Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans
New Orleans, United States

Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans

Outty Ranking 69 4.6 · 430 traveler reviews1.8 hoursFrom $59
Instant mobile ticketSpots available today

Outty Ranking

69/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.6/5

Based on 430 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans worth booking?

Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans is a 1.8-hour experience in New Orleans, United States, from $59 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 430 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
69 / 100
Rating
4.6/5 (430)
Duration
1.8 hours
From
$59 per person

Take a thrilling airboat ride through the wetlands near New Orleans and plenty of alligators on this active, family-friendly tour. Travel over bayous and open waterways around the colorful, historic fishing village of Jean Lafitte, named after a 19th-century smuggler. Spy alligators in the wild -- as well as raccoons, native birds and large river rodents called nutria -- as your native guide provides commentary. This tour is an easy way to get out and experience the rich natural landscape around New Orleans.

What you get

  • Native guide
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • 1 hour 45 minute airboat ride
  • Albino alligator exhibit

About this experience

Take a thrilling airboat ride through the wetlands near New Orleans and plenty of alligators on this active, family-friendly tour. Travel over bayous and open waterways around the colorful, historic fishing village of Jean Lafitte, named after a 19th-century smuggler. Spy alligators in the wild -- as well as raccoons, native birds and large river rodents called nutria -- as your native guide provides commentary. This tour is an easy way to get out and experience the rich natural landscape around New Orleans.

What's included

Included

  • Native guide
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • 1 hour 45 minute airboat ride
  • Albino alligator exhibit

Not included

  • Food and drinks (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
  • Self drive tour departs from 5145 Fleming Park Road, Lafitte, LA 70067
  • Transportation not included with the self drive tour option.

What you'll see and do

  1. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

    Travel by air-conditioned coach from central New Orleans to the nearby fishing village of Jean Lafitte, named after an 18th-century smuggler. Home to a variety of diverse cultures, this area surrounded by Lousiana bayous has been the site of extensive logging operations, sugar and rice plantations and animal trapping enterprises over the years. Today, the people's simple way of life is a marked contrast to the hustle-bustle of New Orleans.

    Pass by without stopping

  2. Barataria Preserve

    You will travel through the Barataria Preserve, part of the Jean Lafitte National Park & Preserve system. The preserve offers a taste of Louisiana's wild wetlands, protecting 23,000 acres of bayous, swamps, marshes and forests.

    Pass by without stopping

  3. In Jean Lafitte, you can get some snacks (own expense) and check out an albino alligator exhibit before boarding your airboat, a vessel that relies on an aircraft-type propeller mounted on its back to move it forward. Feel the wind in your hair as your move swiftly over the wetlands. Your native boat captain will talk about the history and culture of the area and point out wildlife as you travel. See lots of alligators lurking in the marshes, as well as local birds, raccoons and nutria -- giant river rodents that call the bayous home. Conclude your family-friendly escape to the Louisiana wetlands with coach transport back to central New Orleans.

    90 minutes here · Admission included

  4. New Orleans

    From New Orleans

    Pass by without stopping

Where it starts and ends

Meeting point

New Orleans

*SELF-DRIVE - NO TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED* Upon arrival, you’ll find free parking on-site and a check-in area near the dock. Look for signs for the swamp tour or the main office building, where staff will assist you and give you a wristband with your boat number.

Meeting point

New Orleans

*TOUR - WITH TRANSPORTATION* Gray Line Lighthouse on the Steamboat NATCHEZ dock (Toulouse Street at the Mississippi River)

Hotel pickup

No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

Ends at

*SELF-DRIVE - NO TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED* Upon arrival, you’ll find free parking on-site and a check-in area near the dock. Look for signs for the swamp tour or the main office building, where staff will assist you and give you a wristband with your boat number.

Ends at

*TOUR - WITH TRANSPORTATION* Gray Line Lighthouse on the Steamboat NATCHEZ dock (Toulouse Street at the Mississippi River)

Options you can book

  • Small Boat - No Transportation

    Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Small Airboat Tour: Small Airboat carries 6 to 8 guests. Self Drive - NO Transportation: The tour meets at 5145 Fleming Road, Lafitte, LA 70067. Starting point: 5145 Fleming Park Rd, Lafitte, LA 70067, USA

  • Large Airboat + Party Package

    Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes 1 Cocktail Included: NATCHEZ Jazz Punch, Sunset on the Bayou, Carnival Cocktail, CITY Sangria, Garden District Refresher or Mississippi River Mule Large Airboat Tour: Large Airboat carries 15 to 30 guests. Transportation Included: Includes Round-Trip Transport from New Orleans. Additional Inclusions: Feathered Mardi Gras mask, Themed Mardi Gras bead & Gray Line fan (summer months only) Starting point: Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

  • Small Airboat + Transportation

    Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes Small Airboat Tour: Small Airboat Tour with Round-Trip Transport from New Orleans. Small Airboat carries 6 to 8 guests. Transportation Included: Includes Round-Trip Transport from New Orleans. Starting point: Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

  • Large Airboat + Transportation

    Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes Large Airboat Tour: Large Airboat Tour with Round-Trip Transport from New Orleans. Large Airboat carries 15 to 30 guests. Transportation Included: Includes Round-Trip Transport from New Orleans. Starting point: Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

  • Large Boat - No Transportation

    Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Large Airboat Tour: Large Airboat carries 15 to 30 guests. Self Drive - NO Transportation: The tour meets at 5145 Fleming Road, Lafitte, LA 70067. Starting point: 5145 Fleming Park Rd, Lafitte, LA 70067, USA

  • Small Airboat + Party Package

    Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes 1 Cocktail Included: NATCHEZ Jazz Punch, Sunset on the Bayou, Carnival Cocktail, CITY Sangria, Garden District Refresher or Mississippi River Mule Small Airboat Tour: Small Airboat carries 6 to 8 guests. Transportation Included: Includes Round-Trip Transport from New Orleans. Additional Inclusions: Feathered Mardi Gras mask, Themed Mardi Gras bead & Gray Line fan (summer months only) Starting point: Gray Line New Orleans, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

Before you book

Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Languages
en
Ticket
Mobile Only
Runs on
Every day
Group size
Up to 25 travelers per booking
Operated by
Gray Line New Orleans

Know before you go

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • In case of inclement weather, the tour may be shortened, postponed or replaced with a similar tour on a covered boat
  • Minimum age is 5 years
  • Sunglasses are recommended. Please note that you are on an air-boat and may get wet.

