Travel To & Around New Orleans

Regardless of how you're getting to New Orleans, it makes sense to know a little about the City before you arrive. There are a number of maps on the "Maps" page for you to print out to plan your trip or use while you're here.

 

The following is information about how the get to New Orleans and how to get around once you're here.

 

Arriving by Air
 

  

Click above for a map of metro New Orleans including the airport.

  
   

 

Click above for the airport's web site for information on flights, taxis, and shuttles.

  

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is actually located in Kenner, an adjacent town about 5 miles west (upriver) from New Orleans. It is served by a number of airlines including Delta, United, Southwest, Airtran, ExpressJet, Northwest, US Airways, American, Jet Blue, and Continental.

If you arrive by air, a cab is the best way to get to your lodgings. The alternatives are slower, more expensive, or just a bad idea.

 

Taxicabs & Limos: Fares for airport shuttles and taxis to various parts of the city are posted outside near the taxi stands, and fares are comparable to other cities - a cab trip from the airport to the French Quarter or Central Business District (CBD) is $33 for one or two persons and $14.00 (per passenger) for three or more passengers. There may also be an additional charge for extra baggage and/or a $2 (per passenger) fuel surcharge. We strongly recommend United Cab (see below).

 

 

Hotel Shuttles - Major hotels have free shuttles to/from the airport. Contact your hotel to see if one is available.

 

Bus from the Airport - For the absolute cheapest way to get Downtown to or from the Airport, Jefferson transit operates a Bus from the Airport – the E2 Airport-Downtown Express ($2 payable at the fare machines at the airport). It will take you to Loyola & Tulane Ave in New Orleans at the edge of the French Quarter on the weekdays only. From there you can connect with the RTA's Bus #84-Galvez that will take to you the corner of Galvez and Esplanade one-half block from Ashton's B&B.

 

Rental Cars - A rental car is nice, but not necessary and probably a time and money waster. Most hotels charge extra for parking (as much as $20 per night), even if you are staying there. On-street parking is rarely available and requires that you "feed the meter" every two hours (6am-6pm). Use the phone bank downstairs near baggage claim to contact these companies.

 

Airport Shuttles - are available but take quite a while to get you where you're going. If there's two or more of you, a taxi is about the same price and are MUCH quicker and MUCH more comfortable. In short, avoid the Airport Shuttles if you can.
 

Getting Around New Orleans

 

  

Click above for a map of the French Quarter and the CBD to Lee Circle.

  

 

Click above for a map of the event locations and bus & streetcar routes.

  

Feets - Unless you plan on going out of the French Quarter or the Central Business District, use your feet to get there. Driving around is not a trivial matter in a city designed hundreds of years ago for horse and buggy. Most parts of New Orleans are perfectly safe (contrary to what you hear in the news), but some are not. If you're not sure, then take a cab!

 

 

Private Cars - There is little or no parking in the French Quarter except for paid lots and garages. Most French Quarter and CBD hotels charge extra for parking your car, as much as $20 per night or more. So unless it's really necessary, leave the car at home.

There is one exception to this recommendation - if your hotel is well away from the French Quarter, Central Business District (CBD), or St Charles Ave, then a car may be an unavoidable necessity.

 


 Taxicabs - If leaving the French Quarter or the Central Business District to go to a restaurant, club, or other location, take a cab or private car. The cabs in New Orleans are reasonably priced. For instance, a trip from Ashtons B&B (Herf Central) to the French Quarter is only about $6 +tip. However, if your destination is on Canal Street or St Charles Avenue then the streetcar is the best transport (see "Streetcars", below).

 

There are many taxi companies, but experience has proven that you will have the best luck with United Cab. They are preferred because (a) they actually come when you call them, (b) they actually know the town, (c) they take credit cards when you're short of cash, and (d) most of the drivers have lived in an English-speaking country for more than 10 minutes.

 

UNITED CAB

(504) 522-9771


Free Shuttles - Free shuttles are available to most attractions in the area. Swamp tours, Audubon Park & Zoo, music clubs, and similar places have transportation from various locations, but you must contact them directly to find out.
 


 

Mass Transit

 

 

The streetcars and buses are operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). To get schedules for any route, click the picture above.

 

New Orleans has had streetcars for over 150 years  (not called trolleys). We've got buses too. Both are only $1.25 per person (exact change ONLY). You can transfer to/from streetcars to/from buses for an additional $0.25.

 

To get a route map of the three streetcars and

two buses mentioned below, click HERE.

 

Streetcars:


There are three streetcar lines in service. They all meet at the intersection of Bourbon/Carondolet & Canal Streets where you can transfer from one to another. You can also catch them at any yellow "Streetcar Stop" sign posted along their routes. Streetcars are a very enjoyable way to see the most attractive parts of the city. They arrive about every 15-30 minutes, less often after midnight (to get a schedule, Click the RTA picture above).

 

 

St Charles Ave Streetcar

This streetcar runs from the French Quarter upriver all along St Charles Avenue, serving the many hotels and restaurants along the way. You can catch the streetcar on Canal Street at the corner of Bourbon/Carondelet Street or anywhere along St Charles Avenue and up Carrollton to Claiborne. This is the streetcar that will take you uptown to the Garden District, the Central Business District (CBD), the Warehouse District, Audubon Park and golf  course, Audubon Zoo, and Tulane & Loyola Universities.

Note that St Charles Ave streetcars are the classic green Perley cars.
   

Riverfront Streetcar

This streetcar route runs all along the river from the French Market at Esplanade Ave upriver to the Convention Center. Part of the Riverfront streetcar's route is duplicated by the Canal streetcar, but the Riverfront stops at more places.

Note that Riverfront streetcars are red and say "Riverfront" on the front.
 

 

Canal Streetcar

This streetcar route starts at the French Market at Esplanade Ave, travels along the river to Canal St, then up Canal St toward Lake Pontchartrain. Two routes run on the lake-bound Canal St line. One goes to the Cemeteries at Canal and City Park Avenue. The other goes to the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park. Streetcars for both routes have Canal on their route signs when headed river-bound back to the French Quarter.

Note that Canal streetcars are red and say "Cemeteries" or "City Park" or "Canal" on the front and have structures on the roof to hide the air conditioners.
 

 

 

Buses:
 

Except for unusual delays, New Orleans' buses arrive and leave ON TIME, so check the schedules. Streetcars are less punctual. Some routes that may be helpful to CCCCCers are:

Bus #91 JACKSON - ESPLANADE AVE BUS - will take you from St Charles at Jackson Avenue (near the hotels on St Charles Ave.) to the French Quarter (along Rampart St) then up Esplanade Ave. to Ashton's B&B where the Crawfish Boil is held. It then continues on to the New Orleans Museum of Art at City Park.

In the other direction, it will take you from Ashton's B&B down Esplanade Avenue to the French Quarter or the Central Business District (CBD) - for only $1.25 each!

Bus #11 MAGAZINE STREET BUS - will take you from Canal Street all along Magazine St where the antique and art stores are located (see the Magazine Street Merchants.). It will also take you to the Golf Course and Zoo at Audubon Park.
 


To get the schedules for both streetcars and buses from the website of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, click the RTA Picture, above.