Parks, beaches and places to go around New Orleans
This list covers 80 public places in 17 towns around New Orleans: parks, beaches, boat ramps, trails, dog parks, libraries, pools, museums, farmers markets, rainy-day spots and courts. Every row links to the place's official site and shows the day it was last checked.
Hours and fees change during the year, so they are left off this page. The official site has the current ones.
- Parks
- Beaches
- Boat ramps
- Trails
- Dog parks
- Libraries
- Pools
- Museums
- Farmers markets
- Rainy-day spots
- Courts
All 80 places
Showing 80 of 80
Parks
Park · New Orleans
Audubon Louisiana Nature Center
The nature center stands next to Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East and is run by the Audubon Nature Institute.
Outdoors
- Parking
- trails
- Shade
11000 Lake Forest Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70128
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Audubon Park
The park runs about 350 acres between St. Charles Avenue and the Mississippi River in uptown New Orleans.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Paved path
- Picnic area
- Shade
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Audubon Riverview Park, the Fly
The riverside lawns known as the Fly take their name from a butterfly-shaped river shelter demolished in the 1980s.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Picnic area
- Fishing
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Audubon Zoo
The zoo covers about 58 acres on the river side of Magazine Street inside Audubon Park.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Accessible
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge covers about 23,000 acres of fresh and brackish marsh inside the New Orleans city limits.
Outdoors
- trails
- Fishing
- Kayak launch
Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129
Official site · Checked
Park · Westwego
Bayou Segnette State Park
The park is about fifteen minutes across the river from New Orleans with cabins, campsites and a nature center.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Playground
- Picnic area
- Boat launch
- Fishing
7777 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA 70094
Official site · Checked
Park · Shell Beach
Biloxi Wildlife Management Area
The 35,644 acre marsh area is managed by the state wildlife department and is reached by boat.
Outdoors
- Fishing
Biloxi Marsh, Shell Beach, LA 70085
Official site · Checked
Park · Shell Beach
Breton National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge covers barrier islands out in the Gulf and can only be reached by boat.
Outdoors
- Fishing
Breton and Chandeleur Islands, Shell Beach, LA 70085
Official site · Checked
Park · Chalmette
Chalmette Battlefield
The 1815 Battle of New Orleans was fought on this ground, now part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- trails
- Accessible
8606 W St Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, LA 70043
Official site · Checked
Park · Chalmette
Chalmette National Cemetery
The 17.5 acre national cemetery adjoins the battlefield and is part of the same national park unit.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Accessible
8606 W St Bernard Hwy, Chalmette, LA 70043
Official site · Checked
Park · Venice
Delta National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge lies about ten miles east of Venice along the Mississippi River and is reached by boat.
Outdoors
- Fishing
Mississippi River delta, Venice, LA 70091
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Sixteen acres of riverfront green space runs from Canal Street downriver to the Moon Walk across from Jackson Square.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Shade
- Accessible
1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Joe W. Brown Memorial Park
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission runs this New Orleans East park and its recreation center.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Playground
- trails
5601 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
Official site · Checked
Park · Metairie
Lafreniere Park
The park covers 155 acres in Metairie and opened in 1982.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Playground
- Paved path
- Picnic area
3000 Downs Blvd, Metairie, LA 70003
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Lakeshore Drive Seawall
The stepped concrete seawall along Lakeshore Drive is used for fishing, crabbing and relaxing by the lake.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Fishing
Lakeshore Dr, New Orleans, LA 70122
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
Louis Armstrong Park
Congo Square is inside this park, and the Lafitte Greenway trailhead is at the Basin Street corner.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Paved path
- Shade
701 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Park · Gretna
Mel Ott Park
The Gretna park covers about 17.5 acres with sports fields, playgrounds and a recreation center.
Outdoors
- Playground
- Parking
- Restrooms
2301 Belle Chasse Hwy, Gretna, LA 70053
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
New Orleans Botanical Garden
The garden entrance is the Tolmas Visitor Center on Victory Avenue inside City Park.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Accessible
5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Park · New Orleans
New Orleans City Park
The park covers about 1,300 acres and is run by the City Park Improvement Association, a state body rather than a city department.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Playground
- Picnic area
- trails
1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Park · Venice
Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area
The 115,000 acre area at the mouth of the Mississippi River can only be reached by boat.
