15 Plantation Tours in the USA to Build a Day Around

1.Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,303 reviews · 7 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $131Our pick

Ride from the French Quarter to Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation, then board a covered pontoon boat at Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Expect local guides, live commentary, historic sites, mossy cypress trees, and chances to see alligators, raccoons, wild hogs, snakes, turtles, and birds. The trip lasts about 7 hours 45 minutes.

“This was a fantastic trip from beginning to end, lots of information given by the awesome guide Dionne, she truly knows her history! The driver was just as friendly and the swamp tour was brilliant (although we didn't see many gators due to it being winter) However, we saw lots of cute Raccoons! Great Experience! 🥰🥰”

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2.Oak Alley Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,747 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Leave the French Quarter by air-conditioned coach for Oak Alley Plantation, about 1.5 hours away. Walk beneath 28 ancient oaks, tour the 1839 Greek Revival mansion, and hear stories of plantation life from local guides. The standard visit lasts about 5.5 hours, with an optional 90-minute pontoon swamp tour.

“Very informative. Would recommend this tour for the insight into the house and minimal info on the enslaved workers. Although you do get some facts on the self guide side of the visit.”

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3.Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,736 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $36

Explore Boone Hall’s Avenue of Oaks, nine former slave cabins, the Black History in America exhibit, gardens, stable, Gin House Museum, and working farm. Your ticket includes a first-floor house tour, tractor ride when weather allows, history presentation, and live Gullah culture talk. Plan two to four hours.

“Highly recommend this great experience. There is so much to do and so much to learn. The plantation is a massive, well-maintained, historical property. You definitely need 4 hours if you want to cover everything they have to offer. You can also buy the tickets directly from Boone Hall's website with a small fee or directly from the gate, which will save you the online fees.”

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4.Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,351 reviews · 5 hours 25 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Travel from the French Quarter to Whitney Plantation along Louisiana’s River Road. You’ll explore restored cabins, the Spanish Creole Big House, memorials, and first-person accounts at your own pace with the official audio guide. Drivers such as Robert and Nicholas may add useful New Orleans history along the way. An optional 90-minute swamp tour is also available.

“Very informative and our tour guide Neja was totally amazing! Everything was as expected and on time.”

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5.Bayou Swamp Tour and Oak Alley Plantation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,147 reviews · 7h 30m · from $125

Leave New Orleans for a 1.5-hour narrated boat ride through Manchac Swamp, where you may see alligators, raccoons, wild pigs, turtles, and birds. Then visit Oak Alley Plantation, with its 28 live oaks and guided house tour. Drivers such as Big Joe add local history along the way.

“The boat ride and guide were entertaining and informative.”

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6.Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 906 reviews · 8h 30m · from $160

Leave New Orleans by air-conditioned bus for Oak Alley Plantation, where a period-dressed guide explains the house, sugar farming, and slavery. Then ride an open airboat through Barataria Basin with captains such as Ernie or Bee Bop, looking for alligators, birds, and other wildlife. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Loved the whole day. Plantation visit was amazing. Visit to big house was really interesting, trip to the swamp on the airboat was highlight of my whole trip to USA. Guide very informative.”

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7.Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 836 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

From downtown Charleston, ride an air-conditioned bus to Magnolia Plantation for a 45-minute wildlife tram ride, a 30-minute house tour, and a guided walk through its Romantic Garden. Guides such as Shawn, Alan, Millie, Lexi, and John have led recent departures. Expect beautiful grounds, slave cabins, rice fields, and moderate walking.

“Very nice. Pretty flowers and very interesting history. Guides did wonderful job describing things. Good experience.”

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8.Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, and Polynesian Center from Waikiki

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 787 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $199

From Waikiki, you’ll visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, stop at Dole Plantation, see North Shore surf beaches, and spend about three hours at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Small groups of up to 15 ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with a local guide. Guides such as Summer and Papa P are known for lively history, music, and practical help.

