Donaldsonville is about 80 kilometres southwest of New Orleans — roughly an hour by car. The fastest route is US-90 west from the city; the more rewarding option is to take the River Road (LA-18 on the west bank or LA-44/LA-942 on the east bank), which passes the plantation houses along the way and makes the drive part of the experience. Baton Rouge is about 35 kilometres north via US-61.
There is no Amtrak service to Donaldsonville and no regular intercity bus service. A car is not optional for this region — the plantations, bayou towns, and most points of interest are spread across a large rural area with no public transport. The nearest major airport is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), well-connected to most US cities.