At the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans, your child can follow leafcutter ants through visible tunnels, watch a working honeybee hive, and walk among free-flying butterflies. For a school-age kid who stops to inspect every bug on the sidewalk, this is an outing worth considering.
The bigger decision is the ticket: admission includes the Audubon Aquarium. We'd choose this for a family interested in both bugs and aquatic animals, with room in the day to enjoy them. We'd be less inclined to buy it for a hurried butterfly-room stop.
What the ticket costs
The ticket covers both the Aquarium and Insectarium. Here is how Audubon’s published admission ranges add up for two adults and two children who need tickets:
| Tickets | Price each | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| 2 adults | $45–55 | $90–110 |
| 2 child-rate tickets | $40–50 | $80–100 |
| Family admission | Both attractions | $170–210 |
These are admission costs only; budget separately for food and parking. Children under 2 enter free without a ticket.
Check the total for your chosen date on Audubon's ticket page. You can buy ahead or in the lobby on arrival, and mobile tickets are accepted. Choose the date carefully: Audubon's FAQ says ticket dates cannot be changed and unused tickets aren't refundable.
The stops worth slowing down for
The leafcutter ants. The colony's visible tunnels let children watch ants carrying food through their environment. Try following one ant for a moment, then looking at the traffic around it. Where are the loaded ants going? It's a small observation challenge that gives a curious older child a reason to stay at the display.
The honeybees. The exhibit offers views of bees moving between their hive and the outdoors. After watching the ants, ask your child what looks similar and what looks different about the two colonies. You don't need to turn it into a quiz or know the answers yourself.
The Butterfly Garden. Hundreds of butterflies fly freely in the garden overlooking the Mississippi River. Suggest pausing by a flower to see what visits it. Treat a butterfly landing nearby as a possibility, not a promise.
The interactive exhibits and Bug Appétit. An interactive forest wall and build-a-bug games add something to do between the living exhibits. At Bug Appétit, chefs prepare dishes using insects for visitors to sample. Make tasting a choice; a child can be interested in bugs without wanting to eat one.
Give older kids something to investigate
For an elementary-age child or tween who enjoys drawing, try this: let them choose a creature, sketch it before leaving its exhibit, then look back and add one correction. It gives them a reason to study a detail they might otherwise miss. They can bring their sketch home and look up the creature to learn more.
Leave room for the Aquarium
The included Aquarium visit adds African penguins, a walk-through Maya Tunnel, and Shark Discovery, a touch pool with sharks and rays. For a family with one bug enthusiast and one child more interested in sea life, that combination makes the ticket easier to justify.
Choose an Aquarium stop each child wants to see before you head over. Leave the rest of the visit flexible. Both attractions list regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4 p.m. and last entry at 4:30 p.m. Those are entry cutoffs, not a suggested arrival time for enjoying both attractions. Check Audubon's hours for holiday closures and changes.
A few details that can change your plan
- Go to 1 Canal Street. The Aquarium and Insectarium are at this address. The Aquarium has no private parking lot; use Audubon's parking and directions before choosing a garage.
- Plan food separately. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed, with exceptions for medical needs and baby bottles. Bring a water bottle; refill stations are available. Café Aqua has kids' meals if you want to eat inside.
- Bring a payment card. The Aquarium and Insectarium have been cashless since October 1, 2026.
- Check support for your family. Audubon lists sensory bags, weighted lap pads, quiet zones, and headphone zones, subject to availability. Its accessibility information is worth checking before a visit that depends on those supports.
Start with the KidPaths Audubon Insectarium listing for the venue details. If the combined ticket doesn't fit this trip, browse New Orleans activities for another outing.
Photo: butterfly at Audubon Insectarium, photographed in 2012, by angela n. / Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
