Overview
Jefferson is an unincorporated area in Louisiana's Jefferson Parish along the East Bank the Mississippi River, just upriver from New Orleans. Jefferson has few attractions, but is close to New Orleans, Louisiana's largest city and main visitor attraction.
1 sights · 5 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Jefferson
Camp Parapet
The remains of a US Civil War fortification. Usually fenced off behind locked gates. Once a year, it is open to visitors for free on "Camp Parapet Day" in November.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 46°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby New Orleans)
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.
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BTR Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Baton Rouge — 71 mi away. Directions
From Armstrong New Orleans Airport or Interstate-10, take the Causeway Boulevard exit; Jefferson is near the river end.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
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
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Jefferson is often called "Old Jefferson" by locals, to distinguish it from the rest of Jefferson Parish.
Jefferson is separated from Metairie, Jefferson Parish's largest city, by a set of railroad tracks, a drainage canal, and the Earhart Expressway highway. Only a few routes cross this boundary.
Although settled since the early 19th century, post-World War II US suburban style architecture predominates.
Jefferson is home of the main campus of Ochsner Medical Center, one of the region's most esteemed hospital complexes.
Get in
By car
From Armstrong New Orleans Airport or Interstate-10, take the Causeway Boulevard exit; Jefferson is near the river end.
From Metairie, take Causeway Boulevard of Clearview Parkway and head south.
From New Orleans, Jefferson may be accessed by the Earhart Expressway, Deckbar exit -or- Claiborne Avenue headed west; Claiborne becomes Jefferson Highway at the border. From the Carrollton section of New Orleans, the upriver (west) end of Oak Street turns into River Road in Jefferson.
See
See Camp Parapet
The remains of a US Civil War fortification. Usually fenced off behind locked gates. Once a year, it is open to visitors for free on "Camp Parapet Day" in November.
Buy
Eat
Eat Crabby Jack's
Po boys, fried chicken, and creole dishes.
Eat Dot's Diner
Location of small local diner chain.
Eat Grounded Cafe
Coffee, breakfast, lunch.
Eat Parenton's Po-boys
Lunch only.
Drink
Sleep
Nearby
Metairie
City / town · 18 listings · 3 mi away
Avondale
City / town · 3 listings · 5 mi away
New Orleans
City / town · 33 listings · 5 mi away
Kenner
City / town · 5 listings · 6 mi away
Saint Rose
City / town · 1 listings · 9 mi away
Chalmette
City / town · 1 listings · 12 mi away
Luling
City / town · 4 listings · 13 mi away
Jean Lafitte
City / town · 7 listings · 16 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.