Outdoors
- Fishing
Mississippi River delta, Venice, LA 70091
Official site · Checked
Park · Luling
Salvador Wildlife Management Area
The area is reached only by boat, with permit stations at Pier 90, Bayou Gauche, Bayou Segnette and Lafitte.
Outdoors
- Fishing
Lake Salvador, Luling, LA 70070
Official site · Checked
Park · Chalmette
Sidney D. Torres Memorial Park
The park runs along Jean Lafitte Parkway in Chalmette and carries a marked walking route.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
Jean Lafitte Pkwy, Chalmette, LA 70043
Official site · Checked
Park · Braithwaite
St. Bernard State Park
The park covers 358 acres of man-made lagoons and nature trails along the Mississippi River below New Orleans.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Playground
- Picnic area
- trails
501 St Bernard Pkwy, Braithwaite, LA 70040
Official site · Checked
Park · Luling
West Bank Bridge Park
St. Charles Parish runs this River Road park in Luling, and the Wednesday farmers market sets up here.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Playground
- Restrooms
13825 River Rd, Luling, LA 70070
Official site · Checked
Beaches
Beach · Grand Isle
Grand Isle State Park
A 900 foot pier runs into the Gulf here, with a fish cleaning station nearby and an observation tower over the dunes.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Fishing
- trails
108 Admiral Craik Dr, Grand Isle, LA 70358
Official site · Checked
Boat ramps
Boat ramp · Westwego
Bayou Segnette State Park Boat Launch
The park launch puts boats into Bayou Segnette, which reaches both salt water and fresh water fishing.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
- Fishing
7777 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA 70094
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Metairie
Bonnabel Boat Launch
The launch and fishing pier are at the lake end of Bonnabel Boulevard in Metairie.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Fishing
- Parking
1599 Bonnabel Blvd, Metairie, LA 70005
Official site · Checked
Boat ramp · Venice
Venice Marina Boat Launch
The launch is on Sports Marina Road at the lower end of Highway 23 in Venice.
Outdoors
- Boat launch
- Parking
- Fishing
Sports Marina Rd, Venice, LA 70091
Official site · Checked
Trails
Trail · Marrero
Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
The preserve protects more than 20,000 acres of wetlands, forest and bayou south of Marrero.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- trails
- Kayak launch
- Accessible
6588 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072
Official site · Checked
Trail · New Orleans
Bayou Sauvage Ridge Trail
The Ridge Trail has a canoe launch, a picnic pavilion and a boardwalk out to a marsh overlook.
Outdoors
- Kayak launch
- Picnic shelter
- trails
Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129
Official site · Checked
Trail · New Orleans
Bayou St. John
Paddlers put in near the Lafitte Greenway and follow the bayou through City Park toward Lake Pontchartrain.
Outdoors
- Kayak launch
- Fishing
- Paved path
Moss St at Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
Official site · Checked
Trail · New Orleans
Couturie Forest
A mile of primitive trail winds through the forest, and the parking lot is at 1035 Harrison Avenue.
Outdoors
- Parking
- trails
- Shade
1009 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Trail · New Orleans
Lafitte Greenway
The twelve-foot asphalt path runs 2.6 miles from Armstrong Park to City Park through Treme and Mid-City.
Outdoors
- Paved path
- Parking
- Shade
Basin St at St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Official site · Checked
Dog parks
Dog park · New Orleans
NOLA City Bark
The dog park covers about 4.6 acres behind Popp Fountain and runs on keycard access.
