time.
Pickup included
Large Airboat - No Pickup
Large Airboat: Up to 30 Passengers
Small Airboat - No Pickup
Small Airboat: Up to 10 Passengers
Private Small Airboat
Private
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
10 Passenger Airboat
Reviews
5,003 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing tour!
B3602AYvictoriam,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent experience. I wish I caught the name of the guide (see pic) but he was brilliant! One of my favourite tours to date. We saw lots of alligators and the swamps were beautiful. Well organised and highly recommended! Thank you!
Great experience
Maria S,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A must experience if in the area. Our captain was great! He got us very close to an Alligator, he was able to get the gator to open his mouth. He was very informative on the area and wild life.
This airboat company is top-notch! Highly recommend.
roxiem709,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had Captain Brad. He was a great guide and very informative about the ecology of the swamp. He could summon alligators to boat without food. He was definitely aggravated at the large air boat captains as they ran fast through small tributaries and did more speed thrill without regard to the swamp ecology. Our boat held only 10 people. He was middle-aged and said he had been doing these tours with his family since he was 16yo. We did experience some high speed travel and sharp turns. I think he knew where to safely do that. He made sure we were safe remove the chain guards and leaning over to pet the alligators. I would highly recommend this tour company and would trust any of their captains. My hubby (54), myself (63) and our son (31) throughly enjoyed this experience.
Fun time for family!
Lorena O,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Larry was an amazing guide. I learned much about the landscape and saw alligators closer than I ever could have imagined. My 11 year old said it was the best trip ever!
Such a cool experience....
Terri P,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Such a cool experience. Definitely bring a light sweater if the sun isn’t out that day. Other than that I truly enjoyed the experience as well as our guide!
Fun on the bayou!!
Belinda M,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time! It was a lot of fun & great to get out on the bayou, saw lots of gaters & the guide was a good down to earth guy, well worth it!
My friends and I had a...
Kaylee M,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My friends and I had a great time! We booked a 4pm large boat tour and it was great! Spacious and enough room to get up and look around. Our tour guide (Cory, can’t spell it) was super knowledgeable and very witty and fun, definitely lots of dad jokes! We saw tons of alligators and just the views of the swamp were so surreal and beautiful. Next time we visit we will definitely be back!! They provide headphones for you and our guide even got on the banks to show us the gators. Super cool time! My only concern would be parking. You do need to show up early especially on a busy day because parking is limited.
Boat tour was great. The...
Taihra B,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Boat tour was great. The company could have organized the pickup/dropoff with the tour times better. My group was the last to get on our boat tour and then were rushed to come back to the shuttle.
Bring your camera!
sjordancj,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Cory was fabulous! This was a great experience and would definitely go again if I had the chance. Plan transportation ahead, Uber and Lyft are not available FROM there.
A NOLA must….
heathermC2937VJ,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolute blast on the gator tour.
From US$59.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
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Operated by Airboat Adventures