New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

New Orleans saves one of its strangest chapters for after dark: its above-ground cemeteries, where tombs replace ordinary graves and old burial customs meet ghost stories. This tour’s best feature is exclusive nighttime entry to Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery that most visitors cannot enter.

I like the mix of practical history and spooky fun. You learn why New Orleans burial grounds look so different, then use EMF readers while walking among the tombs. I also like the air-conditioned bus, the short walking distances between sites, and the chance to bring a drink along after stopping near the French Quarter.

The main drawback is that Odd Fellows Rest receives most of the tour time. Other cemeteries are viewed from the bus or through a locked gate, so anyone expecting several long cemetery walks may feel shortchanged. Cold, wind, parades, or route changes can also affect the evening.

Key points to know before booking

• Odd Fellows Rest is the centerpiece: You receive special access to this private cemetery, with about 35 minutes to walk and listen to stories.
• The tour is mostly history with a ghostly edge: Guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J mix burial customs, local characters, Katrina history, and paranormal tales.
• Other cemeteries are brief stops or drive-bys: Cypress Grove and Greenwood are seen from the bus, while Charity Hospital Cemetery may be viewed through its gate.
• The bus saves your feet: The tour lasts about two hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle, though you must manage a few steps to board.
• Bring your own drink: Alcohol is not included, but you may buy a drink before the tour and carry it on the bus.
• Allow extra time at night: Meet 15 minutes early at 620 Decatur Street, where parking is limited and paid.

Why Odd Fellows Rest makes this tour different

New Orleans cemeteries are not simply rows of headstones. The city’s high water table helped shape its above-ground burial customs, and the tombs create a very different sense of place from a conventional cemetery. At night, the narrow paths, stone walls, and sealed family tombs add a layer of unease without requiring a theatrical haunted-house setup.

Odd Fellows Rest gives this outing its real value. It is a private cemetery, and this company is described as the only tour operator allowed inside. That access lets you leave the bus and walk among the tombs rather than just look through a fence or pass by on a city street.

You get roughly 35 minutes inside, though the total time can vary. Your guide may point out burial details, tell stories tied to people resting there, and explain how New Orleans handles burial and reburial. The EMF readers add a playful activity for anyone curious about ghosts, but they should be treated as part of the entertainment, not scientific proof of anything paranormal.

The setting works for both believers and skeptics. If you enjoy ghost lore, the dark cemetery and EMF equipment give you plenty to watch for. If you prefer history, the burial customs, local stories, and architecture provide a solid reason to come along even if you do not expect to meet a spirit.

Starting near the French Quarter

The official meeting point is New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours at 620 Decatur Street, in the French Quarter. You should arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. The area is convenient for walking and public transportation, but parking is limited and rates can change, so driving adds an unnecessary bit of stress.

Bon’s New Orleans Street Food is listed as the starting point for the outing and is a useful place to grab food or a drink before boarding. The tour allows you to bring a drink on the bus, but alcoholic drinks are not included in the price. Plan your purchase before leaving the French Quarter rather than assuming drinks will be handed out during the tour.

The bus carries up to 42 people. That is a fairly large group for a cemetery walk, though the experience can feel more personal when the departure has fewer bookings. A smaller group also makes it easier to ask questions and hear the guide while walking inside Odd Fellows Rest.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters in New Orleans heat and humidity. At night, however, conditions can shift. Several people have found the bus warm and comfortable during cold weather, while others were ready to finish when wind and low temperatures made the cemetery portion less pleasant. Wear layers and comfortable shoes.

The bus ride turns the city into part of the tour

The ride between stops is not dead time. Your guide provides live commentary as the bus passes other cemeteries and points out the above-ground tombs that are part of New Orleans burial culture. You may pass Cypress Grove and Greenwood cemeteries, among others, and get a useful look at how many burial grounds fit into the wider city.

This moving commentary helps put Odd Fellows Rest in context. Instead of seeing one cemetery as an isolated spooky location, you learn that it belongs to a larger local tradition. The guide also handles the tone: stories can be eerie, but the best guides add jokes and clear explanations instead of relying only on loud surprises.

Guide quality matters a great deal here. Jeff and Geoff are often praised for strong storytelling, historical detail, and a lively manner. J is described as funny, personable, and helpful, including when assisting a parent using a mobility device. Cory, Bruce, and Carl have also been singled out for safe, friendly driving or good teamwork.

There is a possible downside. One poor experience came from a guide spending too much time talking about personal matters and allowing the first cemetery stop to run long. That meant later parts were cut short. The lesson is simple: the tour depends heavily on the guide’s pacing, and a compelling storyteller still needs to keep an eye on the clock.

Inside Odd Fellows Rest after dark

This is the part you are paying for. Once the bus reaches Odd Fellows Rest, you leave the vehicle and walk through the private cemetery with the guide. The tour is not strenuous, but there is a fair amount of walking on mostly flat ground, along with steps to board and exit the bus.

Expect the guide to explain the cemetery’s background and burial practices while pointing out tombs and notable resting places. The available information does not promise a fixed list of graves, so the exact stories can change with the guide and route. That is helpful if you enjoy a conversational tour, but less helpful if you want a rigid checklist of famous names.

