Accessibility & Inclusion
We're committed to fostering a welcoming environment where individual differences are accepted, respected, appreciated, and valued. We make every effort to provide an unforgettable experience for all our guests, regardless of ability.
The following information will ensure you’re best prepared for your visit.
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Before Your Visit
Hours and Location
Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium are located at 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.
- ADA accessible guest drop off located at 302 North Front Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130.
- Guest parking is available at various pay lots in the area (see below).
Our hours are 10 AM – 5 PM daily with last entry at 4:30 PM. Please check Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium home pages to verify facility hours on your intended date of visit.
We recommend budgeting two to three hours to fully enjoy the Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium experience.
Planning Tip: The Aquarium is generally quietest one to two hours before closing, especially in fall and winter. School groups generally visit until 2 PM Tuesday through Friday throughout the school year. We experience our most popular visitation during the spring, summer, holidays, and on weekends.
Visitor Guide
Our Aquarium & Insectarium map provides the layout of our exhibits, restrooms, elevators, and other important areas for your visit.
Download Aquarium and Insectarium Map
Ticket Considerations
- Admission tickets are available online and in person.
- While tickets are generally available day-of, we recommend purchasing your tickets prior to arrival to better plan your day.
- For general questions and customer service, please contact us at 831-648-4800, option 3. We are available daily between 9 AM and 4 PM Central Time.
Planning Tip: Consider a Membership
- Members can visit as often as they would like, for as long as they want — a great option for people to explore our facilities at their own pace.
- No reservations are needed. Named Members only need to bring their valid Membership card and photo identification to enter the Aquarium.
Service Animals
We welcome service animals that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard.
https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
For the safety and welfare of the animals in our care, pets and emotional support or companion animals are NOT allowed inside the Aquarium & Insectarium.
Service animals must be under control of their handler at all times.
Service animals displaying behaviors that may impact the safety and wellbeing of our guests and animals in our care will be asked to leave.
For the safety of the animals in our care, service animals are not permitted in two exhibits — Life in the Amazon, and the Butterfly Garden.
If a service animal needs to relieve itself during your visit, please utilize the outdoor spaces of Woldenberg Riverfront Park just in front of the Aquarium & Insectarium facility.
Parking
While we do not offer public parking on-site, there are several public parking options in the vicinity including pay lots and metered street parking.
Per City parking ordinance section 154-874c:
A motor vehicle bearing plates or displaying a hang tag issued to a mobility-impaired person or person with disabilities is being operated for the transport of the mobility-impaired person or person with disabilities, the motor vehicle may be parked for up to a maximum of three hours without payment, regardless of meter fares otherwise applicable to the parking space.
Planning Tip: On popular days, the nearest available parking may be several blocks away. We have clearly marked passenger drop-off and pick-up zones available for your use at the Aquarium & Insectarium at 302 North Front Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130.
Public Transportation
There are a number of public transportation options available, depending on where you are visiting from. Please visit the RTA website for the latest schedules and routes:
Arrival
Entering the Aquarium
Our entrance is located on the Mississippi riverfront between the Canal and Bienville Street floodwall entrances.
All guests will enter the lobby and make their way to the second floor for entry to the attraction if they already have tickets or a Membership. Guests who wish to purchase tickets can do so at the ticketing desk.
Guests have the option of using the grand staircase or one of two lobby elevators.
Please ensure everyone in your party has a ticket before joining the entry queue on the second floor. Members have their own queue which can often save time.
Staff and Volunteers
Guest Engagement staff and volunteer guides are here to assist! If you have any questions or concerns before or during your visit, anyone with an Audubon name badge will be happy to assist you.
Family Accommodations and Services
Nursing Lounge
Please feel free to nurse anywhere you are comfortable.
A nursing room is available on the first floor by the main entry lobby.
Restrooms
All 4 restroom locations in our facility have ADA accessible stalls and appropriate wash stations.
If a bit more space is needed, there are family restrooms located across from the Nursing room on the first floor of the main lobby and on the second floor in the Insectarium near Bug Appetit.
All restrooms offer access to changing stations.
Stroller Access
Strollers are permitted, but they must not exceed 29 inches (72 cm) in width and 52 inches (132 cm) in length.
Please note that wagons, wagon strollers, push cars, jogging strollers, and ride-ons are NOT ALLOWED to ensure that guests of all ages and abilities can navigate the facility safely.
Wheelchair Rental
We have manual wheelchairs available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Please ask any staff member at the entrance or ticket desk for assistance.
Rented wheelchairs must remain on Aquarium/Insectarium property. They can be returned to guest services staff at the ticket desk.
Wheelchairs are cleaned and sanitized after each use.
Seating
There are benches and other seating located throughout the Aquarium and Insectarium.
