NEW ORLEANS TRANSPORTATION
AIR
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Car Rentals: Avis, Budget, Alamo, Thrifty, Hertz and National. When driving downtown, remember that the exit off I-10 Freeway to the French Quarter is marked Vieux Carre Exit 235B. "Vieux Carre" means "French Quarter."
Taxis: from MSY to the Central Business District (CBD) cost $25 for one person and $10 per passenger for three or more passengers. Pick-up is on the airport lower level, outside the baggage claim area. Otherwise taxis charge meter rate + $2.50 drop fee + $1 for each additional person.
Airport Shuttle is available from the airport to CBD hotels for $10 each way, per person. Ticket booths are on the lower level in the baggage claim area. Call 504-465-9780.
Limousine Livery: Your first choice in limo service from/to the airport, professional chaffeurs and service guaranteed to make you relax; 624 Race Street; office 504-561-8777
Trains stop at Union Station on 1001 Loyola Ave (map) between South Rampart and Girod Streets, behind New Orleans Arena and near the Superdome. daily Amtrak service is provided by these lines:
Amtrak Crescent: New Orleans, Atlanta, Charlotte, DC, Philadelphia, NYC
Amtrak Sunset Limited: Houston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mobile, Jacksonville
The Sunset train only runs 3 times per week between Los Angeles, San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans.
Regional Transit Authority provides three vintage streetcar lines which are described on our Tours page. Excluding the Magazine Bus Line, which traverses through a shopping district, buses aren't as much fun as the streetcars.
New Orleans has the distinction of running the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, the St. Charles Streetcar. This streetcar is to New Orleans, what cable cars are to San Francisco. For unlimited streetcar and pleasant public bus rides, get a VisiTour Pass. It costs only $12 for 3 days or $5 for 1 day. Otherwise exact fare of $1.50 is required. Three popular streetcar lines run frequently from 7a-11:30p. Adults and kids at heart love them. The lines intersect on Canal Street and provide a sublime introduction to the city:
• Riverfront Streetcar
Covers a 2-mile route along the waterfront from the French Market to just beyond the Convention Center; this streetcar route began in 1988 and has expanded service due to tourist demand
• Canal Streetcar
Board at the Aquarium of the Americas our in front of the major hotels on Canal Street for a comfortable ride up to the small shops and restaurants in Mid-City, and continue to Uptown, Metarie Cemetery and City Park
• St. Charles Streetcar
Covers a 13.2-mile route from Downtown past the splendid mansions of the Garden District, then through Tulane University and finally up to the Carrollton District; when you hear of people bragging about riding a streetcar in New Orleans, this is the line they are referring too
New Orleans Freeway Network: In a normal traffic day, the city is 100 minutes east of Baton Rouge and 60 minutes southwest of Biloxi, both off Interstate-10 Freeway. One reason the city retains its charm is its limited number of freeways. Thus traffic on I-10 westbound to the airport is heavy during commute hours, major events or conventions. Before leaving confirm that I-10 is moving normally. If it is not, consider using US-61 Highway as a westbound alternative to MSY airport. During those times, allow one-hour commute from Downtown to the airport plus the normal 90 minutes before your flight. Note these freeway, highway and bridge names for driving reference:
10 Interstate freeway Baton Rouge to New Orleans to Mobile
61 US Highway Tulane Ave (Downtown to MSY Airport)
90 US Highway intersects Downtown, I-10 and Causeway Blvd
610 Interstate freeway connector to I-10 well north of Downtown
3046 Causeway Blvd/Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
BLACK CULTURAL TRAVEL MADE EASY