New Orleans Airboat Ride

Overview

Available languages

English

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‘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)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

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.

Admission Not Applicable

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.

1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Large Airboat with Pickup

Large Airboat: Up to 30 Passengers
Pickup Times: Pickups begin 75 minutes prior to tour time
Pickup included

Large Airboat - No Pickup

Large Airboat: Up to 30 Passengers

Small Airboat with Pickup

Small Airboat : Up to 10 Passengers
Pickup Time: Pickups start 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

Private Small Airboat

Private
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
10 Passenger Airboat

Small Airboat - No Pickup

Small Airboat: Up to 10 Passengers

Reviews

4.70

4,833 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

4109

367

134

159

Fun and a great tour
Lisa C,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Super fun, very beautiful tour of the swamp. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. We got a small airboat and it was great. I would recommend this tour to anyone!
The guide was very...
Teresa C,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The guide was very informative and personable and able to spot all the gators from a distance. Really enjoyed it!!
Highly recommend!
Fadra W,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour! Easy to find and well organized! We went with a family ranging from ages 8-74 and everyone had a great time! Our guide Brad was very knowledgeable!
One of the best things I’ve done in New Orleans
yusukel2025,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was super fan and I highly recommend. When I first saw some pictures on the website, I thought it’s a bit scary to get close to the gators, but there was nothing to worry. I saw a good amount of gators and felt so good when the airboat was speeding! The guide was very knowledgeable and had a good humor too.
True Cajun experience
Carley K,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was so much fun! We same so many different types of wildlife and our guide was so knowledgeable on all things animal/plants. He was hilarious and showed us a good time! Totally recommend riding with Captain TikTok!
Amazing experience!!!
Joel H,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an amazing experience. I only gave it five stars since there six wasn’t available. Getting to see the alligators up close and seeing all of the wildlife was life altering our tour guide lives in the bayou and knows these gators.
Pet, the gator with Shane
Susan C,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The driver was excellent. Had a great time. We stopped when we found a gator, and the driver sat at the front of the boat and then ended up, patting the gator in the water. It was crazy.
Get Out of The City and Ride an Airboat!
davemB422SC,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
While you can spend your entire New Orleans vacation in the city (or just the French Quarter), I highly recommend getting out of town and experiencing an Airboat Ride. Airboat Adventures gave us such a unique experience and Shane, our Airboat driver was just amazing. He not only pointed out the really interesting details and wildlife of the swamp and bayous, he made sure we were safe, all while giving us a humorous and speed filled journey. We saw lots of alligators, even though it was not "peak alligator season."
Great time!
K7998WCmichelec,
Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had an awesome time on the fan boat tour and saw a lot of alligators! Definitely a must see part of our New Orleans experience! Thank you!
Poor coordination
sehrestan,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Poor coordination — they messaged at midnight that pickup was at 8:30 with a 30-minute window, but when I called, the driver was already halfway through that window and had left. They then charged me an extra $30 for a new pickup. The tour itself was good, and we did see a few gators.