Auditory Accommodations and Services
Exhibit Labels
Descriptive labels are featured at each exhibit throughout the Aquarium and Insectarium to provide guests with information about the animals and habitats.
These panels include habitat descriptions, species identification, discussions of conservation issues, photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and much more.
Visual Accommodations and Services
Interpretive Staff and Volunteers
Staff members and volunteer guides are stationed throughout the galleries to engage with visitors and provide additional information about the animals and exhibits.
Sensory Accommodations and Services
The Aquarium and Insectarium can be a popular place, full of a variety of sights, sounds, smells, and textures. The following tips and resources are designed to help guests of all ages on the autism spectrum or who have sensory sensitivities feel safe, comfortable, and welcome.
KultureCity and Social Stories
KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using their resources to effect change in the community for those with sensory needs; not just those with Autism. KultureCity has created several sensory inclusive venues including NBA arenas, NHL arenas, NFL stadiums, restaurants, zoos, an aquarium, and a science center.
A social story highlights Audubon's exhibits from a first-person perspective and helps visitors know what to expect during their visit at the Zoo, Aquarium, or Insectarium.
View Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium Social Story
Sensory Bag and Noise-Reducing Headphones
The Aquarium offers sensory bags for guests in need of extra sensory support during their visit. Each bag, as well as the bag itself, includes items that serve various tactile needs, such as a smooth or pointy surface and a hard or soft squeeze.
We also offer noise-reduction headphones to reduce (not cancel) the amount of sound you hear.
Sensory bags and headphones can be checked out, free of charge, at the ticket counter. For additional information, please contact us at 504-861-2537.
Sensory Resources at Audubon Attractions
Weighted Lap Pads
At attractions which may require visitors to remain seated for an extended time, Audubon offers weighted lap pads to assist families who have children with special sensory needs. These lap pads are available upon request at the Aquarium/Insectarium Ticket Counter (subject to availability).
Sensory Bags
Sensory bags containing noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and other resources are available upon request at the Aquarium/Insectarium Ticket Counter (subject to availability).
Headphone Zones
Audubon has identified noisier spaces as "Headphone Zones" throughout our attractions. Headphone Zones are identified by this logo.
Health, Medical, and Emergency Accommodations and Services
Medical and Emergency Assistance
Audubon Nature Institute staffs Emergency Medical Technicians during operating hours of the Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium. In the event of an emergency or if you need medical assistance, please locate the nearest staff member who can call the EMT.
AEDs
Portable automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are publicly located throughout the Aquarium. Security and other team members have been trained in their use.
Hand Sanitizer
For your convenience, we have several hand sanitizer stations located throughout the Aquarium.
Food and Beverage
Food Allergies and Dietary Needs
Cafe Aqua features fresh, seasonal entrees for the entire family. We have vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options available.
Food served in the Cafe is not prepared in an allergen-free kitchen. For allergen information or if you have specific dietary questions, please contact the Cafe staff when you arrive.
No outside food or drink may be consumed inside the Aquarium. Guests with medical conditions that require access to food are exempt from this policy.
Straws
As a part of the Aquarium’s commitment to environmental sustainability, single-use plastic straws are not dispensed in the Cafe.
Water Bottles
Refillable water bottles are allowed. We have water-fill stations and water fountains available throughout the Aquarium & Insectarium.
Shopping
Gift Shops
All Aquarium gift stores are wheelchair accessible.
They are located on the:
- First floor adjacent to the lobby atrium
- Second floor at the Insectarium exit
Exiting the Aquarium & Insectarium
Return Borrowed Items
If you or someone in your party borrowed a sensory bag and/or wheelchair, please return them to the ticket desk in the lobby atrium near the entrance.
Re-entry
You are welcome to exit and re-enter the Aquarium during your visit, provided you can show proof of purchase when returning. Our operating hours are daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the last entry at 4:30 PM. Please visit our website at https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium for updates, as hours may change due to events and holidays.
Exit
You will exit the Facility onto the Aquarium Plaza on the Mississippi Riverfront between the Canal and Bienville Street floodwall entrances.
Pick-up Options
There is a passenger loading zone located at the Canal Street Floodwall entrance near the streetcar station.
ADA and school bus loading zone access is located at 302 North Front Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.
Digital Accessibility
Accessibility is a key value in our digital creation practices at the Aquarium. We aim for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards for all digital output, including our websites, multimedia files like videos and PDFs, and on social media.
Our practices include, but are not limited to, providing alternative text for images, captioning and providing transcript files for video, ensuring high color contrast ratios, creating buttons and controls that are usable across a diversity of abilities, avoiding animations that can cause adverse reactions, and writing clear and approachable copy.
