About this Location

Facility Overview

The Oakwood Center - Dillard\'s East parking area is a spacious, open-air surface parking lot situated on the eastern perimeter of Oakwood Center along Wright Avenue in Terrytown, Louisiana. Specifically serving the Dillard\'s department store wing and the eastern mall concourse, this sprawling lot provides seamless, ground-level vehicle access without the physical constraints of a multi-story parking deck. Because it is completely open-air with no overhead beams or ceiling bulkheads, there are no vertical clearance limits, making it exceptionally accommodating for high-roof commercial vans, lifted pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and rooftop cargo carriers. The driving lanes are wide and well-striped, allowing for smooth two-way circulation and effortless maneuvering into standard and oversized parking stalls.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned on the vibrant West Bank of the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area, this facility serves as a primary access point for premier retail, dining, and community entertainment:

Oakwood Center: Steps away from the Dillard\'s entrance, providing direct indoor access to more than 80 retail stores, national apparel brands, and casual dining destinations.
Historic Downtown Gretna: Located less than a 5-minute drive (approx. 1.5 miles) away, featuring the Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts, historic architecture, and local riverside eateries along the Mississippi River.
Mel Ott Park & Recreation Center: Just over 1 mile west, offering athletic fields, walking tracks, and local sporting events.
Downtown New Orleans & French Quarter: Situated approximately 4.5 miles across the Crescent City Connection (US-90 Business), placing the Caesars Superdome, Smoothie King Center, Morial Convention Center, and the French Quarter within a 10-to-15-minute drive.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward and engineered for high traffic volumes. Drivers can enter directly via dedicated turn bays along Wright Avenue or loop around the mall perimeter ring road connecting to the Westbank Expressway (US-90 Business) and Hector Avenue. Its proximity to the Westbank Expressway makes regional travel across Jefferson Parish and into Orleans Parish rapid and direct. For public transit users, the Oakwood Center complex functions as a key transfer point for Jefferson Transit (JeT) bus routes, including lines connecting across the West Bank and express routes running directly into downtown New Orleans.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Expansive Open-Air Parking: Generous surface bays with no height restrictions for tall passenger vehicles or work trucks.
Direct Storefront Access: Immediate proximity to the eastern entrance of Dillard\'s and adjacent Oakwood Center retail corridors.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Clearly designated handicap-accessible spaces located close to the department store entrance with ramp access.
Safety & Visibility: High-mast pole lighting throughout the lot and regular on-site security vehicle patrols operated by Oakwood Center security.
Complimentary Visitor Parking: Open, cost-free parking with no tickets, gates, or metered payment apps required for typical retail visits.

Ideal For

Shoppers & Department Store Patrons: Quick and convenient entry for those visiting Dillard\'s, specialty boutiques, or the central food court.
West Bank Commuters: Convenient park-and-ride connections or rendezvous point close to the Crescent City Connection.
Oversized Vehicle Drivers: Pickup and high-profile van drivers seeking stress-free parking without clearance anxieties.
Local Diners & Family Outings: Effortless access for weekend family trips and evening dining around the Terrytown and Gretna shopping districts.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During major holiday shopping seasons (such as Black Friday and late December), this eastern lot tends to fill steadily from mid-day onward; arriving earlier in the morning or parking closer to the outer perimeter alongside Wright Avenue will save time navigating interior aisles. Note that while overnight parking is generally restricted without center management authorization, daytime and evening customer parking is straightforward and free. When exiting toward downtown New Orleans during weekday evening rush hours, plan for minor congestion along the Westbank Expressway ramps leading up to the Crescent City Connection bridge.