Things to Do in New Orleans City Park
New Orleans City Park is around 3 miles north of the French Quarter and within a 20-minute street car ride from the Harrah’s stop at the south end of Canal Street. This park is 1,300 acres, around 50% bigger than Central Park in New York City. It is a big park and you can easily spend your whole day exploring it. There are many paid and free attractions to do in City Park, so you will not get bored. Here’s a complete guide to New Orleans City Park.
Special thank you to New Orleans & Company for helping arrange this trip. If you have spare time and have questions about your own trip, head on over to the official Visitor Center at 339 Decatur Street. The lovely staff there can help answer any questions you may have about your itinerary, and you can pick up some local souvenirs and tips along the way.
This post is part of our New Orleans and Louisiana series. Here are a few related posts:
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The easiest way to get to City Park from Canal Street is by taking the street car. There are two street cars to City Park, #42 which goes to City Park/Museums. The other street car is #47 and the signage is for City Park/Cemeteries.
If you are headed to the museums or the Botanic Gardens, take street car #42 headed to City Park/Museums. The final stop of the street car takes you within walking distance to Cafe du Monde City Park as well as the New Orleans Museum of Art.
It is easy to drive from Canal Street or the French Quarter to City Park, and the drive would take no more than 10 minutes. It’s just a matter of finding parking for your car.
You can park on the street (parallel parking only) if you can find a spot. Alternatively, you can also park by the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Any parking lot that you see in City Park is free of charge. No need to worry about downloading an app to pay for a spot in a parking lot, or looking for a meter.
There are so many things to do in New Orleans City Park that it’s possible to just spend the whole day in the area. Here are a few ideas on what to see and do in New Orleans City Park.
Address: 15 Henry Thomas Dr, New Orleans, LA
Hours: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Wednesday to Saturday 9:30 AM to 4 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM to 4 PM (Central Time)
Cost: $18 each for adults and children over 12 months old.
The Louisiana Children’s Museum is a hands-on museum catered to children. The two-story building is full of themed activities for children (and their parents) to enjoy. There’s also an outdoor area where children can run around in and play. The outdoor side also hosts special events like hands-on classes themed to a certain environmental cause.
On the first floor, there is an exhibition about the environment of Louisiana and the type of organisms and animals that call it home. There is also a cool exhibit about the cycle of food cultivation and food consumption, and what happens in between. It’s a great lesson to understand where food comes from, and how it’s grown, transported, and served.
On the second floor, there is a small water play area that is meant to represent the Mississippi River. It’s tremendous fun, though make sure to bring a backup shirt due to all the splashing.
Looking for eco-friendly toys? The souvenir shop has a lot of toys and books available for purchase. There are a lot of branded items available for purchase, but there is a small clearance rack for bargain hunters to pick from.
Address: 5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA
Hours: Closed Mondays. Sundays, Tuesdays to Thursdays, 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Fridays & Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM.
Cost: $12 adults (13+). $6 children 6 to 12 years old
Beautifully manicured gardens greet you at the New Orleans Botanical Garden. Inside is another sculpture garden, and even a train garden, where a miniature train runs on weekends. The conservatory is a must-see, and generally, if you like walking through gardens and outdoor areas, this place could be a haven for you.
Different types of gardens await you inside: from Japanese-style gardens, roses, and even a butterfly garden. This is a cheaper way to experience a butterfly garden without paying for the Audubon Insectarium.
Address: 1051 Filmore Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124 (North Course); 1040 Filmore Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70124 (South Course)
Hours: 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays; 6 am to 7 pm on weekends
Cost: $30 to $40 per round of golf (South Course); $23 per round of golf (North Course)
The Bayou Oaks golf course at City Park has two main courses. The North Course was damaged by Hurricane Katrina but then reopened in 2008. Then there’s South Course, which was designed by a well-known golf course architect and reopened in 2017, along with a brand-new clubhouse. The South Course is probably a bit more challenging than the North, but it is still open to players of all skill levels. There is also a driving range for those who want to practice. The pricing is affordable, with the large bucket costing $13.
