Audubon Park
4.7(8.9K)google
4.7(186)yelp
NatureOutdoor
Overview
Audubon Park is a magnificent urban oasis located in uptown New Orleans, offering a peaceful retreat filled with historic live oaks, tranquil lagoons, and expansive green lawns. Named after the naturalist and artist John James Audubon, the park features a paved jogging path, a beautiful golf course, and the famous 'Tree of Life' which visitors love to climb. It provides an ideal setting for family picnics, scenic walks, and birdwatching, perfectly capturing the natural, laid-back southern charm of the city.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeSpring (March to May) or autumn (October to November) during early mornings (7:30 AM - 10:00 AM) is the superior window. As the premier green oasis of Uptown New Orleans, early morning mist blankets the 1.8-mile paved loop trail shaded by towering, centuries-old Live Oaks. Thousands of wild egrets and pelicans active on the central lake lakebed.
Getting ThereLocated Uptown at 6500 St. Charles Avenue, directly opposite Tulane and Loyola Universities. Drivers can cruise west down Magazine Street or St. Charles Avenue where plenty of free curbside park styling is permitted. The most scenic transit is riding the St. Charles Streetcar (Green Line) directly to the historic stone arch Audubon Park gates.
Travel Tips
- The central asphalt loop is strictly restricted to pedestrians and cyclists; driving personal rental vehicles onto this beltway triggers severe moving violations.
- The perimeter paths near the golf green carry severe risks from stray high-velocity golf balls; march quickly within the protected netting grids.
- The Ochsner Island bird rookery emits extremely dense, ammonia-heavy avian odors; visitors with severe asthma should stay upwind of the lake lagoons.
Reviews
Positive
- This historic Uptown park is picture-perfect; walking its smooth 1.8-mile loop trail takes you under a majestic canopy of century-old live oaks draped in Spanish moss with exceptional shade.
- The park's core features a stunning bird island pond where hundreds of wild snowy egrets and pelicans nest; a true metropolitan sanctuary for eco-photography and birdwatching.
- Amenities are excellent, offering scattered free picnic tables, kids' playgrounds, and benches; located next to Tulane University, security is solid with a safe academic and community vibe.
- Completely open and free to the public with ample free all-day parking; direct streetcar access to the front gate makes it a cost-effective escape from the chaotic French Quarter.
Heads up
- With massive bird colonies on the central pond, windless and humid summer afternoons leave lakeside paths smelling heavily of guano and dead fish; you must constantly dodge bird droppings.
- Proximity to the Mississippi River levee means dawn and dusk bring dense clouds of mosquitoes and gnats; picnicking or hiking without packing heavy bug repellent is highly painful.
- During busy weekends or university football game days, surrounding traffic gridlocks and park lots fill up instantly, forcing casual visitors to circle residential grids for ages.
- The public restroom blocks are historical and feature dated plumbing; custodial upkeep lags during high-density weekend crowds, leaving floors slick with occasional water accumulation.