New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

New Orleans’ most unusual cemetery experience is the nighttime entry into Odd Fellows Rest, a private burial ground that this tour is authorized to open for participants. You ride through the French Quarter and past famous above-ground tombs, then leave the bus for stories, photographs, and a little ghost hunting with EMF readers.

I like the mix of real burial history and spooky storytelling, especially the explanation of why New Orleans cemeteries look so different from those in many other American cities. I also like the air-conditioned bus, the short restroom stop, and the chance to bring a drink along. The main drawback is that the schedule can feel shorter than expected if the guide spends too long at Odd Fellows Rest, and the later cemetery may be viewed only from behind a gate.

Key points at a glance

• Exclusive access to Odd Fellows Rest: This is the tour’s main feature, with about 35 minutes inside a private cemetery after dark.
• A history-first ghost tour: Guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J mix burial customs, local stories, and paranormal lore.
• A useful bus ride through New Orleans: You pass Cypress Grove, Greenwood, and other cemeteries while hearing commentary from your seat.
• A short stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand: Use the restroom, buy a drink or beignets, and return to the bus.
• A look at Katrina’s memorial cemetery: The tour explains the site connected with unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina.
• Good value for the right audience: At $40.32, it is fairly priced if private cemetery access matters to you, but less attractive if you expect several long cemetery visits.

Why Odd Fellows Rest is the heart of the tour

The best reason to book this New Orleans cemetery bus tour is simple: you get inside Odd Fellows Rest after dark. Most of the cemetery views elsewhere on the route are from the bus or from outside a locked gate, so this private access gives the tour its special character.

The cemetery is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization that once had a strong presence in American cities. Your guide explains the site, points out tombs, and tells stories about the people and customs connected with the cemetery. The setting also gives the guide room to use the tour’s EMF readers, which are included for anyone interested in testing for unusual activity.

I would approach the ghost element as entertainment rather than proof of the supernatural. The equipment can add a playful mission to the walk, but the stronger part of the visit is the setting and the background about New Orleans burial traditions. You can enjoy the chills without having to accept every paranormal claim.

Plan on about 35 minutes inside Odd Fellows Rest, though the exact timing can change. One of the most useful details to know is that the guide’s style affects the pace. Jeff, Geoff, and J are repeatedly praised for keeping people involved with humor, stories, and clear explanations. One poor experience arose when too much time was spent at the first cemetery, leaving the rest of the route rushed. That is not a reason to dismiss the tour, but it is a fair warning that the guide has a lot of control over the evening.

What you see from the bus between stops

The bus ride is not filler. New Orleans has an unusual concentration of above-ground tombs, and the route lets you see several cemeteries without asking you to walk across the city at night.

As you ride, your guide points out places such as Cypress Grove and Greenwood. You see rows of raised tombs and hear why burial above ground became part of the city’s visual identity. The commentary gives useful context before you step into Odd Fellows Rest, so you are not simply looking at old stone structures without knowing what they mean.

This is also where the air-conditioned vehicle earns its keep. New Orleans weather can be hot, wet, windy, or surprisingly cold after sunset. The bus provides a warm or cool break between walks, depending on the conditions. One guide and driver combination even kept the bus warm during a cold evening, a small service that mattered a great deal to the group.

The bus can hold up to 42 people, although the experience may feel more personal when the group is smaller. A compact group makes it easier to ask questions and gather around a tomb while the guide explains its story. A full bus will feel less intimate, particularly during the walking portion.

The meeting point and the easy first drink stop

The official meeting point is New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours at 620 Decatur Street, in the French Quarter. Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. This location is convenient if you are already exploring the French Quarter, and public transportation stops are nearby.

The tour information also directs you toward Bon’s New Orleans Street Food before the ride, where you can grab a drink. Alcohol is not included, but you may bring your own drink onto the bus. The later stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand gives you another chance to buy a drink or beignets.

That arrangement works well for an evening outing. You can meet friends for a quick bite or drink, take the bus into the cemetery district, and avoid having to plan a separate meal around the tour. Just remember that buying a drink is your expense, and the tour does not include alcoholic beverages.

Parking near Decatur Street is limited and paid. I would walk, use public transportation, or take a rideshare if possible. Driving into the French Quarter, finding a space, and reaching the meeting point on time can add needless stress.

The nighttime walk inside Odd Fellows Rest

Once the bus reaches Odd Fellows Rest, you leave the vehicle and walk through the cemetery with the guide. The ground is mostly flat, and the tour is not considered strenuous, but you still need to walk for a fair part of the visit and manage a few steps when boarding or leaving the bus.

This is where the tour feels most different from a standard sightseeing ride. You are not just looking through a bus window at tombs. You can stop, look closely at markers, hear stories tied to particular resting places, and take photographs where permitted. The limited nighttime access also gives the cemetery a quieter, more enclosed mood than a daytime visit.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Jeff is often described as an energetic storyteller with a strong grasp of New Orleans burial customs. Geoff is praised for combining facts with a lively personality, while J is noted for being funny, attentive, and helpful, including when a participant was using a mobility device. The guide you get will shape the tone, but the pattern is clear: the strongest tours rely on a guide who can keep the spooky material connected to actual history.

You should also expect some theatrical moments. The tour is designed to be creepy, with stories meant to make you glance over your shoulder. At the same time, the better guides explain the human side of cemeteries, including how New Orleans handles burials and why these places matter to local communities. That balance keeps the experience from becoming a string of shallow ghost stories.