Address: 7 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124
Hours: Every day from 11 am–6 pm
Cost: Adults/Seniors – $15; Children under 36” – Free; Children over 36” – 25
A lot of things to do for all types of adventurers and thrill-seekers at the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. There are 18 rides, including a carousel (a must for any amusement park!), Ferris wheel, train, small roller coasters, bumper cars, and slides. There is also a place called Wacky Shack, with creative slides and mazes. My personal favorite is the train, which takes you around the amusement park so you can see all the rides and give yourself a nice break from walking.
Address: 1009 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
Hours: All day, every day
Cost: FREE
The Couturie Forest is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans, and the great thing about it is that it’s still within the city. There are two main trails that you can take: Couturie Forest Trail (1 mile) and Scout Island Trail (0.5 miles). There are also various ponds and waterways, and it’s also a great spot for bird-watching.
Address: 29591 Dreyfous Drive, City Park, New Orleans, LA
Hours: All day, every day
Cost: FREE
The Dueling Oaks were two large and beautiful old oak trees in City Park, and they were infamous for some famous duels that took place between them in the 19th century. Unfortunately, one of the oaks was destroyed by a hurricane in 1949, so there is only one Dueling Oak still standing. It’s a great place to just relax and reflect on the history of the tree and all the people who exchanged bullets underneath it.
Address: 1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA
Hours: Closed Mondays. Tuesdays, Thursdays to Sundays, 10 AM to 5 PM. Wednesdays 12 NN to 7 PM.
Cost: Adults: $15 for permanent exhibition, $25 entry including special exhibitions. Kids 12 and under are free, special discounts to senior citizens and those who are part of a museum membership.
New Orleans Museum of Art is like the crowning jewel in City Park. The drive up to the museum is the first thing you’ll see as you walk inside the park from the streetcar. The structure framed with the trees makes it such a nice building to photograph.
Three stories of exhibits await, each with its own theme. From European art to Africa’s wooden masks, and to Asian art, the New Orleans Museum of Art seems to have it all.
Do not miss the “America” structure, which was built in 2013 by Will Ryman. You can actually step inside the structure and take photos and videos of the items that comprise the inside. Almost everything had been painted gold, and it made for such a surreal experience.
After checking out the museum, and seeing everything that it has to offer on display, do not forget to go to the gift shop or check out the cafe.
The museum’s gift shop is impressive. They have a lot of books about art, local artists, and their exhibitions. The children’s area is equally stocked with a lot of books, toys, and other engaging things that children may like. There are also pop-up events that happen in the store. When I visited, there was a leather accessories maker selling her wares. Bring your wallet and up your budget if you plan to spend money in the store. The prices are a bit on the higher end.
I wouldn’t say the New Orleans Museum of Art is a great place to bring a young child. There is no children’s area for the child to play and explore, and there are no activities catered for them. The child may be bored in less than an hour.
You can take turns viewing the exhibits if you are traveling with a partner. One parent can go with the child to the Children’s Museum while the other parent enjoys the Museum of Art.
Every second Saturday of the month, City Park hosts a crafts market, where you can buy unique finds from local makers. They bring their wares and set up tents just across the street from the Sculpture Gardens, and you’re free to peruse and buy as you please.
My favorite store from the crafts market is handmade glazed magnets that show the different places in Louisiana. They have it as Christmas ornaments or as magnets. Go check the market out if you are in the area.
Address: 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours
Cost: FREE
What looks like an oddly-placed Greek-style building in the middle of a park is actually a tourist destination. This is the Peristyle structure. It is a common destination for folks doing pictorials for weddings, birthdays, and other events they want to remember.
Address: 5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA
Hours: Closed Mondays. Sundays, Tuesdays to Thursdays 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Friday & Saturday 10 AM to 3:30 PM.
Cost: $6 per person, free for children under 36”
Storyland is something of a New Orleans institution. Founded in the 1950s, it is one of the coolest and most creative playgrounds that I have seen in the U.S. The theme, as the title suggests, is fairy tales, and here you will see many familiar characters from the Brothers Grimm, Alice in Wonderlands, Peter Pan, and others. The highlight is probably Storyland Castle, which is a great place to host events or birthday parties. It’s a small replica of a castle with a capacity of 30 guests, and will certainly amaze little ones. Plus, come on, castles are fun for everyone!
