Getting Around, New Orleans Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(New Orleans, Louisiana - LA, USA)



New Orleans is relatively small in size and many of the major tourist attractions are concentrated in certain areas, making walking a more than viable option for traveling and getting around. Travel by car in the city of New Orleans can be confusing due to all the one-way streets, street names that are difficult to pronounce and limited parking.

However, for longer journeys in and around New Orleans, taxi cabs are readily available, while the resurgence of the city's famous streetcars and public transportation has made travel around New Orleans simple and enjoyable. Louis Armstrong International Airport, 16 km / 10 miles west of the city, handles mostly domestic flights, while rail and coach options both stop at the Union Passenger Terminal. Several interstates, state highways and major roads intersect New Orleans.


Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) / Arriving by Air

Despite its name, Louis Armstrong International Airport serves predominantly domestic flights offered by a large range of airlines, with the only international flights travel to Canada or selected Central American countries. Regular connections to Dallas Fort Worth, Houston and Atlanta provide the bulk of international flights. There is an airport shuttle bus direct to the Central Business District (CBD), as well as taxis and car rental. For further information, please refer to the New Orleans Airport page.

New Orleans Airports Guide

Car Rental

Car rental is available in the city and at the airport, although driving in New Orleans city center is not generally recommended due to confusing one-way street systems and difficulty in parking. However, a car is ideal for exploring the surrounding countryside, such as Cajun Country and the River Road. The scenery is stunning and having your own transport allows you to travel and stop when you want to. The I-10 Highway cuts through New Orleans on its way to Los Angeles to the west and Jacksonville to the east. Meeting I-10 on the outskirts of the city is I-55 to Chicago and I-59 to Chattanooga. Renting a car is generally an economical way to travel around the New Orleans area, with many firms offering discounts for rentals of three days and over, particularly when booked using the Internet.

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Buses and Coaches

Greyhound Coaches link New Orleans with major destinations nationwide, although buses are a rather slow and uncomfortable way to travel. Coaches stop at the Union Passenger Terminal, while a comprehensive local bus network covers the city's main attractions, providing a particularly inexpensive way to travel around New Orleans.

Trains

Amtrak trains stop at the Union Passenger Terminal and offer three services in total: the 'City of New Orleans' links the city with Chicago and Memphis; the 'Crescent Route' heads to Atlanta, Washington D.C. and New York; while the famous 'Sunset Limited' crosses the country, traveling from Los Angeles in the west, via New Orleans, to Miami in the east.

Trams

New Orleans is famous for its streetcars, offering a historic way to travel around the city. Currently enjoying resurgence, the Riverfront line is now in operation, with the introduction of a Canal Street line soon to be opened.

Taxis

Taxis are easily found throughout the city, with concentrations located in tourist areas such as the French Quarter and the Union Passenger Terminal.

Boats and Ferries

Many years ago, most visitors to New Orleans arrived by boat along the Mississippi River. This is still possible today, although it is more expensive than today's modern transport and caters more for tour groups and nostalgic cruises. Ferries make regular crossings of the river.