Houmas House and Gardens is a historic estate in Darrow, Louisiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Its mansion, 38 acres of gardens and Great River Road Museum make it a regional outing with several ways to spend your time; from American Inn Baton Rouge, it’s a day trip.
- Location: 40136 Highway 942, Darrow, Louisiana 70725
- Drive from Baton Rouge: The estate says it is less than a half-hour from the city.
- Tour pattern: Guided mansion tours are offered daily, with the first beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the last at 7:00 p.m.
- Ticket basics: Mansion tour admission includes a self-guided garden tour; separate garden and museum options are also available.
Why visit Houmas House and Gardens
Houmas House brings together a historic mansion, landscaped grounds and visitor amenities on one estate. The gardens cover 38 acres, with walking paths, sitting areas, courtyards with water features, lotus and lily pads, and an ancient oak alley.
The garden design changes with the seasons, with major color renewals each April and November. You can stroll the grounds before or after a mansion tour, pausing at sitting areas and water features along the way. Restaurants and the Great River Road Museum add other options on site.
The mansion tour focuses on the building’s architectural evolution, past owners and plantation life, using artifacts, furniture and artwork to tell its story. Lunch at Dixie Cafe is available for an additional fee. For context on the city before or after the drive, see how to spend one day in Baton Rouge.
How do you get from Baton Rouge to Houmas House?
From Baton Rouge, follow I-10 East to Gonzales, then take Exit 179 for Highway 44. Cross LA Highway 22 and turn right at the levee onto River Road. The estate is four miles from I-10.
Continue along River Road until you reach the entrance to the parking area, beyond the white fence on the far side of the property. The visitor parking area is just past the fence along the front.
Houmas House says rideshare and taxi services are not reliable for trips to and from the estate, Baton Rouge or New Orleans, and recommends renting a car.
Tours, gardens and visitor options
The guided mansion tour lasts one hour, and its ticket includes a self-guided tour of the gardens. If you’d rather focus on the grounds, a self-guided garden ticket is another option. A Great River Road Museum and Gardens ticket includes access to the Houmas House gardens.
Houmas House recommends allowing at least four hours to visit both the estate and the Great River Road Museum. Latil’s Landing Restaurant, The Carriage House Restaurant and Dixie Café are on site, so you can include a meal in your visit.
The mansion tour is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator to the second floor. Smooth garden paths are intended to accommodate wheelchairs and motorized scooters. Scooters are discouraged inside the mansion, and the elevator is too small for large scooters.
Designated parking for guests with limited mobility is near the gift shop. If you need a golf cart ride from the entrance to the mansion or restaurants, notify a gift shop employee on arrival. Certified service animals are welcome, and the estate describes itself as dog-friendly.
Hours, tickets and reservations
The estate is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until the start of the last tour at 7 p.m. It is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The first guided mansion tour begins at 9:30 a.m.; tours are offered daily.
Mansion tour prices are $35 for adults ages 18 and older, $25 for teenagers ages 13–17, $15 for children ages 6–12, and free for children age 5 and under. The self-guided garden tour starts at $20 for guests ages 6 and older. The Great River Road Museum and Gardens ticket starts at $25.
Hours and prices can change, so check the official site before you go.
Planning the return trip
Allow enough time for your chosen tour and the drive back to Baton Rouge. If you’re combining the mansion, gardens and museum, the estate’s suggested minimum visit is four hours, before adding time for a meal. Keeping the museum and grounds together in your plan can help you make the most of the drive.
For a day built around the estate, decide on your tour option before setting off and leave room for the gardens. For a shorter outing, the mansion tour and included garden access give you a clear way to experience both the house and grounds.
FAQs
How long should you allow for Houmas House?
Allow at least four hours to visit both the estate and the Great River Road Museum. The guided mansion tour itself lasts one hour.
Does the mansion tour include the gardens?
Yes. A mansion tour ticket includes a self-guided garden tour.
Can you reach the second floor of the mansion by elevator?
Yes. The guided mansion tour is wheelchair accessible and an elevator serves the second floor. The elevator is too small for large scooters.
Are taxis or rideshares a reliable way to get there?
Houmas House says Uber and taxi services are not reliable to and from the estate, Baton Rouge or New Orleans, and recommends renting a car.