About Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. Discover New Orleans’ rich cultural mix. Learn Cajun traditions from people who live them. Watch an alligator bask on a bayou’s bank. Walk in the footsteps of the men who fought at 1815’s Battle of New Orleans. Follow the link to discover the treasure of Jean Lafitte.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
All of the temperatures listed are in degrees Fahrenheit. Note that relative humidity, especially in summer months, can reach 90%, so temperatures can feel 10-20 degrees hotter than the actual temperature. Spring (March, April, May): average high 77 and low 61. Summer (June, July, August): average high 89 and low…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Louisiana. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
Each of Jean Lafitte's six sites is open year-round. See the specific site(s) you want to visit for operating hours and days information.
Activities
Current Alerts
Because of upcoming demolition and construction of the trails and Visitor Center, all trails at the Barataria Preserve and the Visitor Center are closed, with the exception of Twin Canals Trail. This is a day-use area only with no restrooms. Visitor services are relocated to the Wetlands Education Center and trails at 4917 City Park Drive, Jean Lafitte, 70067. Rangers will be on site Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am to 2 pm for programming and ranger talks at the Town of Lafitte's Civic Center.
The Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette is temporarily closed due to HVAC issues. Join us at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice for programs and events 5 days a week, Tuesday through Saturday.
Getting There
Jean Lafitte's headquarters and the park's French Quarter Visitor Center are located at 419 Decatur Street in New Orleans. There are five other park sites scattered throughout south Louisiana. For information on all of the park sites and visitor centers, see the Directions Details link.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Become a Jean Lafitte B.A.R.K. Ranger
Hey dog! Do you want to explore parts of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve with your leash-holding companions?…
Visit the Park Store
Looking for the perfect souvenir? Visit the Park Store! There's one at each of the park's six sites.
Relax in Our Courtyard
Soak in history by taking a break.
Discover Native Plants in Our Courtyard
Come discover yet another reason why the Louisiana delta is such a unique place, by visiting our urban collection of…
Chalmette National Cemetery Audio Tour
This tour of the Chalmette National Cemetery shares a few of the thousands of stories of the men and women…
Ask a Ranger: French Quarter
Curious about the French Quarter or New Orleans history? Ask a Ranger!
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Discover French Quarter Architecture
Take a stroll while you learn about architectural history.
Explore Natural History at Barataria
Take a stroll through forest, swamp, and marsh on the Barataria Preserve audio tour.
Walk the Trails at the Barataria Preserve
Want to experience Louisiana's wetlands? Walk the trails at the Barataria Preserve.
Visitor Centers
Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center
The Acadians who made their home along Louisiana’s bayous created a unique Cajun culture shaped by life on the water. The center shares their stories…
Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery
Site of the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, Chalmette Battlefield contains a reconstructed American rampart, an 1830s house, 100-foot-high Chalmette Monument, and outdoor exhibits…
French Quarter Visitor Center
Visitor center exhibits and a film share the history and traditions of the lower Mississippi River delta and of New Orleans, home to one of…
Acadian Cultural Center
Permanent and special exhibits, an award-winning film, ranger talks, and programs share the history, customs, language, and contemporary culture of the Acadians who became Louisiana's…
Prairie Acadian Cultural Center
The Acadian exiles from Canada's Nova Scotia who settled Louisiana's prairies developed a distinctive cultural mix of Cajun, Creole, and cowboy. The Prairie Acadian Cultural…
Barataria Preserve
With more than 26,000 acres of wild Louisiana wetlands, the Barataria Preserve's hardwood forest, swamp, bayous, and marsh offer trails, picnic areas, fishing, hunting (in…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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