Most family travel guides tell you New Orleans is "affordable" without ever giving you an actual number. That's useless when you're planning a budget. This guide breaks down real costs for 39 activities — admission, food, parking, the hidden extras — so you can build a realistic trip plan before you arrive.
Free Activities in New Orleans
New Orleans has more genuinely free family activities than most cities. These cost $0 to enter.
Audubon Park — Free admission to the park grounds. Bring a picnic or budget $20–40 for lunch on Magazine Street. One of the best free outdoor spaces in the city. The Audubon Zoo is adjacent but has its own paid admission — don't confuse the two.
Magnolia Playground, Stanley Ray Playground, and City Park Playground — All free, all inside City Park, clustered near Storyland and Carousel Gardens. Stack these with a paid ride wristband at Carousel Gardens and you have a full day.
Mickey Markey Park — Free park in the Bywater neighborhood. Walk to Bywater or St. Claude Avenue restaurants after. Total cost: whatever you eat.
Lafreniere Park — Free entry. Shaded pavilions, fishing, bike paths, seasonal pedal boats. Budget $10–20 for snacks if you pack light.
Cabrini Playground, Confetti Park, Exposition Boulevard Playground, Walnut Street Playground, Danneel Park + Playground, Wisner Playground, Evans Playground, Lemann Park & Playground — Free NORDC neighborhood playgrounds across Uptown, the French Quarter edge, Algiers, and the Tremé. Zero dollars.
Audubon Riverview (Butterfly) Park — Free park on the Mississippi River levee. Combine with Audubon Park and a Magazine Street lunch for a full free morning.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
New Orleans Botanical Garden — Adults ~$10–12, children ~$6–8, under 2 free. Family of 4: ~$32–40 admission. Inside City Park — combine it with free playground time for full day value.
NOLA Kidsground — Entry for kids typically $10–14; adults often free or nominal. Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 young kids): ~$25–35 entry + $10–15 on-site snacks. Total: ~$35–50.
Optimus Entertainment — Game tokens or packages typically $10–20/person. Family of 4: ~$50–80 depending on how long you play. Call ahead to confirm current pricing.
Audubon Louisiana Nature Center — Admission typically $8–15/person. Family of 4: ~$35–55. No dining on-site — pack food. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park — Ride tickets $1–3 each; unlimited ride wristbands ~$18–22/child. Two kids with wristbands + 2 adults: ~$40–50 for rides + snacks = ~$60–75 total. Seasonal hours — check before visiting.
New Orleans City Park — Free to enter. Carousel rides ~$5–8/person, Storyland ~$4/person, paddle boats ~$14–16/30 min. Budget $50–80 for a full activity day if you do multiple paid attractions inside the park.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of 4)
Adventure Quest Laser Tag — Sessions ~$9–12/person per game. Family of 4 doing two rounds: ~$80–100 plus snacks. Multi-level arena with escape rooms if you want to extend the visit. Multi-game packages offer better per-game pricing.
Airborne X Harvey — Jump passes $15–22/person. Family of 4: ~$60–90. Grip socks required — bring your own from a dollar store to save $3/pair. Dedicated toddler zones for younger kids.
Luv 2 Play Metairie — Kids $12–18, adults free or nominal. Family of 4: ~$30–45 entry + $15–20 café food = ~$45–65 total. Toddler Tuesday often has discounted rates.
Game On Social Hub — Token/game packages vary. Budget $50–80 for a family of 4 for 2–3 hours including light food.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park — Jump passes $18–25/person. Grip socks ~$3/pair. Family of 4: ~$75–105 plus snacks. Buy online to save vs. walk-in pricing.
Mardi Gras World — Adults ~$22–25, children ~$15–18, under 2 free. Family of 4: ~$75–90. Free king cake sample included. Rideshare recommended — parking near the venue is limited.
Chuck E. Cheese — Game bundles ~$30–50 for the family. Pizza for 4: ~$25–35. Total: ~$55–85. Buy All Day Play passes online for better value than individual tokens.
Museum of Illusions — Tickets ~$20–25/person. Family of 4: ~$80–100 admission. No food on-site. Budget ~$120–140 once you add nearby lunch.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
These cost more, but they earn it.
Audubon Aquarium — Adults ~$25, children (3–12) ~$18, under 2 free. Family of 4: ~$86 admission + $30–40 café food + $15 parking = ~$120–130 total. The shark tunnel and sea otter exhibit alone justify the admission. Buy the Audubon combo ticket to bundle the Aquarium, Insectarium, and Zoo for significant savings over buying separately.
Audubon Insectarium — Adults ~$20–25, children ~$15–18. Family of 4 Aquarium + Insectarium combo: ~$100–130. The Bug Appetit café with edible insect samples is the experience kids talk about for months.
Escape My Room New Orleans — Tickets ~$28–35/person. Family of 4: ~$112–140. New Orleans-themed escape rooms with real puzzles that require everyone's participation. Book all seats in a private room together for the full experience.
Zero Latency New Orleans — Sessions $45–55/person. Family of 4 (if all meet age requirements): ~$180–220. Free-roam virtual reality where you physically walk through a warehouse in full VR gear. Check minimum age requirements before booking — younger kids may not be admitted and refunds aren't guaranteed.
Money-Saving Tips in New Orleans
- Audubon combo tickets bundle the Aquarium, Insectarium, and Zoo at significant savings vs. buying separately. If you're visiting two or more Audubon venues, always buy the combo first.
- Louisiana residents get discounted admission at all Audubon Nature Institute venues. Bring ID even if you're from out of state to ask about any current promotions.
- Reciprocal memberships matter. Members of accredited aquariums may get free or reduced entry at the Audubon Aquarium. Check your home aquarium's reciprocal network before you pay full price.
- Buy jump park tickets online. Sky Zone, Airborne X, and most trampoline parks charge less for online pre-purchase vs. walk-in. Bring your own grip socks ($1 at a dollar store) to avoid the $3/pair counter charge.
- City Park's free playgrounds are legitimately good. Magnolia, Stanley Ray, and the City Park Playground complex cost nothing and can fill 2–3 hours for young kids.
- Tuesdays often mean discounts. Luv 2 Play runs Toddler Tuesday pricing. Weekday visits across most venues mean shorter lines and sometimes lower rates.
- Pack food for nature venues. Audubon Louisiana Nature Center has no dining on-site. Bring lunch and save $20–30 vs. finding nearby restaurants.
- Rideshare to Mardi Gras World. Paid parking near the venue adds $10–15 to your total. Uber or Lyft costs less and eliminates the stress.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget Day: City Park in the morning — free playgrounds plus Storyland ($4/person) and Carousel Gardens wristbands ($18–22/child). Packed picnic lunch. Total for a family of 4: ~$60–80.
Mid-Range Day: Aquarium morning ($86 admission + $15 parking + $35 café) then Mardi Gras World afternoon ($75–90). Dinner from a local restaurant ($60). Total: ~$270–285.
Splurge Day: Audubon Aquarium + Insectarium combo ($100–130), Zero Latency evening ($180–220), meals and snacks ($80). Total: ~$360–430.
Realistic 2-day estimate for a family mixing free and paid: one budget day + one mid-range day + all meals = $400–500 total on activities and food. New Orleans rewards planning. The free parks are excellent, the Audubon combos deliver real savings, and the food scene means meals don't have to be expensive.