Traveling to New Orleans with a toddler requires more planning than most cities. The French Quarter has uneven brick sidewalks, the heat index from May through October is brutal, and nursing facilities at smaller venues can be sparse. This guide covers what actually works with a diaper bag on your shoulder and a 2-year-old who needs a nap by noon.
Stroller Logistics First
New Orleans sidewalks in the French Quarter are famously rough — old brick pavers that eat stroller wheels. If you're bringing a stroller (and you should), use a sturdy one, not an umbrella stroller. For French Quarter streets specifically, a carrier or baby carrier is sometimes easier than fighting the pavement.
The good news: most major attractions — the Aquarium, Insectarium, City Park, Audubon Park, and the indoor play venues — are all fully stroller-friendly with smooth floors or wide paved paths.
Best Indoor Toddler Activities
Audubon Aquarium — Stroller friendly, nursing and changing rooms on-site. This is the single best attraction for toddlers in New Orleans. The Gulf of Mexico tunnel produces open-mouthed wonder in kids who can barely walk. Under 2 is free. Budget $120–130 total for a family of 4 (admission + café food + parking). Plan 2–3 hours — toddlers will want to revisit the touch tank multiple times. Bring a light jacket; aquariums run cold.
Audubon Insectarium — Same building as the Aquarium, stroller-friendly throughout, nursing room on-site. The giant walking stick insects and hissing cockroaches make toddlers simultaneously scream and demand to touch them again. The Bug Appetit café with edible insects is for older kids, but toddlers love watching their parents be grossed out. Buy the Aquarium + Insectarium combo ticket. Budget 1.5–2.5 hours.
NOLA Kidsground — Stroller friendly, nursing room on-site. This is the best dedicated toddler soft play in New Orleans. Padded everything, child-sized café play kitchen, actual nursing-room access. Parents consistently report their toddlers are completely spent after 90 minutes. Entry $10–14/child, adults often free or nominal. Total: ~$35–50 for a family. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Luv 2 Play Metairie — Stroller-friendly, nursing room on-site. The multi-level soft play structure is genuinely well-designed for the 2–5 set. Parents can sit in actual chairs and watch through the enclosed play structure. Kids $12–18, adults free or nominal. Total with café: ~$45–65. Tuesday is often Toddler Tuesday with discounted pricing. Plan 2–3 hours.
Chuck E. Cheese — Stroller-friendly, nursing room on-site. The enclosed play structure and ticket-redemption games are calibrated for ages 3–7. It's a chain, but the toddler zone is genuinely functional. Game bundles ~$30–50, pizza for 4 ~$25–35. Total: ~$55–85. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
The Hive on Woodland — Stroller-friendly, nursing room on-site. Smaller, community-focused indoor play in Belle Chasse. Equipment sized properly for infants and toddlers — not an afterthought. $10–18/child for open play. Closed Saturdays based on current hours; verify before going. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
The Kids Castle Play Area — Stroller-friendly, nursing facilities in the mall. Castle-themed soft play at Lakeside Shopping Center. Modest admission $3–7/child, adults free. The mall location means changing tables in the restrooms, food court lunch, and a dry walk if the weather turns. Full outing: ~$40–60. Plan 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Airborne X Harvey — Stroller access limited (leave it at the entry), nursing room on-site. Dedicated toddler zones with foam pits and smaller trampolines that 3–5 year olds can use without being overwhelmed by older kids. Jump passes $15–22/person (toddler sessions may be cheaper). Total: ~$60–90. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Best Outdoor Toddler Activities
New Orleans City Park — Stroller-friendly throughout, nursing room at the main visitor center. City Park is 1,300 acres with wide paved paths, shaded areas, and multiple toddler-appropriate attractions all in one location. Carousel Gardens wristbands (~$18–22/child) give unlimited ride access. Storyland is $4/person. Paddle boats $14–16/30 min. Budget $50–80 for a full activity day with snacks. Plan 2–5 hours depending on pace.
Magnolia Playground, Stanley Ray Playground, City Park Playground — All stroller-friendly, all free, all inside City Park. No nursing room at the playgrounds themselves, so plan accordingly. Great for a morning run-around before a nap. $0 admission.
New Orleans Botanical Garden — Stroller-friendly, nursing room on-site. Toddlers love the sensory input — flowers, smells, water features. Adults $10–12, kids $6–8, under 2 free. Family of 4: ~$32–40. Plan 1–1.5 hours. Closed Mondays.
Audubon Park — Stroller-friendly throughout, nursing facilities near the main areas. Free to enter. Wide paved and gravel paths through 350 acres of oak trees. Perfect for a stroller walk without a destination — just a toddler looking at birds and dogs. Pack a picnic; Magazine Street is steps away for lunch. Plan 1–3 hours depending on activities.
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park — Stroller-friendly, nursing room in the park. Unlimited ride wristbands $18–22/child — young toddlers love the carousel and smaller rides. Combined with free City Park playgrounds: a full afternoon under $50. Check neworleanscitypark.org for seasonal hours. Plan 1.5–2.5 hours.
Exposition Boulevard Playground, Walnut Street Playground, Cabrini Playground — All stroller-friendly, all free. The Exposition Boulevard playground is on St. Charles Ave and accessible via the iconic streetcar. Cabrini is right at the French Quarter edge — easy morning stop if you're staying nearby. $0 admission at all three.
Lafreniere Park — Stroller-friendly, nursing room at the main facilities. Free entry. Shaded pavilions, a small lake, bike paths. Pack a picnic; no paid food options are necessary. Great half-day for families staying in Metairie. Plan 1.5–3 hours.
Mickey Markey Park, Lemann Park & Playground, Confetti Park — Free neighborhood parks. All stroller-friendly. Mickey Markey is in the Bywater, Lemann is in the Tremé, Confetti is in Algiers. All $0 admission. No dedicated nursing facilities at any of them — plan breaks accordingly.
What to Bring (Every Time)
- Diaper bag fully stocked — changing tables at smaller venues are not guaranteed
- Light jacket for aquariums and indoor play venues (AC runs cold)
- Sunscreen and hat for anything outdoors — the New Orleans sun is intense April through October
- Snacks and water — venues with good food options are noted above; others have nothing
- Stroller with decent wheels — French Quarter brick pavers will punish a flimsy frame
Pacing Tips
Toddlers in New Orleans need naptime respected. The heat alone wipes them out faster than usual from May through September. Build your days around a midday break: one morning activity, nap at the hotel, one afternoon activity. Trying to do three things in a day almost always ends with a meltdown on a hot sidewalk.
The Aquarium + Insectarium combo is the exception — 4–5 hours of genuinely engaging indoor content works as a single full-day activity for toddlers. Start when it opens, do touch tank sessions, eat at the café, and you've covered a whole day without the heat problem.
Indoor venues like NOLA Kidsground and Luv 2 Play are your best friends when the temperature hits 90° and the humidity makes it feel like 105°.