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‘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.
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.
Options
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
Private Small Airboat
Private
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
10 Passenger Airboat
Small Airboat - No Pickup
Small Airboat: Up to 10 Passengers
Small Airboat with Pickup
Small Airboat : Up to 10 Passengers
Pickup Time: Pickups start 75 minutes prior to tour time
Pickup included
Reviews
4,786 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Worth it !
472kingak,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice and educational trip! Our guide was awesome! He has a great knowledge about swamps, aligators, snakes. Beautiful view. I saw lots of aligators. I recommend it for anyone.
Fun day out.
Debra M,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful!! Fun experience. Lots of wildlife. Driver was funny and knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend.
Superbly Satisfying Outing Today
markjgaremi,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Although we didn't see as many gators as we might have liked, pretty much everything else more than made up for that. Our guide Marc was superb. Very knowledgeable and engaging, with a nice dose of humor. The bayou and brackish lake waters were superb to be out on an airboat today (sunny and 76), and Marc took us to the places he knew we'd likely see a few larger gators, bald eagles, and a few pelicans and cranes. It was a two-hour experience I'd eqsily go on again.
Ain’t no Gator Hater
Jenna M,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing - recommend to do when you are in Louisiana - the guide was very knowledgeable and loved his work
Beautiful scenery and lots of wildlife
dawne199,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mark our tour boat guide was so awesome!! He made sure we saw everything there was to see! He knew right where the gators were and even got one to come to the boat! He showed us how beautiful the bayous are. He even took us down an outlet that was the inspiration for the Princess Frog Disney movie! This is a must do tour! You will not be sorry.
We had the best time with...
Lizzie W,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had the best time with Captain Larry! Transportation was on time and the driver ended up dropping us back right at our hotel even though it wasn’t on the pickup list! The tour is so fun and informative, and you can tell the team really loves what they do. Would recommend this to everyone as it was absolutely beautiful!
We enjoyed our tour. The...
Lizabeth L,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We enjoyed our tour. The company was responsive to questions, came on time and the boat was fun! We saw a lot of gators!
Great Adventure!
Anne J,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It's a lot of fun and the guide looks for all kinds of wild life. Our guide was great. He found a very large alligator for us to see up close.
This was one of the...
Jenna B,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was one of the highlights of the trip!! We got to see a lot of gators, and the bayou is absolutely beautiful! Highly recommend for anyone wanting to have a bit of a nature break form the busy city. Also our tour guide, Corey, was phenomenal!
Awesome Tour
Alvin C,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The airboat tour in New Orleans was absolutely amazing! From start to finish, it was an exciting and informative experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the swamp’s wildlife, history, and culture, making every moment both educational and entertaining. We saw alligators up close, along with beautiful birds and stunning bayou scenery. The airboat ride itself was thrilling—fast, smooth, and perfectly safe. The balance of adventure and learning was spot-on, and the small group size made it even more personal. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting New Orleans—it’s the best way to experience the Louisiana swamps!
Related Experiences
Operated by Airboat Adventures