Outdoors
- Off-leash area
- Parking
10 Zachary Taylor Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Libraries
Library · New Orleans
Algiers Regional Library
The regional branch serves the west bank side of Orleans Parish from Holiday Drive in Algiers.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
3014 Holiday Dr, New Orleans, LA 70131
Official site · Checked
Library · Metairie
East Bank Regional Library
This branch is the headquarters of the Jefferson Parish Library system on West Napoleon Avenue.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
- Accessible
4747 W Napoleon Ave, Metairie, LA 70001
Official site · Checked
Library · New Orleans
Milton H. Latter Memorial Library
This branch occupies a mansion on St. Charles Avenue, on the streetcar line uptown.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
5120 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Official site · Checked
Library · New Orleans
New Orleans Public Library, Main Library
The main library anchors the New Orleans Public Library system from Loyola Avenue downtown.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Accessible
219 Loyola Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112
Official site · Checked
Library · Chalmette
St. Bernard Parish Library
The parish library's main building stands on Palmisano Boulevard in Chalmette.
Indoors
- Wi-Fi
- Parking
2600 Palmisano Blvd, Chalmette, LA 70043
Official site · Checked
Pools
Pool · Westwego
Bayou Segnette State Park Wave Pool
The wave pool runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day with lifeguards and a life jacket rental station.
Outdoors
- Lifeguard (seasonal)
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Splash pad
7777 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA 70094
Official site · Checked
Pool · Braithwaite
St. Bernard State Park Water Playground
The splash pad water playground at the park carries no admission charge.
Outdoors · Free
- Splash pad
- Restrooms
- Parking
501 St Bernard Pkwy, Braithwaite, LA 70040
Official site · Checked
Museums
Museum · New Orleans
Backstreet Cultural Museum
The museum moved to this St. Philip Street building in 2022 from its longtime Henriette Delille Street home.
Indoors
1531 St Philip St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Beauregard-Keyes House
The house was built in 1826 for auctioneer Joseph LeCarpentier and designed by Francois Correjolles.
Indoors
1113 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · Destrehan
Destrehan Plantation
St. Charles Parish lists this River Road house among its attractions, and the Library of Congress holds survey drawings of it.
Indoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
13034 River Rd, Destrehan, LA 70047
Official site · Checked
Museum · Buras
Fort Jackson
The masonry fort was built between 1822 and 1832 and is owned and operated by Plaquemines Parish.
Outdoors
- Parking
LA-23, Buras, LA 70041
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Gallier House
Architect James Gallier Jr. built this Royal Street townhouse in 1857, and it is a National Historic Landmark.
Indoors
1132 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Hermann-Grima House
The house was built in 1831 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
Indoors
820 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Official site · Checked
Museum · Vacherie
Laura Plantation
The 14 acre complex stands on the Great River Road about fifty minutes from New Orleans.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
2247 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Longue Vue House and Gardens
The estate is a house museum with formal gardens listed by the American Horticultural Society.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
7 Bamboo Rd, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Museum · Saint Bernard
Los Islenos Museum Complex
The Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society runs this museum complex on Bayou Road in St. Bernard.
Indoors
- Parking
1357 Bayou Rd, Saint Bernard, LA 70085
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Louisiana Children's Museum
The museum moved into City Park in 2019 and is on an 8.5 acre Early Learning Village campus.
Indoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Accessible
15 Henry Thomas Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
New Orleans African American Museum
The museum stands in Treme and takes part in the New Orleans Public Library Culture Pass program.
Indoors
1418 Governor Nicholls St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint
The museum occupies the Old U.S. Mint building at the downriver edge of the French Quarter.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
400 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
The National Park Service runs this jazz park from a visitor center on North Peters Street in the French Quarter.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
916 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
New Orleans Museum of Art
The museum stands inside City Park, and its sculpture garden next door is entered separately from the building.
Indoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Accessible
1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Museum · Vacherie
Oak Alley Plantation
The property is on Highway 18 along the Great River Road on the west bank in Vacherie.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Shade
3645 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
The museum collects the art of the American South and stands on Camp Street in the Warehouse District.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
925 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Museum · Destrehan
Ormond Plantation
The house was built in 1787, first for indigo and later for sugar cane, and now takes tours by appointment.
Indoors
- Parking
13786 River Rd, Destrehan, LA 70047
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Pitot House
Built in 1799 on Bayou St. John, it is the only Creole colonial country house in the city open to the public.
