Why you should experience Canal Street Ferry Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Canal Street Ferry Terminal is a historic riverfront gateway where the Central Business District's maritime heritage, Mississippi River traditions, waterfront renewal, and civic connectivity create one of New Orleans' most enduring transportation experiences.
Set at the foot of Canal Street beside the Mississippi River near Spanish Plaza and just steps from Riverwalk Outlets, this contemporary ferry terminal welcomes passengers aboard one of America's oldest continuously operating ferry routes while offering sweeping riverfront views, easy access to Algiers Point, and a front-row seat to the constant movement of oceangoing vessels and paddlewheel riverboats. Expansive waterfront promenades, modern passenger facilities, and the energy of the working river create an atmosphere where transportation becomes part of the city's cultural experience. Every crossing reflects nearly two centuries of New Orleans' connection to the Mississippi. The result is a destination defined by waterfront heritage, civic renewal, and one of Louisiana's most iconic ferry terminals.
What you should know about Canal Street Ferry Terminal.
Canal Street Ferry Terminal is best known for serving as the downtown gateway to the Algiers Point-Canal Street Ferry, a passenger service that has operated continuously since 1827, making it among the oldest continuously operating public ferry routes in the United States. The present terminal opened in August 2023 following a US$43.5 million redevelopment that replaced aging infrastructure with a fully ADA-accessible terminal featuring a 4,300-square-foot passenger building, a 13,200-square-foot wharf, a modern pedestrian bridge, elevators, improved transit connections, and direct links between the Mississippi River waterfront, Spanish Plaza, the Audubon Aquarium, and Downtown New Orleans. Operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, the terminal serves the passenger-only ferry connecting Canal Street with the National Historic Landmark District of Algiers Point, preserving a transportation corridor that long predates the Crescent City Connection bridges and has remained an essential part of New Orleans' public transit network for nearly two centuries. The redevelopment also modernized the terminal to accommodate the RTA's newest aluminum catamaran ferries while improving passenger safety, accessibility, and waterfront connectivity.
Beyond its transportation role, the Canal Street Ferry Terminal functions as one of the city's premier riverfront gathering places, offering uninterrupted views of one of the world's busiest commercial waterways while seamlessly connecting visitors with Downtown, the French Quarter, Algiers Point, and the Mississippi River levee. The terminal's location at the eastern end of Canal Street reinforces its historic role as the city's principal river gateway, where generations of residents and visitors have crossed the Mississippi long before modern bridges transformed regional travel. Today, the ferry remains both a practical commuter service and one of New Orleans' most memorable sightseeing experiences, allowing passengers to experience the scale of the river from the water itself. Every departure demonstrates how transportation infrastructure, waterfront planning, historic continuity, and civic investment combine to create one of New Orleans' defining public spaces.
How to fold Canal Street Ferry Terminal into your trip.
Canal Street Ferry Terminal is best experienced as the riverfront centerpiece of an exploration through Downtown New Orleans.
Begin at Spanish Plaza, where sweeping Mississippi River views introduce the extraordinary character of the waterfront before boarding the Canal Street Ferry. Continue to Algiers Point, whose historic nineteenth-century streets provide a quieter perspective on New Orleans across the river. Conclude at Riverwalk Outlets, where shopping, dining, and waterfront promenades provide a memorable finale celebrating the remarkable relationship between commerce, transportation, and the Mississippi River that defines New Orleans. The progression moves naturally from scenic riverfront plaza to historic ferry crossing before concluding through two defining downtown destinations, revealing why the Canal Street Ferry Terminal remains one of New Orleans' essential waterfront experiences.
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