Mardi Gras World is a working float-building studio and visitor attraction at the Port of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. This guide covers current opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for a first-time visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Open daily, 9am–5:30pm (first tour admission 9:30am, last admission 4:30pm) |
| Adult ticket price | Adult tickets cost $29.95 |
| Address | 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130 |
| Nearest transport | Free shuttle from downtown pickup points, or the Canal Street streetcar plus shuttle |
| Typical visit length | About one hour |
Mardi Gras World opening hours
Mardi Gras World is open seven days a week, from 9am to 5:30pm. The first tour admission is at 9:30am, and the last is at 4:30pm.
The attraction is closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Mardi Gras Day itself.
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Mardi Gras World ticket prices
Adult admission to Mardi Gras World costs $29.95, with a discounted rate for seniors, students and military.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026. Every tour includes a slice of king cake.
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How to get to Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World offers a free shuttle from ten pickup points around downtown New Orleans; call 504-361-7821 once at a pickup point to be collected. Shuttle pickups run from 9:15am to 3:45pm, with the last departure from Mardi Gras World at 5:15pm.
No streetcar line runs directly to the attraction, but visitors can take the streetcar to the Canal Street stop and call the free shuttle from there.
Parking at Mardi Gras World
The closest car park is Lot G (355 Henderson Street), which charges a $23 fee according to the official website. Lot G is owned and operated by the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and may close without notice for events, so the free shuttle is often a more reliable option.
How long to spend at Mardi Gras World
Tours run every 30 minutes and last about an hour, including a 15-minute introductory video. Visitors who linger in the gift shop or take extra photos with the floats often stay a little longer.
Accessibility at Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World’s own website does not publish a dedicated accessibility statement. Visitor reports describe the tour as wheelchair accessible, since most of it takes place on one level inside a large warehouse — call 504-361-7821 in advance to confirm current arrangements.
Inside Mardi Gras World
The float den is the centrepiece of the visit: a vast warehouse holding past and present Mardi Gras parade floats and towering sculptures, which visitors can walk right up to and photograph.
Because Mardi Gras World is a working studio, sculptors, painters, welders and carpenters can often be seen actively building floats and props for upcoming parades, with some restricted areas where work is in progress.
The tour includes background on Kern Studios, whose history dates to 1932, when Roy Kern and his son Blaine built their first Mardi Gras float on the back of a mule-drawn wagon. Blaine Kern went on to become known as “Mr. Mardi Gras” and opened the studio to public tours in 1984.
Visitors are invited to try on Mardi Gras costumes for photos, and every tour includes a slice of king cake, a New Orleans Carnival tradition.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Tours run every 30 minutes from 9:30am to 4:30pm, so there is rarely a long wait for the next group. |
| Crowds | Some areas of the float den are restricted when artists are actively working, which can vary tour to tour. |
| Layout | Most of the tour takes place in a large, un-air-conditioned warehouse, so dress for the weather, especially in summer. |
| Entry process | Parking at Lot G costs $23 and may close for events without notice, so many visitors use the free shuttle instead. |
| On-site logistics | The free shuttle does not serve group tours, and after 4pm it only drops passengers off, so check timing if returning late in the day. |
Frequently asked questions about Mardi Gras World
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Mardi Gras World suitable for children? | Yes. The self-guided and guided tours, costume try-ons and king cake tasting are generally considered family-friendly. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Mardi Gras World? | No, tickets can be bought on arrival, though booking online in advance is also possible. |
| Is Mardi Gras World open every day? | Yes, seven days a week, except Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Mardi Gras Day. |
| Is parking available at Mardi Gras World? | Yes, at Lot G nearby for a fee, though the free shuttle is often used instead. |
| Does Mardi Gras World offer a free shuttle? | Yes. A free shuttle runs from ten downtown pickup points; call 504-361-7821 once there. |
Things to do near Mardi Gras World
The National WWII Museum and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art are both a short drive or rideshare away in the Warehouse Arts District. The Contemporary Arts Center, also in the Warehouse District, hosts changing visual and performing arts programming.
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, a shopping centre on the Mississippi River, sits close to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Crescent Park, a riverfront walking and cycling trail, offers views back across the river toward Algiers Point.
What to visit tomorrow
The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, in Lake Charles, is around two and a half hours’ drive and holds one of the largest collections of Mardi Gras costumes in the country, alongside exhibits on float-building.
The TABASCO Factory Tour and Museum, on Avery Island, is about two hours’ drive west and covers the production and history of Tabasco pepper sauce.
The Conrad Rice Mill, home of the Konriko Company Store in New Iberia, is close to Avery Island and offers guided tours of the oldest continuously operating rice mill in the United States.
Cane Land Distilling Company, in downtown Baton Rouge, is about an hour’s drive and runs tours of its sugarcane-to-rum distilling process.
Abita Brewing Company, in Covington, is around 45 minutes’ drive and offers guided tours of one of the oldest craft breweries in the southeastern United States.
More New Orleans travel
Other New Orleans travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Discover tales of slavery in the antebellum South at the Hermann-Grima House.
- Embrace local food and drink culture at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.
- Planning your trip to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
- Learn about Louisiana’s history at The Cabildo.
- Plan your visit to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans.