Indoors
1440 Moss St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Southern Food and Beverage Museum
The building also houses the Museum of the American Cocktail on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.
Indoors
- Restrooms
1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113
Official site · Checked
Museum · Vacherie
St. Joseph Plantation
This working sugarcane plantation dates to about 1830 and stands next to Oak Alley on Highway 18.
Outdoors
- Parking
3535 Highway 18, Vacherie, LA 70090
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The sculpture garden occupies about eleven acres of City Park next to the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Accessible
- Paved path
1 Collins Diboll Cir, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
The Cabildo
The building is part of the Louisiana State Museum system and faces Jackson Square from the Chartres Street side.
Indoors
- Restrooms
701 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Collection is a museum, research center and publisher covering New Orleans and the Gulf South.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
520 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
The National WWII Museum
The museum spreads across several buildings in the Warehouse District and opened as the National D-Day Museum.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
- Parking
945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Museum · New Orleans
The Presbytere
The Presbytere housed the Louisiana Supreme Court from 1822 to 1853 and is now a state museum.
Indoors
- Restrooms
751 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Official site · Checked
Museum · Westwego
Westwego Historical Museum
The museum stands on Sala Avenue, the spine of Westwego's historic district.
Indoors
275 Sala Ave, Westwego, LA 70094
Official site · Checked
Museum · Wallace
Whitney Plantation
The museum opened in 2014 and centers its interpretation on the people enslaved on the property.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
5099 LA-18, Wallace, LA 70049
Official site · Checked
Museum · West Pointe a la Hache
Woodland Plantation
The Library of Congress holds architectural survey sheets for this Highway 23 house in lower Plaquemines.
Indoors
- Parking
21997 LA-23, West Pointe a la Hache, LA 70083
Official site · Checked
Farmers markets
Farmers market · Destrehan
German Coast Farmers Market, Destrehan
The Saturday market sets up at the East Regional Library on West Campus Drive in Destrehan.
Outdoors
- Parking
160 W Campus Dr, Destrehan, LA 70047
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · Luling
German Coast Farmers Market, Luling
The Wednesday market sets up at West Bank Bridge Park on River Road in Luling.
Outdoors
- Parking
13825 River Rd, Luling, LA 70070
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · Gretna
Gretna Farmers Market and Art Walk
The market runs under the covered Gretna Market Building between Third and Fourth streets in downtown Gretna.
Outdoors
- Picnic shelter
- Parking
739 3rd St, Gretna, LA 70053
Official site · Checked
Farmers market · Westwego
Westwego Farmers and Fisheries Market
The market brings farm produce and Gulf seafood vendors together in Westwego's Sala Avenue historic district.
Outdoors
- Picnic shelter
- Parking
484 Sala Ave, Westwego, LA 70094
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spots
Rainy-day spot · New Orleans
Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium
The aquarium and the insectarium share one building at the foot of Canal Street by the river.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · New Orleans
Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans
The center programs visual art and performance in a converted warehouse on Camp Street.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
900 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · New Orleans
Mardi Gras World
The working warehouse builds parade floats year round at the upriver end of the convention center.
Indoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
1380 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Rainy-day spot · New Orleans
The Sazerac House
The exhibits trace New Orleans cocktail history inside a restored building at Canal and Magazine streets.
Indoors
- Restrooms
- Accessible
101 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Official site · Checked
Courts
Courts · New Orleans
Audubon Park Tennis Center
These public courts are listed by the New Orleans Metropolitan Area Tennis Association in its club directory.
Outdoors
- Parking
6320 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Official site · Checked
Courts · New Orleans
City Park Pepsi Tennis Center
Tulane University lists this City Park center as the home court of its tennis program.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Lights
5900 Marconi Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124
Official site · Checked
Courts · New Orleans
Joe W. Brown Park Tennis Center
The tennis courts and the gym are inside the same Read Boulevard park in New Orleans East.
Outdoors
- Parking
- Lights
5601 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
Official site · Checked
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This directory was last checked as a whole on September 23, 2026.
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