Audubon Aquarium tickets in New Orleans currently run $45–$55 for adults and $40–$50 for children or seniors.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The price of the aquarium in New Orleans is not one flat number anymore. Audubon Aquarium uses a posted ticket range, and the current Aquarium & Insectarium ticket covers two downtown attractions in one admission.
Budget $45–$55 per adult and $40–$50 per child or senior for the main ticket. Children under 2 are free, and the Audubon Combo ticket costs $60 for adults or $55 for children and seniors if you also want Audubon Zoo.
If you already know your date, compare the live ticket options here before the lowest-price days sell through:
Aquarium In New Orleans Ticket Prices: What You Pay
Audubon Aquarium admission currently includes Audubon Insectarium, so the aquarium price is really a two-attraction ticket. The posted adult range is $45–$55, while the child and senior range is $40–$50.
That range matters. A quiet weekday can sit nearer the low end, while high-demand dates can price higher. The safest way to budget is to use the high end, then treat any lower date price as savings.
| Ticket Or Add-On | What It Covers | Current Cost To Plan For |
|---|---|---|
| Aquarium & Insectarium adult | One admission to both downtown attractions | $45–$55 |
| Aquarium & Insectarium child | Child admission for ages 2–12 | $40–$50 |
| Aquarium & Insectarium senior | Senior admission for ages 65 and up | $40–$50 |
| Child under 2 | No ticket needed for general admission | $0 |
| Audubon Combo adult | Audubon Zoo plus Aquarium & Insectarium | $60 |
| Audubon Combo child or senior | Zoo plus Aquarium & Insectarium for child or senior visitors | $55 |
| Wild Encounters | Paid animal experiences such as penguin or snorkel programs | Separate ticket required |
Audubon’s official Audubon ticket page lists the current Aquarium & Insectarium price range, the combo ticket price, and the under-2 free rule.
Budget note: A family of four with two adults and two children should expect the Aquarium & Insectarium ticket total to land around $170–$210 before any taxes, extras, food, or parking.
Is The Audubon Combo Ticket A Better Deal?
The Audubon Combo ticket is usually the better deal only if you will visit Audubon Zoo as well. The adult combo is $60, so it adds the zoo for a small jump over the highest Aquarium & Insectarium adult price.
The combo makes the most sense for families spending a full day or a weekend in New Orleans. The aquarium sits downtown at 1 Canal Street, while Audubon Zoo is uptown, so doing both on the same day takes planning and a ride between locations.
- Buy Aquarium & Insectarium only if your trip is built around the French Quarter, the riverfront, or a half-day indoor plan.
- Buy the Audubon Combo if you also want the zoo and can set aside enough time for both sites.
- Skip paid extras if the main goal is a simple family visit; the included Aquarium & Insectarium ticket already gives you plenty to fill several hours.
What The Ticket Includes
The Aquarium & Insectarium ticket includes the main aquarium exhibits and the insectarium in the same downtown complex. That is the main reason the price is higher than older single-attraction ticket figures you may still see online.
Inside the aquarium, the big draws include the Great Maya Reef tunnel, penguins, jellies, the Gulf habitat, shark and ray touch areas, and Louisiana-focused exhibits. The insectarium adds butterflies, live insect displays, and hands-on exhibits, so most visitors should not treat the ticket as a one-hour stop.
Audubon Aquarium is currently posted as open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the last ticket sold at 4 PM. Last entry can cut close to closing, so arriving before mid-afternoon gives you a less rushed visit.
Extra Costs To Expect Near The Aquarium
The aquarium ticket is not the whole day cost for most visitors. Parking, food, rideshares, and optional paid encounters can raise the real spend fast.
Plan for these likely add-ons:
- Parking: Downtown New Orleans parking near Canal Street is usually paid, and rates vary by garage, day, and event traffic.
- Food: Cafe Aqua and nearby French Quarter restaurants can turn a short visit into a lunch outing.
- Special experiences: Penguin, snorkel, and virtual reality-style extras are separate from basic admission.
- Sales tax and fees: The posted ticket number may not be the final checkout total.
Visitors staying in or near the French Quarter, Warehouse District, or Central Business District can often avoid a rental car for this stop. Walking, streetcar, rideshare, or hotel valet may be simpler than moving a car through riverfront traffic.
Where To Stay Near Audubon Aquarium
Hotels near Audubon Aquarium work well if your New Orleans plan centers on the French Quarter, the riverfront, Canal Street, or cruise-port logistics. The most useful bases are the French Quarter for walking, the Central Business District for value, and the Warehouse District for a calmer evening feel.
Use the map view if you want to compare hotel locations against 1 Canal Street before choosing a room:
How To Save On The Aquarium In New Orleans
The easiest savings move is choosing the right ticket, not chasing a weak coupon. A visitor seeing only the aquarium and insectarium should avoid paying for the combo, while a visitor also seeing the zoo should price the combo first.
Families should also check whether a membership makes sense for repeat visits. A membership is not usually worth it for one tourist visit, but it can pay off for local households or families returning to multiple Audubon attractions during the year.
Good Times Pass-style attraction bundles can help if you are stacking several New Orleans paid attractions. The math only works when the included attractions are places you would pay for anyway.
The Ticket That Makes Sense For Most Visitors
Most first-time visitors should buy the Aquarium & Insectarium ticket and budget at the high end of the posted range: $55 per adult and $50 per child or senior. That keeps the plan honest before taxes, food, parking, and extras.
Choose the $60 adult Audubon Combo only when Audubon Zoo is definitely part of the same trip. For a simple downtown New Orleans day, the Aquarium & Insectarium ticket is the cleaner buy.
If your date is fixed, check the live admission options here and match the ticket to your actual plan:
References & Sources
- Audubon Nature Institute.“Audubon Tickets.”Lists current Aquarium & Insectarium admission ranges, combo ticket pricing, and the free admission rule for children under 2.