Address: One Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124
Hours: 10 am-6 pm (April-October); 10 am-5 pm (Oct-March)
Cost: FREE
The Sydney and Wanda Besthoff Sculpture Gardens is a very impressive outdoor sculpture and art installation garden. There are nearly 100 sculptures by modern artists that represent various artistic styles, from Classical sculptures that evoke Greek mythology to post-modern metal sculptures that have odd shapes and designs. One of my favorite pieces is the Window with Ladder, which is literally a ladder that reaches up to a window that has nothing else beyond it. Whatever your art tastes, this is a fantastic place to walk around and admire some beautiful and thought-provoking works.
City Park is big, and if you’re planning to stay the whole day there, you’ll need someplace to eat lunch or a heavy snack. Here are a few suggestions on where to eat without leaving the vicinity of City Park.
Address: 56 Dreyfous Dr, New Orleans, LA
Hours: 7 AM to 9 PM Sundays to Thursdays. 7 AM to 10 PM Friday & Saturday.
Cost: Affordable. Less than $5 for 3 pieces of beignet, and less than $5 for a small cup of coffee
If you go to New Orleans and want a beignet, you can either brave the crowds in Cafe du Monde in Jackson Square or go to other Cafe du Monde locations. Conveniently, there is a Cafe du Monde in City Park! To find a spot to sit in and for the least amount of lines, eat when people are not usually eating. This means going at 11 if you want to have a late lunch or wait until after 1:30 p.m.
I got to City Park at 10:50 AM and there were only 2 people in line in front of me, and was easy to find a free seat. Overall, less than 5 minutes to order my beignet and coffee, pick it up and find a seat.
Beignets may not be filling enough or considered an actual meal, but it is a good place to stop, relax, people watch, and pick up some souvenirs along the way.
Address: 1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA (on the first floor of the New Orleans Museum of Art)
Hours: Closed Mondays. Tuesdays, Thursdays to Sundays, 10 AM to 4 PM (closing time is an hour before the museum). Wednesdays 11 AM to 5 PM.
Cost: Moderate to high-priced
You don’t have to pay entrance fees to NOMA in order to dine at Cafe Noma. You can just mention to the front desk that you are going to the cafe, and they will issue you a sticker to go inside the first floor.
Cafe Noma serves sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, and quick eats. They also serve desserts, for those looking for a quick bite to eat. There are also alcoholic beverages available, from craft beers to wine, and cocktails.
Technically yes, but City Park is so big that it will take you a bit of time to get from one place to another. On a particularly hot and humid day, it may prove even challenging to walk a quarter of a mile. From the streetcar stop to the Museum of Art, you can opt to walk under the oak trees that line the sidewalk. However, if you want to walk around the Sculpture Garden and from the Museum of Art to the Children’s Museum, you won’t find much shade.
Walking from the street car station to the Museum of Art takes approximately 7 minutes or 0.3 miles (0.5 km for the rest of the world).
From the Museum of Art to the Children’s Museum takes approximately 13 minutes or 0.6 miles (1 km for the rest of the world).
From the Sculpture Gardens to the New Orleans Museum of Art takes 5 minutes. They are just adjacent to each other, and a quick walk to the museum. You can only enter through the front doors of the Museum of Art, so you have to walk through the side of the museum after you leave the sculpture gardens to gain entry to the Museum of Art.
Yes, you definitely can. The roads are not particularly busy unless you are walking from the street car stop to the Museum of Art. There are plenty of folk who drive around the park as they go from attraction to attraction. However, you do not need to rent a car when you visit New Orleans City Park. You can definitely see most of the sights by walking around.
Here is our complete guide to New Orleans City Park. If you made it this far, thank you for reading through the whole post. Did I miss out on any activities, eateries, and other cool things to do in the park? Feel free to leave them in the comments below or contact us so we can add them to the list. Thank you for sticking through the whole article and keep on exploring new places!
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