Plantation Tours in the USA: The 15 That Tell It Straight

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

Travel by air-conditioned coach from the French Quarter to Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation, then cruise Manchac Swamp on a covered pontoon boat. Local guides such as Dionne, Jane, Tom, and Captain Justin have led especially engaging tours, with alligators, raccoons, wild hogs, turtles, snakes, and birds possible along the way.

“The swamp trip was amazing. We saw so many alligators! I was surprised this late in the year. The scenery was also amazing.m! I will say though that I’m not a fan of feeding the wildlife. The tour to the plantation was good but if I could do it again, I wouldn’t go on a school day. Pirate Nation had a ton of kids there broken into groups of about 10 each and spread out across all the exhibits. The kids were just being kids but there was no escape and it did take away from the solemnity of the slave quarters and the quiet that you felt should be…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Oak Alley Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

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

Ride from the French Quarter to Oak Alley Plantation in an air-conditioned coach, with route commentary from drivers such as Alton, Robert, Melinda, or Dwayne. Tour the 1839 Greek Revival home, walk beneath 28 ancient oaks, and explore the grounds. An optional 90-minute pontoon swamp tour adds alligators and bayou scenery.

“Not enough time at plantation to walk around. Food options were too limited for the time of day that included the tour”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket

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

Spend two to four hours at Boone Hall Plantation, walking the Avenue of Oaks, touring the first floor of the 1930s home, visiting nine cabins with the Black History in America exhibit, and joining a Gullah culture presentation. A tractor ride, gardens, stable tour, Gin House Museum, and history talks are included. Presentations are in English.

“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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 by air-conditioned bus, with admission and about two hours to explore. Use the official app or audio guide to see slave cabins, the Spanish Creole Big House, memorials, and first-person accounts. Drivers such as Robert and Nicholas often add useful Louisiana history along the way. A 90-minute swamp tour is available as an upgrade.

“Firstly, Robert was a great driver and provided a huge amount of information in an entertaining way. Whitney Plantation is very grim, of course, but tells a very important history lesson that has long been ignored. The self guided tour allows you to absorb the information at your own pace. The museum store has a fabulous collection of relevant history books, both past and present.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Bayou Swamp Tour and Oak Alley Plantation Tour

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

Spend a full day beyond New Orleans with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Ride a covered boat through Manchac Swamp to spot alligators, raccoons, wild pigs, turtles, and birds, then tour Oak Alley Plantation, known for its 28 live oaks and difficult past. Hotel pickup, transport, and entry are included.

“That was very good two tours and I love them both. Even if the weather was not perfect in the plantation, we did everything and I really enjoyed it, Bayou Swamp tour is must to do in Louisiana”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

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

Travel from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation for a guided house tour, then ride an open airboat through Barataria Basin with a local captain. Expect Greek Revival architecture, 28 oak trees, slavery-era history, alligators, birds, and hotel pickup. Guides may include captains Ernie, Bobby, or Bee-Bop.

“Our Louisiana Tour Company's Swamp Airboat Tour was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans! Shout out to Donna who was our great motor coach driver! The Swamp Airboat Tour itself was amazing! Perfect length of time and our guide's knowledge of all things about the swamp (including alligators) was incredible! Seeing 9 alligators was a real plus too! I highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston

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

Travel from downtown Charleston to Magnolia Plantation for a 45-minute nature tram ride, a guided walk through its Romantic Garden, a 30-minute house tour, and a presentation on enslaved life. Guides such as Shawn, Alan, Millie, Lexi, and John have helped make the visit clear and engaging, though the day includes steady walking and a fairly tight schedule.

“Great experience with knowledgeable tour guide. Beautiful location with tram tour, house tour, garden tour. We had plans in Charleston in the afternoon so had to leave early. We thoroughly enjoyed the elements we were able to finish.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

This 9 to 10-hour small-group tour links Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, North Shore surf beaches, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Kualoa Regional Park. Round-trip Waikiki pickup, attraction admission, and a local guide are included. Guides such as Summer and Papa P are known for island stories, music, and practical help at each stop.

“We had the most wonderful time. Not only the design of the itinerary but the best ever tour guide named SUMMER! She was so knowledgeable describing history. Hardly any questions left . Snacks and food stops great! Really SUMMER made it all wonderful!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 in a covered boat. Your captain points out local history, birds, fish, turtles, otters, dolphins, and manatees when they appear. Guides such as Morgan, Glen, Phillip, and Laura have helped make these relaxed trips lively and informative, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

“Fun! Bring a jacket if cool-polarized sunglasses can help you see manatees better. Amazing hosts-bent over backwards to make everyone comfortable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 Gray Line driver, then follow a self-guided audio route through memorials, restored buildings, and first-person accounts of enslaved people. You get about two hours on site. Add a 90-minute covered pontoon trip through Manchac Swamp for alligators and Cajun culture.

“The tour was excellent. Recommend to anyone who wants to learn the ugly truth of our history. I just wish I had booked this plus Oak Alley.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Roundtrip Shuttle From Waikiki to Dole Plantation & Haleiwa

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

Travel by air-conditioned shuttle from Waikiki to Dole Plantation and Haleiwa. You get two hours at Dole, a coffee stop, macadamia nut samples, and 2.5 hours in Haleiwa. Drivers such as Marv, Marvie, Uncle D, and Raul add local history and food tips, though optional Dole attractions cost extra.

“While there was a little confusion on our pick up from the cruise ship, once we were on our bus, the tour was wonderful. There were only 14 people and our driver picked everyone up wherever they were. While we were driving, he gave an excellent overview of living on Oahu and knew so much about life here. He was a third generation Hawaiian. Our favorite visit was the Dole Plantation. If you love beautiful plants, this is a must see stop. The garden there is breathtaking.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Ride from Charleston’s Visitor Center to Boone Hall for a guided house tour, slave cabin presentation, Gullah culture performance, gardens, and possible tram ride. You’ll have about three hours on site, with time for the rose garden, grounds, food, and historic displays. The tour is in English and returns to Charleston.

“Found out that this plantation house and Magnolia plantation house were not Civil War era. I was disappointed. Loved the driveway of live oaks.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.From New Orleans: 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 house with a costumed guide and explore the grounds at your own pace. You’ll see the famous oak avenue, antique farm machinery, slave quarters, and Mississippi River setting. Allow about five and a half hours, including the 70 to 75 minute drive each way.

“excelent tour... just standing under de the oak trees, it was worth all the trip and money”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 Drayton home, romantic gardens, and Audubon Swamp Gardens by narrated tram. Guides such as Scott, Vickie, and Millie add local context. The four-hour visit includes transport and two guided tours, but free garden time 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”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Laura Creole Plantation Guided Tour

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

Walk through Laura Plantation’s 1805 raised house, three gardens, and original 1840s slave cabins on a 75-minute English or French tour. Guides such as Renee, Lindie, Pam, and James have been praised for clear storytelling. A self-guided slavery exhibit follows, with free parking and no hotel transport.

“The tour was good, got a lot of information. It's sad that slavery and everything really happened until 1977.”

Check availability →Read our full review