Photos

Fun Times on the Bayou, Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New OrleansI'm Hungry, Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New OrleansAirboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans, photo 4Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans, photo 5Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans, photo 6Nutria, Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans

What travelers are saying

Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 430 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

The guide

7 mentions

Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

Knowledge and storytelling

4 mentions

Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

Value for money

3 mentions

Travelers feel they got more than they paid for.

Traveler reviews

430 verified traveler reviews for Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

5 star
336
4 star
49
3 star
22
2 star
9
1 star
14
Sort
Gabrielle_S · September 2026

Don’t book with this company!!

They have super young teens running the front desk who are responsible for giving out the wristbands with the boat number you’re supposed to be on. We were supposed to be boat “01” but they wrote “10”, so we missed our boat!! They REFUSED us a refund and also refused to rebook us!! DONT BOOK WITH THESE PEOPLE!!! Book with Cajun Pride instead!!

via Viator

O2579ANterris · September 2026

Fantastic!

Our guide was very informative and accommodating. We had a blast. I am not very mobile and my Mom is 88 and we didn’t have any problems. Great experience!

via Tripadvisor

Travel52282174382 · July 2026

Well Worth It

We had large group and all of us agreed that it was a wonderful experience. I appreciate that we needed to push our original reservations to the next day and it was an easy process. Customer service was very accommodating. Easy transportation by bus to the preserve and back was the best way to get there. Capt Larry was wonderful and entertaining on our trip. He was so informative and it was an up close experience with the alligators. We saw multiple alligators in every cove he took us. It was a great day on the water!

via Tripadvisor

756GinoP · July 2026

A must do experience

I think this is a must do if you are visiting New Orleans. So many alligators and other wildlife as well. Mark, our guide was exceptional with his stories and explanations.

via Tripadvisor

Luigino_P · July 2026

A must do in New Orleans

Very interesting, quite amazing. Guide Mark was very experienced, very eligible and showed us other animals from the alligators.

via Viator

Good to know

Duration
1.8 hours
Free cancellation
Up to 24h before
Minimum age to book
5+
Availability
Bookable today
Runs on
Every day
Price range
$59 to $144
Hotel pickup
No pickup, meet at start point
Booked in 30 days
151
Verdict
Solid Choice

Who runs this experience

Operated by Gray Line New Orleans, who run 21 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 66.1.

See everything Gray Line New Orleans runs

Why this scores 69

The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

Traveler sentiment (30% weight)72
Review evidence (18% weight)71
Booking momentum (14% weight)67
Value for money (12% weight)44
Listing quality (10% weight)89
Local standing (8% weight)39
Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans: questions travelers ask

Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New Orleans.

How much does Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans cost?

+

Prices start at $59 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New Orleans usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

How long does Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans take?

+

Plan for about 1.8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New Orleans is not rushed.

Is Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans worth it?

+

It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 430 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in New Orleans, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

Can I cancel or reschedule Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

Is Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans suitable for kids and families?

+

The operator sets a minimum age of 5. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 1.8-hour running time when deciding.

How far in advance should I book Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

Around 151 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New Orleans can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

What should I bring or wear?

+

Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New Orleans and add a light layer if any part of the 1.8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

Where does Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans start and how do I get there?

+

The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New Orleans within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

What are the best things to do in New Orleans?

+

New Orleans runs on licensed guides, and it shows: the city requires certification for tour guides, so the floor is higher here than most US cities. Ghost and cemetery walks, French Quarter food crawls, plantation history day trips and swamp boat runs make up the bulk. We rank on whether the operator handles cemetery access properly, since St. Louis No. 1 needs an authorised guide. On Outty we rank every New Orleans experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation, New Orleans Garden District History Walking Tour, New Orleans Adults-Only True Crime and Ghost Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

When is the best time to visit New Orleans?

+

February to May and October to November. August is heat and storm season. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

How many days do you need in New Orleans?

+

Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

+

Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

What is included in Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

Included: Native guide; In-vehicle air conditioning; 1 hour 45 minute airboat ride; and Albino alligator exhibit. Not included: Food and drinks (available to purchase); Gratuities; Self drive tour departs from 5145 Fleming Park Road, Lafitte, LA 70067; and Transportation not included with the self drive tour option. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

Where is the meeting point for Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

*SELF-DRIVE - NO TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED* Upon arrival, you’ll find free parking on-site and a check-in area near the dock. Look for signs for the swamp tour or the main office building. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

What languages is Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans offered in?

+

It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

Is Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans wheelchair or stroller accessible?

+

The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

What happens to Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans if the weather is bad?

+

This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

What do travelers say about Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

Across 430 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, value for money. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

What booking options are available for Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans?

+

There are 6 options to choose from, including Small Boat - No Transportation, Large Airboat + Party Package, Small Airboat + Transportation, Large Airboat + Transportation. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

Ready to lock in your spot?

Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Airboat Ride with Optional Transportation from New Orleans.

Pick your date