Oak Alley Plantation & New Orleans City and Cemetery Tour — River Road History Day Trip
Difficulty
easy
Duration
8–9 hours
Fitness Level
Light activity level; suitable for most travelers who can walk about 0.5–1 mile and climb a few steps.
Overview
Spend a day where the Mississippi writes both landscapes and stories: a morning beneath Oak Alley’s vaulted oaks and an afternoon driving through New Orleans’ French Quarter, Garden District, and above-ground cemeteries. This full-day tour pairs plantation history with a city overview narrated by a licensed guide.
Oak Alley Plantation & New Orleans City and Cemetery Tour — River Road History Day Trip
Select participants and date
The minibus slides away from the ironwork of the French Quarter as the Mississippi widens and the city’s hard edges soften into clay levees and long rows of sugarcane. Ninety minutes downriver, your first real view arrives: 28 live oaks standing in even ranks, their branches arched like a cathedral roof leading to a white, columned house. The alley itself is the headline — an ordered, living corridor that demands you slow down and look.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Pack sun protection
The oak alley offers little shade on the long walk; bring sunscreen and a hat for the midday sun.
Bring a refillable water bottle
You’ll be on the road several hours and walking at Oak Alley and the cemetery; water stations are limited.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes
Plantation grounds and cemetery steps are uneven; sturdy footwear makes the house tour and paths easier.
Be on time for pickup
The minibus follows a strict pickup window—be out front at the start of your window or the bus may depart without you.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- wading birds (egrets and herons)
- squirrels and small marsh birds on the grounds
History
Oak Alley was built in 1837 as a sugar plantation and its alley of live oaks predates the house; the plantation’s interpretation now includes the labor and lives of the enslaved people who worked the site.
Conservation
The site balances historic preservation with habitat stewardship; visitors are asked to stay on paths and avoid disturbing vegetation to protect the riverbank ecosystem.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in New Orleans
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Comfortable walking shoes
Protects against uneven paths at the plantation and cemetery steps.
Refillable water bottle
Keeps you hydrated during long bus rides and outdoor walking in hot, humid weather.
summer specific
Sun hat & sunscreen
Sun protection is necessary when walking the oak alley and open plantation grounds.
spring specific
Light rain jacket
Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer; a packable jacket keeps you dry.
summer specific