Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Protected park · LA, USA
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in LA, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Quick answers
- Is there a nursing room or baby care at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve?
- Mapped for this park: 3 changing tables. Details
- When is Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve open?
- Usually Mon–Sun open 24 hours. Details
- When is the best time to visit Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve?
- By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are March, October, and November. Details
- Where do you park?
- Acadian Cultural Center Parking Lot has 40 parking spaces. Details
When is Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve open?
- Mon–Sun open 24 hours
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
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.
This park's official page lists: Store / concessions, Visitor center.
Nursing and baby care
Mapped for this park: 3 changing tables.
- Acadian Cultural Center
- Barataria Preserve
- Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery
When is the best time to visit Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve?
By typical weather, the best months for a day outdoors here are March, October, and November.
The weather works against it in June, July, and August.
The warmest month is August, with average highs near 87°F (31°C); the coolest is January, near 60°F (16°C).
August is the wettest month, with about 7.5 in (191 mm) of precipitation in a typical August.
Getting in to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve: fees and parking
Acadian Cultural Center Parking Lot has 40 parking spaces.
Two accessible spaces are marked at Acadian Cultural Center Parking Lot.
Official facts
The Forest Service rates the wildfire hazard potential at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve's mapped point moderate (2023 map); it rates the ground, not the weather.
Protected waters: 87.9 km². None of it is no-take.
Boating: Vessel use unrestricted; anchoring unrestricted.
Fishing: Commercial and Recreational Fishing Restricted.
Conservation focus: Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage. Protects the whole ecosystem. Site-Specific Management Plan.
IUCN category: V (Protected landscape or seascape).
Protection level: Uniform Multiple Use.
Marine protection: National Historical Park and Preserve. Listed as "Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Barataria Preserve" in NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Inventory, managed by National Park Service, established 1978.
Public access: Restricted access.
Protected area: 16,609 acres (6,721 ha).
Designation: National Historical Park. Listed as "Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category V.
Established: 1978.
Managed by: NPS.
River or stream: Delery Canal. Mapped at or near this park in the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
At the park
- Exhibits
- Visitor center
Shows and experiences
- Boat tours
Events
- Chalmette Battlefield - Battle of New Orleans Talk
- Barataria Preserve - Read with a Ranger at Lafitte Library
Before you go
- Mobility
- Available in the park: mobility & stroller rentals. Confirm rental availability and pricing with the park.
- Limits
- Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go
- Park alert: Visitor services for the Town of Jean Lafitte unavailable November 11 & 12
- Rangers will not be present at Wetland Trace on November 11 and 12 as we prepare for Veteran's Day programming at Chalmette Battlefield. Wetland Trace trails will still be open and accessible. We will resume our regular operations on Wednesdays and Thursdays on November 18, with roving from 10 a - 2 p and a guided Wetlands Walk at 1 pm at Wetland Trace at 4917 City Park St, Jean Lafitte, LA 70067.
- ⚠ Caution: Barataria Visitor Center and Trails are Closed
- 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.
- ⚠ Caution: Acadian Cultural Center Temporarily Closed
- 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.
- Weather & when to go
- 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 75. Fall (September, October, November): average high 78 and low 64. Winter (December, January, February): average high 64 and low 48.
- Visitor center
- Acadian Cultural Center
- Visitor center
- Acadian Cultural Center
- Visitor center
- Acadian Cultural Center
- Visitor center
- Acadian Cultural Center
- Visitor center
- Acadian Cultural Center — The Acadian Cultural Center is temporarily closed due to air conditioning issues. — The Acadian Cultural Center is located south of Interstate 10 in Lafayette, near the airport and just east of the intersection of Surrey Street and Evangeline Throughway/Highway 90.
- Visitor center
- Barataria Preserve
- Visitor center
- Barataria Preserve
- Visitor center
- Barataria Preserve
- Visitor center
- Barataria Preserve
- Visitor center
- Barataria Preserve — The Visitor Center and most trails in the Preserve are closed for demolition and construction. The Twin Canals parking lot, trail, and canoe launch is open for day-use only visitor access, there are no restrooms. All visitor services are temporarily relocated to the Town of Jean Lafitte's Civic… — The Barataria Preserve is located 17 miles south of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River; Barataria Blvd./Highway 45 runs through the preserve. Note that not all GPS systems find the preserve successfully, so double check your GPS against a map. The Visitor Center is located just off of Highway 45.
- Visitor center
- Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery
- Visitor center
- Chalmette Battlefield and Chalmette National Cemetery
Facilities on the park map
6 benches, 3 changing tables, 6 defibrillators, 5 first aid kits, 2 mobility rentals, 4 picnic areas, 22 restrooms, 29 visitor information, 6 water fountains.
History
- Opened
- 1978
- Park opened