New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

New Orleans keeps its dead close to the living, with above-ground tombs, locked cemetery gates, and stories that grow stranger after sunset. This two-hour bus tour gives you rare nighttime access to Odd Fellows Rest, then adds ghost lore, burial customs, and city history from guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J.

I like the private cemetery entry and the way the bus links several burial sites without asking you to walk across town. I also like the mix of serious history and spooky fun, plus the chance to bring a drink aboard. The main drawback is that Odd Fellows Rest takes up much of the evening, so the other cemeteries may be drive-bys or views through a gate.

Key points to know before booking

• Odd Fellows Rest is the centerpiece: This private cemetery is the only site you enter on the regular route, and the company has exclusive access.
• The history is stronger than the ghost hunting: Guides explain above-ground burials, prominent graves, Hurricane Katrina, and local customs, with spooky stories woven in.
• You spend most of the night on the bus or at one cemetery: The route lasts about two hours, but the walking portion is concentrated at Odd Fellows Rest.
• The bus saves your feet: You pass Cypress Grove, Greenwood, and other cemeteries from an air-conditioned vehicle rather than walking between them.
• A coffee and restroom stop breaks up the evening: Morning Call offers a quick pause, with drinks and beignets available for purchase.
• Weather affects the mood: The tour runs in all weather, but cold wind can make the final outdoor stop feel less appealing.

Why New Orleans cemeteries need a different kind of tour

The most useful thing this experience explains is why New Orleans burial grounds look so different from the cemeteries you may know at home. Above-ground tombs are a defining feature, and the city’s burial customs reflect its environment, history, and long-standing traditions.

You do not simply ride around looking for dark windows and ghostly shapes. The guide explains how people were buried, why tombs were built above ground, and how these places connect to New Orleans society. That gives the spooky stories a firm base.

The tour also makes practical sense after dark. Cemeteries can feel uncomfortable to explore alone, especially when you are unsure which places allow entry. Here, you have transportation, a guide, a driver, and a group around you. The maximum group size is 42 people, so this is not a private walk, but it offers a clear sense of structure and security.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Jeff and Geoff are praised for strong storytelling, historical detail, and a lively sense of humor. J is noted for being personable, funny, and attentive, including helping a person using a mobility device. Your exact guide can shape the tone of the night, but the format gives the guide plenty of room to tell stories on the bus and during the cemetery walk.

Meeting in the French Quarter before dark

The tour begins at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours, at 620 Decatur Street, number 600. This is in the French Quarter, close to restaurants, bars, and public transportation. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, especially if you are driving.

Parking near the meeting point is limited and costs extra. I would walk, use public transportation, or take a rideshare if that fits your plans. The tour returns to the same meeting point, which makes it easier to plan dinner or another French Quarter activity afterward.

The tour information points you toward Bon’s New Orleans Street Food as a convenient place to get a drink before departure. Alcohol is not included, but you can purchase a drink and bring it on the bus. Keep in mind that the tour operator does not supply alcoholic beverages, so plan that stop before boarding.

The bus is air-conditioned and reviews describe it as clean and comfortable. That matters in New Orleans, where the weather can shift quickly. In cold or windy conditions, the bus becomes a welcome warm-up between outdoor portions. In warmer weather, air conditioning makes the city ride easier.

Riding past Cypress Grove and Greenwood

Once the bus leaves the French Quarter, the guide provides live commentary about the cemeteries and neighborhoods along the route. You pass sites such as Cypress Grove and Greenwood, seeing the rows of above-ground tombs from the vehicle.

This part is not a full cemetery visit. You may get a view of the tombs and hear the background, but the real walking time comes later at Odd Fellows Rest. That distinction matters if you are comparing this tour with a cemetery walk that spends the entire evening on foot.

The bus ride adds useful context. Instead of seeing one cemetery as an isolated spooky setting, you get a sense of how widespread the above-ground style is across New Orleans. The guide can point out the features that make the city’s burial grounds distinct while also setting up the stories to come.

If you enjoy photography, this portion may be less rewarding than the private stop because you are viewing sites from the bus. Bring your camera, but expect the best close-up pictures during the walk inside Odd Fellows Rest and around the other accessible memorial areas.

Entering Odd Fellows Rest after dark

Odd Fellows Rest is the reason to choose this tour over a standard cemetery drive. It is a private cemetery, and this company has exclusive nighttime access. You can leave the bus and walk among the tombs with the guide, rather than peering through a locked gate.

The visit lasts about 35 minutes according to the planned schedule, though several people describe spending close to an hour there when timing and group size allow. That variation is important. If your guide spends extra time on stories or questions, later stops may be shortened.

Inside, expect a guided look at the cemetery’s tombs, names, burial practices, and unusual details. The Odd Fellows connection gives the site a less familiar angle than the better-known St. Louis Cemetery Number 1. This tour does not visit Marie Laveau’s tomb, so book it for the private access and broader cemetery history, not for that specific landmark.

The walking is mostly flat but includes steps to board and leave the bus. The tour is not considered strenuous, yet you should wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk around the cemetery after dark. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and everyone must be able to manage the steps. Service animals are allowed.

The EMF readers add a playful layer. You can use them during the cemetery walk to look for signs of paranormal activity. Treat this as a fun tool, not scientific proof. The strongest part of the stop is still the place itself, the old tombs, the nighttime setting, and the guide’s explanation of what you are seeing.

The Morning Call break

After Odd Fellows Rest, the bus makes a short stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand. The planned break is about 10 minutes and gives you a chance to use the restroom, buy a drink, or pick up beignets.