Morning Call Coffee Stand gives you a needed pause

After Odd Fellows Rest, the bus stops at Morning Call Coffee Stand for about 10 minutes. This is mainly a restroom break, but you can also buy a drink or beignets.

Ten minutes is not enough for a long café visit, so think of this as a practical pause rather than a full food stop. It breaks up the walking and gives you a chance to warm up, cool down, or get a quick snack before the final cemetery portion.

This stop is especially useful on a cold or wet night. The walking portion takes place outdoors, and the bus ride alone does not remove the need for comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing. Wear layers and shoes that you can walk in without fuss.

The Hurricane Katrina memorial and the limits of the final stop

The tour also visits the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. This adds a serious modern chapter to an outing that might otherwise focus only on ghosts and old tombs.

Your guide explains the lasting effects of Katrina and gives you a chance to pay respects. The subject changes the mood, appropriately. This is not simply another spooky stop, and you should treat it as a memorial site rather than a prop for ghost hunting.

The exact access is important. The cemetery may be closed at night, so you can be looking through the gate while hearing the story. That means the stop can feel less substantial than Odd Fellows Rest. One evening itinerary included a quick look at Charity Hospital Cemetery from outside, and some people stayed on the bus because the weather had turned cold and windy.

I think this stop is valuable for the context, not for the amount of time spent walking inside. If you want a full cemetery tour with several open sites, this experience may disappoint. If you want a guided look at how New Orleans remembers both its dead and the victims of Katrina, it adds weight to the evening.

How the two-hour schedule really works

The activity lasts about two hours, but the time is divided between driving, commentary, walking, and short stops. Odd Fellows Rest receives the most attention, followed by the restroom break and the Katrina memorial area.

The route can change because of parades, festivals, construction, weather, or other city conditions. That flexibility is normal in New Orleans, but it means you should not treat every stop as guaranteed to receive the same amount of time.

A two-hour bus tour is a good length for an evening plan. You get a focused look at several locations without committing an entire night to cemetery visits. The tradeoff is that the program cannot offer long walks at every cemetery. The experience works best when you see Odd Fellows Rest as the main visit and the other locations as supporting stops.

Do not book this expecting St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 or the tomb of Marie Laveau. Marie Laveau’s tomb is not part of this route. You may see resting places connected with other well-known people, but the tour’s special access is Odd Fellows Rest, not the famous Marie Laveau site.

Price, group size, and overall value

At $40.32 per person, the tour sits in a reasonable range for a two-hour guided outing with transportation and exclusive cemetery access. You are paying for the bus, a live guide, the private entry, and the convenience of seeing several areas without arranging your own transport.

I consider it good value if you want three things: cemetery history, a nighttime atmosphere, and a guide who can carry the evening with stories. It is less convincing if you mainly want paranormal equipment or a long list of cemetery interiors. The EMF readers are a fun extra, but they should not be the reason you pay.

The 4.7 rating from 1,694 reviews and 93 percent recommendation rate fit the experience’s strongest qualities: engaging guides, a clean bus, unusual access, and a good blend of humor and history. The less favorable experience also points to the key risk: the quality of the evening depends on pacing and guide style. If the first stop runs long, later stops may be shortened.

Group discounts may help if you are booking with friends or family. The tour is offered in English and includes mobile ticketing, which keeps the arrival process simple. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this to you if you are curious about New Orleans burial customs but want something lighter and more theatrical than a formal history lecture. It suits couples, families with older children, friends, and solo visitors who prefer not to wander through cemeteries alone after dark.

The bus also helps if you want limited walking between sites. You still need to walk inside Odd Fellows Rest and manage bus steps, but you are not spending two hours crossing city streets or finding each cemetery yourself.

This is not the best fit if you need a wheelchair accessible vehicle. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and all participants must be able to walk and navigate steps. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part, but anyone with mobility concerns should think carefully about the boarding and walking requirements.

I would also choose another activity if you dislike ghost stories, dramatic narration, or outdoor evening stops. The historical material is strong, but the tour openly leans into New Orleans’ haunted reputation. You should expect both facts and theatrical chills.

Should you book the New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour?

Book it if Odd Fellows Rest access is your priority and you want a guide led evening with transportation, local stories, and a few ghost hunting touches. The private cemetery entry is unusual, the bus keeps the route manageable, and guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J appear to bring the energy needed for a memorable night.

Think twice if you expect to enter several cemeteries, visit Marie Laveau’s tomb, or spend equal time at every stop. The final memorial area may be viewed through a gate, and the route can change. For the right expectations, this is a fairly priced, distinctive way to see a side of New Orleans that is both eerie and deeply connected to the city’s people and past.

FAQ

Which cemetery do you visit on the tour?

The tour typically visits Odd Fellows Rest, where you receive exclusive access. The bus also passes Cypress Grove and Greenwood cemeteries so you can see New Orleans’ above-ground tombs.

Does the tour visit Marie Laveau’s tomb?

No. Marie Laveau’s tomb is in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, which is not part of this tour.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina memorial?

Yes. The guide explains the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina, and the route includes the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from the disaster.

Can I bring a drink?

Yes. Drinks are not included, but you can purchase one before the tour or during the stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand and bring it on the bus. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

How much walking is involved?

The tour includes a fair amount of walking, mainly on flat surfaces. You must also manage a few steps to board and exit the bus, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed, but all participants must be able to walk and navigate the bus steps.