Whitney Plantation
8.2Friend Score / 10#4 of 8 Attractions in New Orleans
Known forplantationslavery museumhistorymemorial
The only Louisiana plantation museum told entirely from the perspective of the enslaved — memorials, first-person narratives, and original cabins, about an hour's drive upriver. Self-guided audio tour $25, guided $32; closed Tuesdays. It's heavy, essential, and the plantation visit locals actually respect. Not a hoop-skirts-and-gardens tour — and that's the point.
Key facts
| Hours | Wed–Mon 09:30–16:30 |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | None — you need a car or a tour with transportation from New Orleans (about 1 hour each way) |
| Time needed | 2-3 hours on site, half a day with the drive |
| Best time to go | Morning arrival to beat the heat — the tour is largely outdoors; October-April is far more comfortable |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.2/10- Value9.0
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level7.5
- Authenticity9.5
- Accessibility4.5
Frequently asked questions
- How is Whitney Plantation different from other plantation tours?
- Every other River Road plantation centers the big house and its owners; Whitney centers the enslaved people — their names, testimonies, and memorials. If you visit one plantation, this is the one with a reason to exist.
- What are Whitney Plantation's hours?
- Open 9:30am-4:30pm with last entry at 3pm, closed Tuesdays. Give yourself at least two hours on site; the audio tour doesn't rush well.
- How long does a Whitney Plantation visit take?
- Plan 90 minutes to two hours on the grounds, plus about an hour's drive each way from New Orleans. With a lunch stop it's a comfortable half-day trip.
- How do I get to Whitney Plantation without a car?
- You can't by public transit — it's about an hour west of New Orleans in Wallace. Several New Orleans tour companies run day trips with round-trip transportation, which is the standard option for visitors without a rental car.
- How much does Whitney Plantation cost?
- Self-guided audio tours are $25 for adults and $11 for ages 6-18; guided tours are $32 adult and $15 youth. Under 6 is free. Book online — guided tour slots are limited.
- Guided or self-guided tour at Whitney — which is better?
- The guided tour ($32) adds real depth and the guides are excellent; the self-guided audio tour ($25) is very well produced and lets you move at your own pace in the heat. Neither is a wrong choice.
- Is Whitney Plantation appropriate for kids?
- The museum recommends it for roughly age 12 and up, and I'd agree — the material includes first-person accounts of violence and the memorials to enslaved children are devastating. Older kids often find it the most memorable thing of the trip.
- Can I combine Whitney with Oak Alley or Laura Plantation?
- Yes — they're all on the same River Road stretch, and Whitney-plus-Laura is a common, coherent pairing (Laura is Creole family history, well told). Just know Whitney is emotionally heavy; some people find one plantation a day is enough.
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Where to stay near Whitney Plantation
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