“Your guide was extremely knowledgeable. Good music throughout the trip. They took the time to educate on native language. Overall, a good excursion.”

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9.Plantation’s Kings Bay Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 684 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $25Best value

Spend about an hour cruising Kings Bay from Plantation Adventure Center with a local captain and guide. Look for manatees, dolphins, otters, turtles, birds, and fish while hearing about Crystal River. The covered boat handles Florida sun and rain, and the cruise returns to the starting point.

“Wonderful, day had by all. The guides were wonderful, gave a lot of information. We all had a great time, would go again.”

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10.Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 619 reviews · 5 hours - 465 minutes · from $89

Travel from New Orleans to Whitney Plantation with an English-speaking driver such as Alton, Bryant, or Melinda, then follow a self-paced audio tour through restored buildings, memorials, and first-person accounts of enslaved people. You get about two hours on site, with an optional 90-minute Manchac Swamp boat trip.

“We had 2 hours to explore the plantation, self guided with a handheld device. 14 stops in total that covered the grounds. A very moving tribute to the enslaved. The gift shop was a lovely addition, fairly priced. I purchased a book on the Jim Crow era which was a staff pick. The driver Melinda was friendly and knowledgeable and the bus was super comfortable, clean and restrooms (toilets) available onboard”

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11.Roundtrip Shuttle From Waikiki to Dole Plantation & Haleiwa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 561 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $30

Ride from Waikiki to Dole Plantation and Haleiwa with an air-conditioned shuttle, optional Green World Coffee Farm stop, macadamia samples, and free time for food and shops. Guides such as Marv, Marvie, and Uncle D add island history and local food tips. Dole attractions, lunch, and purchases cost extra.

“This is a great excursion, well worth the price. It would be nice to have known the name of the bus that was picking us up, to avoid confusion with the other tours at the puck up location.”

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12.Boone Hall Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 455 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Ride an air-conditioned bus from Charleston to Boone Hall for a guided house tour, self-guided grounds, historic slave cabins, a Gullah culture presentation, gardens, and a possible tram ride. The half-day visit costs $82 and returns to the Charleston Visitor Center.

“The ride to the plantation was great as our tour guide gave a lot of history before we got there. The plantation itself was amazing. I would highly recommend taking the farm tour and listening to the Gullah presentation. The slave cottages were sobering.”

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13.Oak Alley Plantation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 443 reviews · 5h 30m · from $75

Travel from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation by coach, then tour the Greek Revival mansion with an English-speaking guide. You’ll have time to walk beneath 28 historic live oaks, visit the grounds and slavery exhibits, see antique farm machinery, shop, and eat before returning to your hotel. Allow about five and a half hours.

“website was easy to navigate. clear instructions about pickup. guide/busdriver was great, clear instructions, lots of information and perfect organization! thank you so much for this experience!”

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14.Magnolia Plantation Entry & Tour with Transport

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 438 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

Ride from downtown Charleston to Magnolia Plantation with Gray Line, then tour the historic house, gardens, and Audubon Swamp by narrated tram. Guides such as Scott, Vicki, John, and Millie add local context. The four-hour visit also covers the Old African American Cabin and plantation history, but time for independent exploring is limited.

“Helpful talk very informative,lovely lady Millie,sweet ladies in the gift shop very nice things in the shop. The nature tour was great and we loved the animals. The cafe needs some work ran out of sandwichs only had hot dogs not good after a long day, otherwise it was great”

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15.Laura Creole Plantation Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 396 reviews · 1h 15m · from $32

At Laura Plantation, a 75-minute guide-led walk takes you through the 1805 Maison Principale, three gardens, original 1840s slave cabins, and historic farm buildings. Guides such as Renee, Lindie, Pam, and James have led thoughtful tours in English or French. Plan for outdoor walking, 15 steps, and a drive from New Orleans.

“meeting point is far from new orlleans and need extra trfic”

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