Driving and Directions

Parking and Driving in New Orleans
 

On-street parking in the French Quarter is possible, but difficult to find. If you're not leaving the Quarter, leave your car at the hotel parking garage - walking is the best and cheapest way to get around. The Quarter is small and easy to navigate on foot.

Indoor parking garages at varying prices are available and the best bet. Outdoor paid parking lots are available between North Peters/Decatur Street and the river levee. Make sure you check the posted costs as some of them are unpredictably expensive, especially when some "event" is occurring and the prices double. In any case, OBEY THE POSTED PARKING SIGNS!

The meter maids are numerous, voracious, and entirely without mercy. However, since they are contracted employees and not actual police officers (despite their official looking uniforms), you are free to scream disparaging remarks about them or their mothers with impunity. Of course, they will still ticket your car, and have it towed to Arkansas (at your expense).

Notes on New Orleans Traffic Regulations:

Directions to the French Quarter & Ashton's Bed & Breakfast

Click on the Mardi Gras Gator

for a map to the French Quarter

and Ashton's Bed & Breakfast.

Directions to the French Quarter by Car:

These directions will take you to Jackson Square:

• Take Interstate-10 whichever way toward downtown and the French Quarter.

• From I-10 Westbound:

  • Exit I-10 at EXIT 235A, Vieux Carre/Orleans Avenue.

  • Turn left at the light at the bottom of the exit onto Orleans Avenue.

• From I-10 Eastbound:

  • Exit I-10 at EXIT 235A, Vieux Carre/Orleans Avenue..

  • The exit ramp will curve right onto Orleans Avenue.

• Orleans Avenue curves right onto Basin Street.

• Follow Basin St until you CROSS Canal Street. You CAN NOT TURN LEFT onto Canal.

• Pass Canal Street and U-Turn across median and back to Canal Street.

• Turn right onto Canal Street toward the Mississippi River

• Follow Canal Street until it ends at the River just past Harrah's Casino (on right).

• U-turn on Canal Street. WATCH FOR THE STREETCAR!

• Turn right at the first street onto South Peters Street.

• Follow South Peters Street and park in any lot you find on the right side of the street.

• Jackson Square is a little further down South Peters after it joins with Decatur St.

Directions to Ashton's Bed & Breakfast & the CCCCC Crawfish Boil By Car:

Note: Ashton's B&B is not in the French Quarter, but in an elegant adjacent neighborhood known as "Esplanade Ridge" north of the Quarter:

• Take Interstate-10 toward downtown and the French Quarter.

• From I-10 EAST Bound:

  • Exit I-10 at EXIT 236A, the Esplanade Avenue exit and quickly get in the left lane.

  • Turn LEFT at the first stop light onto Esplanade Ave.

• From I-10 WEST Bound:

  • Exit I-10 at EXIT 236C, the St Bernard Avenue exit.

  • At the bottom of the exit (at stop light), turn LEFT and then immediately RIGHT onto Claiborne Avenue under/adjacent to I-10.

  • Turn RIGHT onto Esplanade Ave away from the river/French Quarter.

• Ashton's B&B is about 4 blocks on the right at 2023 Esplanade ((504) 492-7048) between Johnson and Galvez Streets.