City Park New Orleans with Kids: Storyland, Carousel Gardens, and Free Zones

Storyland: The Fairy-Tale Playground Kids Remember

Storyland has run as an outdoor storybook playground since the 1950s. Kids climb aboard Captain Hook's pirate ship, walk into the mouth of Pinocchio's Whale, and scramble up Jack and Jill's hill. Live oak canopy shades most of the play area, which helps on hot afternoons. Measure height at home before the trip. The 36-inch line decides both Storyland admission and which Carousel Gardens rides a child can board.

• Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am-4:30 pm, last entry 4 pm
• Admission: $8 for 36 inches and taller; under 36 inches free
• Address: 5 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124
• Highlights: Captain Hook's pirate ship, Pinocchio's Whale, Jack and Jill's hill, 18 sculptures total

Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and the Wooden Carousel

Carousel Gardens sits next to Storyland and centers on a wooden carousel that dates back roughly a century, one of the few of its kind still running. The amusement park adds several smaller rides scaled for young kids. Ride access depends on height, so check each ride's posted minimum before promising a child a turn. Carousel Gardens runs on a seasonal operating calendar that shifts through the year, so confirm which days it's open before building a visit around it.

• Season pass: $85 per person
• Family of four season pass: $265 ($66 per additional person)
• Season pass covers Storyland and Carousel Gardens, March through November

Louisiana Children's Museum: The Air-Conditioned Reset

The Louisiana Children's Museum gives families an air-conditioned break from the humidity. Exhibits are hands-on and built around movement and nature themes, including areas known as Move It and Dig into Nature. It sits apart from the Storyland and Carousel Gardens cluster, so budget separate walking time to reach it.

• Little Red Schoolhouse: air-conditioned interior
• Louisiana Children's Museum: air-conditioned exhibits
• New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA): air-conditioned galleries

Besthoff Sculpture Garden: The Free Stop Parents Underrate

The Besthoff Sculpture Garden costs nothing to enter, and it rarely gets the attention Storyland does. Paths are wide and paved, which works for strollers and for kids who want to run ahead. The sculptures are oversized and unusual, and they tend to hold kids' attention longer than a typical art walk. It sits near the New Orleans Museum of Art, so pair the two if a museum's air conditioning fits the day's plan.

Sample Itineraries: The 3-Hour Loop and the Full Day

How the day gets sequenced depends on kids' ages and how much time is on hand. Pack water and sun protection either way. Shade sits under the oaks, but the open lawns and Big Lake paths get hot by early afternoon.

• 3-Hour Tots Loop: Storyland first, then beignets before nap time
• Full-Day Adventure: Louisiana Children's Museum in the morning, lunch at the Park Cafe, Carousel Gardens in the afternoon
• Multi-day families often pair a City Park morning with a New Orleans swamp tour later the same trip, since both work as half-day blocks

Costs and Tickets: What's Free and What Isn't

Roughly half of City Park's kid attractions charge nothing at the gate. A family of two adults and two kids over 36 inches pays around $32 for one Storyland visit. That same family's season pass costs $265 but covers unlimited entry to both Storyland and Carousel Gardens through November. For a single day in town, paying per visit usually costs less. For a week-long trip with two or more park days, or for locals planning repeat visits, the season pass closes the gap fast.

Getting to City Park: Streetcar, Rideshare, and Parking

The Canal Streetcar's City Park line runs from the French Quarter into the park, and it's the slower, more scenic way in. It also runs without air conditioning, which matters in midsummer. A car or rideshare trims the trip and adds AC, and it's the easier option with strollers, diaper bags, and tired toddlers in tow. Parking lots cluster around Victory Avenue, the road that runs past both Storyland and Carousel Gardens. Lots further from Victory Avenue serve the museum campus, so factor in extra walking time if the day starts at NOMA or the Children's Museum.

Where to Eat with Kids in the Park

Cafe Du Monde operates a location inside City Park, serving the same beignets and cafe au lait as the French Quarter original, with outdoor seating. The Park Cafe sits near Big Lake and covers sandwiches and lighter options, useful when a toddler needs food fast, not a wait. Oak trees line most of the walking paths, and any of them work as a picnic spot if a packed lunch beats a restaurant line. For more on fitting beignets into the rest of a trip, see the New Orleans beignets and food guide.

Storyland Birthday Parties and Storytime Events

Storyland books birthday parties at three venues, each with a different setting. Storytime has historically run on Thursdays from late May through July, 10:30 to 11:30 am, at Storyland Castle, and it's included with regular admission. Readings are led by a member of the City Park Conservancy team, paired with a craft, freeze dance, or scavenger hunt. Confirm the current 2026 schedule before building a visit around it, since exact dates shift year to year.

Mistakes to Avoid at City Park

A few planning gaps come up again and again for first-time visitors.

• Skipping the height check: Carousel Gardens rides and Storyland admission both key off the 36-inch mark, so measure before arrival
• Forgetting bug spray for the Couturie Forest, where tree cover is thicker and mosquitoes are more active
• Underestimating the walk between the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Louisiana Children's Museum; budget extra time between them
• Relying on the streetcar alone in peak summer heat, since it has no AC; pair it with a rideshare return leg if kids are wiped out

Couturie Forest: A Shady Nature Break for Older Kids

Couturie Forest offers a quieter alternative to rides and playgrounds. Its wooded trails cross native forest and wetland habitats within City Park. This stop suits school-age children who enjoy birds, insects, and short nature walks.

The main trailhead is near Harrison Avenue. Paths can become muddy after rain, so closed-toe shoes work better than sandals. Bring mosquito repellent, especially during warm, humid months. A stroller may struggle on roots and uneven ground.

• The forest covers about 60 acres and contains several interconnected trails.
• Laborde Mountain rises roughly 43 feet, making it New Orleans’ highest point.
• Birders may spot egrets, herons, woodpeckers, and seasonal migratory species.

Visit during the cooler morning hours, then move to the Louisiana Children’s Museum when humidity builds. Allow 45 to 60 minutes for a relaxed loop with children. Keep kids near the marked paths because lagoons and dense vegetation border parts of the trail system.