The four main plantations along River Road
Between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, four plantations stand out as the most popular for guided day tours: Oak Alley, Laura, Whitney and Houmas House. Each tells a different chapter of Louisiana history.
Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley is the most photographed plantation in the South. The quarter mile alley of 28 live oaks planted in the early 1700s frames the Greek Revival mansion built in 1839. The tour includes the big house, the slave quarters exhibit and the gardens. About 90 minutes from New Orleans.
Laura Plantation
Laura is a Creole sugar plantation operated by the same family for four generations. The tour draws on the diaries of Laura Locoul Gore, who grew up there in the 1860s. The storytelling is the strongest of any plantation tour and the cabins of the enslaved are preserved on site. About 75 minutes from New Orleans.
Whitney Plantation
Whitney is the only plantation museum in the United States focused entirely on the experience of enslaved people. The tour walks visitors through preserved cabins, the Big House, a granite memorial wall with the names of enslaved people from across Louisiana, and the haunting Field of Angels. About 80 minutes from New Orleans.
Houmas House
Houmas House is a working sugar estate restored as a museum and luxury inn. The mansion is one of the most beautifully appointed antebellum homes in the South and the gardens cover 38 acres. Lunch at the on site restaurant is excellent. About 90 minutes from New Orleans.
Tips for booking
- Pick one or two plantations, three in a day is too much
- Combine with a swamp tour if you only have one River Road day, several operators bundle them
- Eat lunch at Houmas House or pack a picnic, dining options on River Road are limited
- Read about the families and the enslaved beforehand, the tours assume some context
Ready to explore River Road?
Book your plantation day trip with hotel pickup, expert guide and free cancellation.
Frequently asked questions
Oak Alley is the most visually iconic with its 300 year old oak canopy. Laura Plantation gives the deepest family storytelling, drawing from the diaries of the Creole owners. Whitney Plantation is the most important museum focused on the experience of the enslaved people. Many tours combine two plantations in one day.
A single plantation day tour runs about six to seven hours door to door, including 75 minutes of round trip drive from New Orleans, a one hour guided plantation tour and free time to explore the grounds. Combo tours that include a swamp tour or a second plantation last eight to ten hours.
Yes. All four major plantations along River Road now address the lives of enslaved people honestly. Whitney Plantation is the only one with this focus as its core mission. Laura, Oak Alley and Houmas House have updated their tours over the past decade to include the full history.
