The 30 free things everyone in Louisiana should do at least once, according to Tripadvisor

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Highest-rated free things to do in Louisiana, according to Tripadvisor

It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living , according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations . But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Louisiana.

Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Louisiana using data from Tripadvisor . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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Tripadvisor

#30. Faubourg Marigny

- Rating: 4.5/5 (435 reviews)
- Address: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#29. Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store

- Rating: 4.5/5 (545 reviews)
- Address: 758 Front St. Natchitoches, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#28. Coushatta Casino Resort

- Rating: 4/5 (850 reviews)
- Address: 777 Coushatta Drive Kinder, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#27. Immaculate Conception Church

- Rating: 5/5 (524 reviews)
- Address: 130 Baronne St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#26. Louisiana Boardwalk

- Rating: 4.5/5 (881 reviews)
- Address: 540 Boardwalk Blvd. Bossier City, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#25. New Orleans Musical Legends Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,118 reviews)
- Address: 311 Bourbon St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#24. R. W. Norton Art Gallery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (379 reviews)
- Address: 4747 Creswell Ave. Shreveport, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#23. Harrah's Casino New Orleans

- Rating: 4/5 (4,744 reviews)
- Address: 228 Poydras St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#22. Cathedral of St John the Evangelist

- Rating: 4.5/5 (413 reviews)
- Address: 515 Cathedral St. Lafayette, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#21. Louisiana's Old State Capitol

- Rating: 4.5/5 (729 reviews)
- Address: 100 North Blvd. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#20. Louisiana State Capitol

- Rating: 4.5/5 (767 reviews)
- Address: State Capitol Drive Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#19. Magazine Street

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,164 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#18. Bourbon Street

- Rating: 3.5/5 (7,513 reviews)
- Address: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#17. Lake Lawn Metairie

- Rating: 4.5/5 (898 reviews)
- Address: 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#16. Margaritaville Resort Casino

- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,808 reviews)
- Address: 777 Margaritaville Way Bossier City, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#15. French Market

- Rating: 4/5 (2,337 reviews)
- Address: 518 Saint Peter St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#14. Lafayette Cemetery No.1

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,854 reviews)
- Address: 1416-1498 Washington Ave. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#13. The Historic New Orleans Collection

- Rating: 4.5/5 (699 reviews)
- Address: 520 Royal St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#12. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

- Rating: 4.5/5 (999 reviews)
- Address: 419 Decatur St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#11. Audubon Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,698 reviews)
- Address: 6500 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#10. The Sazerac House

- Rating: 5/5 (405 reviews)
- Address: 101 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#9. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA

- Rating: 5/5 (1,401 reviews)
- Address: 1 Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#8. Basin St. Station

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,324 reviews)
- Address: 501 Basin St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#7. Royal Street

- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,777 reviews)
- Address: Royal St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#6. New Orleans City Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,357 reviews)
- Address: 1 Palm Drive New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#5. St. Louis Cathedral

- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,420 reviews)
- Address: 615 Pere Antoine Aly New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#4. Garden District

- Rating: 4.5/5 (8,957 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#3. Frenchmen Street

- Rating: 4.5/5 (12,069 reviews)
- Address: Frenchmen St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#2. Jackson Square

- Rating: 4.5/5 (16,399 reviews)
- Address: 701 Decatur St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#1. French Quarter

- Rating: 4.5/5 (22,847 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

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