New Orleans for families
Here's New Orleans through the lens of families with kids: the canonical questions worth asking before you book a flight, the curated lists worth opening when you want a shortcut to local expertise, and the live right-now data below ready to inform your next decision about when, where, and how to spend your time on the ground.
New Orleans for families with kids, in numbers
- Picks on this page
- 11 places across 1 lists, led by Congo Square, Jackson Square, Louis Armstrong Park
Questions families with kids ask about New Orleans
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Is it safe?
New Orleans scores 3.8 out of 10 for solo-traveler safety (see the TTDI Solo-Safety Index). Violent-crime rates in Orleans Parish run far above the US average, but risk concentrates outside tourist neighborhoods. The French Quarter, Garden District, and Warehouse District have heavy police foot patrols. Solo visitors should avoid Central City and areas south of St. Claude Avenue after dark. Call 911 in emergencies.
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What to pack
Pack breathable synthetic or linen clothing for 30-35°C heat and 60-80% humidity. Closed-toe walking shoes with tread are non-negotiable on New Orleans' uneven, often-wet sidewalks. A packable rain shell handles daily summer downpours better than an umbrella. Bring one long-sleeve layer for heavily air-conditioned restaurants. Sunscreen, DEET repellent, and a portable phone charger round out the list.
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Getting around
Streetcars and Uber cover most of New Orleans. The St. Charles line, running since 1835, handles Uptown and the Garden District for $1.25 per ride. Uber or Lyft fills the gaps, typically $8 to $15 within the city. The French Quarter is a compact 13-by-6 block grid best covered on foot.
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Best time to visit
October through early December and late February through April give you New Orleans at its comfortable best. Temperatures sit in the 60s and 70s°F, hotel rates settle between festival peaks, and the French Quarter is walkable without the suffocating summer heat. Skip July through September, when days above 90°F, humidity past 70%, and hurricane risk make the city punishing for visitors.
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Cost per day
Budget travelers can hold New Orleans to roughly $65/day with a hostel dorm, po'boy lunches, Monday red beans and rice, and free brass on Frenchmen Street. Midrange runs about $150 once you add a Marigny hotel room and the National WWII Museum. The budget killer is Bourbon Street, where a single Hurricane cocktail costs $15.
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