Overview
Avery Island is in Louisiana.
A few miles southwest of New Iberia is Avery Island, home of the McIlhenny Tabasco factory and a wildlife sanctuary. The island is actually an eight-mile deep salt dome. It was ransacked like General Sherman himself couldn't have done a better job during the Civil War, but thankfully the premises were set aright afterwards and now visitors can drive and walk through 250 acres of subtropical jungle flora with an amazing array of wildlife.
2 sights
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Avery Island
Jungle Gardens
Exotic and prized plant species on display, and also there is a bird colony called Bird City where the original owner (one of them) sought to preserve egrets whose feathers were ravenously being harvested for ladies' att…
TABASCO® Factory Tours
A self-guided tour of the factory along with a museum, store, and restaurant; after all, this is probably what brought you here.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Jan. (climate data from nearby Baton Rouge)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LFT Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette — 21 mi away. Directions
- BTR Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Baton Rouge — 63 mi away. Directions
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 99 mi away (major hub). Directions
Despite the name, Avery Island is on the mainland, drive in via State Route 329 from New Iberia.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Jungle Gardens
- Afternoon TABASCO® Factory Tours
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Any Cajun dish is better with a splash of Tabasco sauce on it!
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Get in
Despite the name, Avery Island is on the mainland, drive in via State Route 329 from New Iberia.
See
Do
Eat
Any Cajun dish is better with a splash of Tabasco sauce on it!
Go next
- Acadiana
- New Iberia — The nearest major town, known for Cajun culture and historic architecture.
- Lafayette — A major centre of Cajun and Creole culture, music and food.
- Atchafalaya Basin — A vast wetland area known for wildlife, swamps and outdoor activities.
- Vermilion Parish — Explore Louisiana's coastal wetlands, fishing communities and Cajun culture.
Nearby
New Iberia
City / town · 8 listings · 9 mi away
Abbeville
City / town · 6 listings · 14 mi away
St. Martinville
City / town · 8 listings · 16 mi away
Lafayette
City / town · 40 listings · 23 mi away
Franklin
City / town · 7 listings · 25 mi away
Henderson
City / town · 5 listings · 29 mi away
Rayne
City / town · 1 listings · 31 mi away
Atchafalaya Basin
Park · 5 listings · 36 mi away
My experience
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