New Orleans is one of those cities that grabs you by the senses before you even park the car. You’ll hear brass bands echoing off brick alleys, smell sweet, powdered sugar drifting out of café doors, and feel that warm Gulf air wrap around you like a cotton blanket. If you’re planning a road trip to New Orleans with kids, be sure to check out our Road Trip Packing Checklist and 60+ Brilliant Road Trip Hacks. You might wonder if it’s more beads and Bourbon than beignets and museums, trust me, this city delivers for families.
Our crew (me, my wife, and two teens) spent two packed days exploring this uniquely American city; learning history, laughing through ghost tours, and yes, eating a lot of good food. From museum stops and spooky stories to jazz shows and powdered sugar-drenched treats, New Orleans offers a one-of-a-kind mix of culture and fun for families with kids of all ages.
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🚗 Road Trip Snapshot
Bursting with jazz beats, legendary Creole kitchens, and a festive spirit that’s uniquely its own, New Orleans, LA is the perfect launchpad for exploring the South. Whether you’re planning beachside escapes, scenic mountain drives, or city-to-music-city loops, the Crescent City anchors road trips that celebrate Southern culture and connection.
Closest Stops from New Orleans
- Baton Rouge, LA – 81 miles / 1 hr 20 min
- Biloxi, MS – 90 miles / 1 hr 30 min
- Mobile, AL – 145 miles / 2 hr 15 min
- Natchez, MS – 175 miles / 3 hr
- Memphis, TN – 395 miles / 5 hr 40 min
- Hot Springs, AR – 454 miles / 7 hr 30 min
🎯 Top 10 Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids
🚶 French Quarter Strolls & Jackson Square
The heart of the city, and a surprisingly family-friendly place by day. Street performers, palm readers, horse-drawn carriages, and gorgeous architecture make for a walkable, safe adventure. The iconic St. Louis Cathedral offers free self-guided tours.
🚋 Ride the St. Charles Streetcar
This is more than just public transit, it’s a moving postcard. The St. Charles line is the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world, and it rumbles past oak-lined streets, historic mansions, and Loyola and Tulane Universities on its way to the Garden District.
🪖 The National WWII Museum
One of the most impressive museums in the country, hands down. Incredible for teens and older kids (ages 10+), it uses immersive storytelling, film, and exhibits to bring history to life. Bonus: there’s a vintage soda fountain inside for lunch or milkshakes.
⚗️ New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
A quirky gem with old apothecary jars, medical oddities, and just enough creep-factor to keep your kids engaged. Ours imagined it as Snape’s supply cabinet. Best for kids 8+.
🌊 Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium
Recently renovated and right along the Mississippi River, perfect for younger kids. Touch tanks, Gulf Coast exhibits, butterflies, and live feedings. (Combo tickets available with Audubon Zoo.)
👻 French Quarter Ghost & Vampire Tour
Spooky, fun, and history-packed. Rated PG-13 for ghostly tales and New Orleans lore. There are several tour providers. We went with the Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour of the French Quarter. Our teens loved it. Kids under 10 might find parts a little intense. New Orleans has a troubled past and these tour operators do not sugar coat the details, know your crew.
🛞 Steamboat Natchez Cruise
Board a real paddlewheel boat and cruise the Mississippi while listening to live jazz. 2-hour tours run day and night, easy-going and scenic for the whole family.
🔮 The Historic Voodoo Museum
A small, atmospheric stop with artifacts, altars, and insight into a misunderstood culture. Great for older kids and teens.
🎺 Preservation Hall
Tucked away on St. Peter Street behind an unassuming door is one of the most iconic music venues in America. Preservation Hall has been keeping New Orleans jazz alive since the 1960s, and stepping inside feels like time-traveling into a candlelit jam session. No fancy lights, no drink service, just music. Raw, loud, joyful music (45-minute sets). Reserve ahead or line up 30 to 45 minutes early.
🎭 Mardi Gras World
Go behind the scenes of New Orleans’ most iconic celebration at this working float studio. Walk through warehouse-sized spaces filled with giant sculptures and colorful parade floats in progress.
🍽️ What to Eat (and What You Can’t Miss)
🥖 Must-Try Regional Dishes
- Beignets at Café du Monde – powdered sugar avalanche, cash only. Go early.
- Bananas Foster at Brennan’s – flambéed tableside and invented here.
- Po’boys at Parkway Bakery & Tavern – classic NOLA sandwich shop.
- Jambalaya or Gumbo – try them at Napoleon House or Coop’s Place.
👨👩👧👦 Kid-Friendly Dining Picks
- Napoleon House – Historic, casual, and approachable food with a French Quarter vibe.
- Dat Dog – Custom hot dogs with wild toppings and colorful atmosphere.
- Café Beignet – Another solid beignet option with more menu variety (and indoor seating).
- French Market Vendors – Budget-friendly eats with options for picky eaters.
- Muriel’s Jackson Square – Elegant yet welcoming restaurant with Creole cuisine. (get reservations)
🛏️ Where to Stay: Best Areas for Families
French Quarter (Quiet Side)
- Walkable to everything
- Look for spots on Royal Street or Chartres Street for less noise
- We stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans – balcony views and historic charm
Warehouse District
- Close to WWII Museum, aquarium, and restaurants
- Trendy but not wild, great area with modern hotels and loft-style Airbnbs
Garden District
- Classic mansions, trolley rides, and peaceful streets
- A short streetcar ride into the French Quarter
Tip: Parking can be pricey, choose a hotel with valet or a garage nearby if you’re driving in.
🗓️ Suggested 3-Day Itinerary for Families
🕶️ Day 1: Arrival + First Taste of the Quarter
- Afternoon: Check into hotel & settle in
- Early evening stroll to Jackson Square, peek at Bourbon Street (optional)
- Dinner: Grab Po’boys or sandwiches (we packed Buc-ee’s brisket from the road)
- Dessert: Brennan’s for Bananas Foster
- Optional: Evening carriage ride or street musicians
🏛️ Day 2: History, Beignets & Ghosts
- Morning: Café du Monde + Mississippi River walk
- Mid Morning–Afternoon: National WWII Museum (lunch at soda fountain)
- Quick stop: Pharmacy Museum
- Dinner: Napoleon House (casual & historic)
- Evening: Ghost & Vampire Tour – reserve ahead!
🐠 Day 3: Riverfront & Aquarium
- Morning: Visit Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium
- Lunch: Grab food at the French Market
- Afternoon: Optional steamboat cruise or souvenir shopping
- Head out of town or begin your next road trip leg!
Road Trip Tips for Getting There
✨ Final Thoughts
New Orleans offers families a rare mix of culture, food, and fun all packed into a walkable, musical, and delightfully weird city. It’s not just for late-night crowds, if you pick the right spots and keep your sense of curiosity alive, it can be a memory-maker for kids of all ages (and their road-weary parents, too).
We left with powdered sugar on our shirts, stories in our pockets, and a strong case of Big Easy nostalgia. And if my kids’ laughter during the ghost tour was any indication, New Orleans hit the mark.