This is a small but useful part of the schedule. A two-hour evening tour with outdoor walking is easier when you get a short pause. It also gives you a chance to warm up, refresh your drink, and decide how much of the next stop you want to experience on foot.

Do not expect a long meal break. Ten minutes is enough for a quick restroom visit and a purchase, not a leisurely coffee stop. If you want food before the tour, Bon’s in the French Quarter is the better place to plan ahead.

The Hurricane Katrina memorial and Charity Hospital Cemetery

The tour then visits the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. The guide explains the lasting effects of the storm and gives you time to pay respects.

This stop changes the tone. Odd Fellows Rest leans into old burial customs and ghost stories, while the Katrina memorial connects the tour to recent New Orleans history and real human loss. That contrast gives the evening more weight than a simple haunted attraction.

Access here is more limited than at Odd Fellows Rest. The cemetery may be closed at night, so you might view it through the gate rather than walk inside. This is one of the most important points to understand before booking. The tour promises access to a cemetery, not entry into every cemetery on the route.

Some people may find the memorial stop less exciting after the main cemetery walk, particularly in poor weather. Still, I think it belongs in the tour because it shows that New Orleans burial sites are not only old, decorative, or haunted. They also hold memories of public disasters and the people affected by them.

How much history and how much ghost hunting?

The balance depends on your guide, but this is best understood as a history tour with a supernatural theme. The guides tell spooky stories and encourage you to watch for strange activity, yet much of the content concerns burial methods, New Orleans customs, notable people, and the city’s past.

That balance works well for a mixed group. A believer gets the nighttime atmosphere and EMF readers. A skeptic gets architecture, local history, and a guide who can explain why the cemeteries look the way they do. Families, couples, and groups of friends can all take part without treating the paranormal angle too seriously.

The best guides keep the bus lively without losing the historical thread. Jeff is repeatedly praised for energy, storytelling, and an ability to keep people laughing. J is described as both entertaining and helpful. If your guide is especially talkative, you may get more stories than you expected, though one poor experience involved too much personal commentary and not enough time at later stops.

That is a fair warning. Ask questions when you have the chance, but keep an eye on the schedule. Since Odd Fellows Rest is the only confirmed interior cemetery stop, you want enough time left for the Katrina memorial and other planned views.

Is $40.32 a fair price?

At $40.32 per person, the price is reasonable if exclusive cemetery access matters to you. You are paying for a two-hour guided experience, transportation between sites, live commentary, air conditioning, and entry to a private cemetery after dark.

The value is less convincing if you expect several full cemetery walks. Much of the route is a bus ride, and the other sites may be viewed from outside. You are also buying your own drinks and snacks, so the final cost can rise slightly if you stop for a drink and beignets.

Group discounts may improve the value for families or larger parties. The tour is also useful if you do not have a car, since parking near the French Quarter is limited and the route connects several areas without requiring you to arrange transportation.

A rating of 4.7 from 1,694 reviews, with 93 percent recommending the experience, points to a strong overall result. The praise centers on the guides, the private cemetery entry, the clean bus, and the unusual subject. The main complaints focus on timing, too much time at the first cemetery, and limited access at the later stops.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this for you if you want New Orleans history with a spooky edge and prefer riding between sites to walking all evening. It suits first-time visitors who want a different view of the city, as well as repeat visitors who have already done the usual French Quarter ghost walk.

It works especially well for friends, couples, families with older children, and solo adults who want company after dark. Most people can participate, but you need to manage flat walking and several bus steps. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, so check that requirement carefully before booking.

You should look elsewhere if Marie Laveau’s tomb is your main goal, if you want to explore St. Louis Cemetery Number 1, or if you expect to enter several cemeteries. Those are not part of this route.

Weather is another factor. The tour operates in all weather, and winter wind or rain can make the outdoor portions feel long. Wear layers and comfortable shoes. A drink on the bus can be enjoyable, but keep it manageable while walking through the cemetery.

Should you book the New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour?

Book it if Odd Fellows Rest access is the key attraction for you. That private nighttime entry is unusual, and the bus makes it easy to connect cemetery history, ghost stories, and the Katrina memorial in one evening.

Skip it if you want a long walking tour with several indoor cemetery visits. You will spend much of the time on the bus, and Charity Hospital Cemetery may only be visible through its gate.

For most people, this is a good-value, well-paced introduction to the stranger side of New Orleans burial culture. Pick an evening with mild weather, arrive early at the French Quarter meeting point, and pay attention to the guide’s timing. If Jeff, Geoff, or J is leading your group, expect a lively storyteller who can make the history as memorable as the chills.

FAQ

Which cemetery do you visit on this tour?

The tour typically enters Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery with exclusive access for this company. It also passes Cypress Grove and Greenwood, where you can see New Orleans’ above-ground tombs from the bus.

Does the tour visit Marie Laveau’s tomb?

No. Marie Laveau’s tomb is in St. Louis Cemetery Number 1, which is not included. The guide does discuss other prominent people and resting places.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina memorial?

Yes. The guide explains the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and the tour includes the memorial cemetery associated with unclaimed bodies from the storm.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts about two hours. The schedule includes time at Odd Fellows Rest, a short Morning Call restroom stop, and additional cemetery and memorial views.

Can I bring a drink on the bus?

Yes. Drinks are not included, but you can buy one before the tour and bring it with you on the bus. Alcoholic beverages are not supplied by the tour.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours, 620 Decatur Street, number 600, in New Orleans. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How much walking is involved?

There is a fair amount of walking, mostly on flat surfaces, especially at Odd Fellows Rest. You must also manage a few steps when boarding and leaving the bus.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate if they can walk and manage the bus steps.