New Orleans has a reputation as an expensive party city. For families, the reality is different. The park system is genuinely excellent, the admission prices at major attractions are reasonable, and with a little planning you can have a full vacation day for under $50. Here's exactly how.
Completely Free (Bring Only Food Money)
Start here. These cost nothing to enter.
Audubon Park — 350 acres of oak trees, walking paths, and green space on the river. Free to walk in any time. Kids can run, bike, and explore without spending a dollar. Budget $20–40 for lunch on Magazine Street if you skip packing food.
Lafreniere Park — One of the best free parks in the metro area. Shaded pavilions, a small lake with fishing (bring gear and a Louisiana license), bike paths, and seasonal pedal boats. A full half-day here costs nothing if you pack a picnic.
Mickey Markey Park — Bywater neighborhood park with real character. Great playground equipment, free, and surrounded by Bywater's excellent restaurant strip for a post-play meal that doesn't break the budget.
Magnolia Playground and Stanley Ray Playground — Two free City Park playgrounds right next to each other near Storyland and Carousel Gardens. Use these as your free warm-up before deciding how much paid City Park action you want.
Cabrini Playground — Right at the edge of the French Quarter. If you're staying in or near the Quarter, this is your free morning-energy-burn before the day starts. Walk back into the Quarter for breakfast after.
Confetti Park — Algiers Point. Free playground, and you can pair it with the Algiers Point Ferry to the French Quarter for a ferry-ride adventure. The ferry itself is cheap — great for kids who love boats.
Exposition Boulevard Playground — On St. Charles Avenue, accessible by the iconic streetcar. Free playground, iconic neighborhood, easy Magazine Street lunch access without needing a car.
Walnut Street Playground, Danneel Park + Playground, Wisner Playground, Evans Playground — Free Uptown neighborhood parks. If you're staying Uptown or Carrollton, these are your backyard.
Lemann Park & Playground — Free NORDC park in the Tremé, one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the country. Combine with a walk through the Tremé for genuine New Orleans cultural context at no cost.
Audubon Riverview (Butterfly) Park — Free park on the Mississippi River levee adjacent to Audubon Park. River views, breezy paths, great for strollers. Magazine Street is steps away.
Under $15 Per Person
New Orleans Botanical Garden — Adults ~$10–12, kids ~$6–8, under 2 free. Family of 4: ~$32–40. Inside City Park, so you get the park grounds for free on top of the garden visit. Closed Mondays.
NOLA Kidsground — Entry for kids $10–14, adults often free or nominal. Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 young kids): ~$25–35 entry plus snacks on-site. Total stays under $50 easily.
Audubon Louisiana Nature Center — Admission $8–15/person. Family of 4: ~$35–55. Pack your own food since there's no dining on-site — that keeps your total well under $60 for the morning. Closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan accordingly.
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park — Individual ride tickets $1–3 each, or unlimited ride wristbands $18–22/child. Two kids with wristbands: ~$40–50 for unlimited rides. Add Storyland next door at ~$4/person and you've got a full City Park activity day for a family of 4 under $75 total with snacks.
The Kids Castle Play Area — Small admission fee, typically $3–7 per child, adults free. Castle-themed soft play at Lakeside Shopping Center. Full outing with mall food court lunch: ~$40–60 for the family.
Optimus Entertainment — Token packages typically $10–20/person. Family of 4: ~$50–80 depending on time spent. Classic neighborhood arcade energy. Call ahead to confirm current hours and pricing.
Under $50 for a Family of 4 (Full Day Strategy)
Here's how to do a genuinely great family day in New Orleans for under $50 total in admission costs.
Morning: Start at City Park Playground — free. Spend 45–90 minutes running off energy.
Mid-Morning: Walk to Storyland — $4/person, so $8 for 2 kids ($16 if both adults pay too, but adults often free). Storyland has storybook character sculptures kids can climb on. Total so far: ~$8–16.
Lunch: Pack a picnic. Or grab food from one of the City Park café carts. Budget $20–25.
Afternoon: New Orleans Botanical Garden — ~$32–40 for a family of 4. Wander the garden for 1–1.5 hours.
Total: ~$60–80 including food. If you pack your own lunch, the admission-only total drops to under $50.
Tips to Stretch Your Budget
- Audubon combo tickets bundle the Aquarium, Insectarium, and Zoo. If you're planning to visit two or more Audubon venues, the combo is always cheaper than buying separately.
- Louisiana residents get discounted rates at all Audubon Nature Institute venues. Show ID at the box office.
- Reciprocal aquarium memberships — members of accredited home aquariums may get free or reduced entry at the Audubon Aquarium. Worth checking before you pay.
- LOOP NOLA at loopnola.org has free community programming. Check the schedule — some open play is free, paid classes add cost.
- Trampoline parks at Airborne X and Sky Zone charge less when you buy tickets online. Family of 4 admission at Sky Zone runs $75–105 — not cheap, but buying in advance saves $5–10.
- Pack food whenever you visit City Park. The park is massive, the café options are limited, and bringing a picnic saves $20–30 easily.
- The Algiers Point Ferry is a cheap river crossing and a real adventure for kids — pair it with Confetti Park in Algiers for a memorable outing at minimal cost.
The Real Bottom Line
A great day in New Orleans with kids doesn't require spending over $100. The city's park system is legitimately excellent — Audubon Park, City Park, and Lafreniere Park alone give you enough for multiple free mornings. Add a cheap City Park attraction like Storyland or Carousel Gardens, pack a picnic, and you've got a full day for under $50 in admission. Save the bigger spends — the Aquarium, Mardi Gras World, Zero Latency — for days when the weather's right and the kids are ready for a main event.