The nighttime access is especially valuable because many cemetery tours in New Orleans only pass outside the gates. Here, you get time to look closely at tombs, take photographs, and notice how the cemetery feels when the surrounding city noise fades. Keep your phone ready, but do not let the search for a spooky photo replace the history being explained.

The EMF readers give the group something active to do. You can try scanning for unusual readings while listening to the guide’s ghost stories. This works best as a lighthearted extra. The tour presents the devices as a way to look for paranormal activity, but the historical material remains the more dependable part of the experience.

Charity Hospital Cemetery and the Katrina memorial

After Odd Fellows Rest, the tour includes a quick restroom break at the Morning Call Coffee Stand. You may also be able to buy a drink or beignets there, making it a useful pause before the final cemetery-related stop. The break lasts about 10 minutes, so do not count on a full meal or a long café visit.

The route then includes the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. This stop adds a serious modern chapter to an outing that otherwise leans toward old tombs and ghost stories. Your guide explains the effects of Katrina and gives you time to pay respects.

The exact access is important. Charity Hospital Cemetery may be closed at night, so you could view it through the locked gate rather than walk inside. That can feel less dramatic than entering Odd Fellows Rest, but the subject matter gives the stop weight. It also explains why the tour should not be judged only as a ghost hunt.

Some descriptions call this a visit to the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery, while the route may identify the site as Charity Hospital Cemetery. Either way, you should expect a short exterior visit rather than guaranteed nighttime entry. If seeing several cemeteries from the inside is your main goal, this limitation matters.

What the two-hour schedule really means

A two-hour tour sounds generous, but the clock includes boarding, driving, commentary, the restroom stop, and the cemetery visits. In practice, Odd Fellows Rest is the only confirmed extended walk inside a cemetery. The rest of the route is mainly viewed from the bus or from outside a gate.

That format suits you if you want an overview without spending an entire evening walking. It also helps if you prefer a guide to handle transportation between scattered sites. You get more range than on a single cemetery walk and less physical effort than visiting several sites independently.

The tradeoff is depth. A guide may need to shorten later commentary if the first stop runs late. If you want maximum time at every cemetery, a walking tour focused on one area may suit you better. If you want special access to one hard-to-enter site, the bus format makes good sense.

Routes can change because of parades, festivals, construction, weather, or other local conditions. New Orleans events can alter traffic and access, so keep your schedule flexible rather than booking a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward.

Is the $40.32 price fair?

At $40.32 per person, the price is reasonable if you value the private cemetery access and guided transportation. You are not paying simply for a bus ride. The cost covers a guide, the vehicle, live commentary, a nighttime cemetery entry, and EMF readers. For a first visit to New Orleans, that is a practical way to connect burial customs with local ghost lore.

The value drops if you expect a long list of fully accessible cemeteries. Cypress Grove and Greenwood are drive-by views, and Charity Hospital Cemetery may be seen only through the gate. The experience is best understood as an Odd Fellows Rest tour with additional city commentary, not as several equal cemetery visits.

Group discounts may help reduce the cost for families or friends booking together. The maximum group size is 42, so ask yourself how much you prefer a crowd. A smaller departure can make the walk and questions more enjoyable, but availability will vary.

The strongest value comes from the guide. Jeff, Geoff, and J are repeatedly praised for clear stories, humor, energy, and useful help. A good guide makes the bus ride feel like part of the experience. A poorly paced guide can make the limited schedule feel even tighter.

Who should book this cemetery bus tour?

I would recommend it for first-time New Orleans visitors who want history with a spooky accent. It is also a good choice for couples, families with older children, friends, and solo visitors who would rather not enter a cemetery alone after dark.

You should book it if:

• You want special access to a private cemetery.
• You enjoy ghost stories but also want real burial history.
• You prefer riding between locations instead of walking across the city.
• You want a short evening activity with a clear two-hour limit.
• You are comfortable walking on flat surfaces and managing bus steps.

Think twice if:

• You mainly want Marie Laveau’s tomb, since St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not included.
• You expect to enter several cemeteries.
• You dislike group tours or scripted ghost-story energy.
• You need a wheelchair-accessible bus.
• You are uncomfortable with evening cold, wind, or outdoor walking.

The bus is not wheelchair accessible, though service animals are allowed and most people can take part. The walk is not considered strenuous, but everyone must be able to board and exit the vehicle and walk through the cemetery.

Final verdict: book it for access, not quantity

This is a worthwhile New Orleans tour when you see its focus clearly. The private entry to Odd Fellows Rest is the reason to book, while the bus commentary, Katrina memorial stop, and EMF readers round out the evening.

You may be disappointed if you expect several cemetery interiors or a guaranteed paranormal encounter. But if you want an entertaining guide, unusual burial customs, a little nighttime suspense, and a site you cannot easily enter on your own, the $40.32 price is fair. Arrive early, wear layers, bring comfortable shoes, and treat the ghost equipment as fun rather than proof. That approach lets the history do most of the haunting.

FAQ

Which cemetery do you visit on the tour?

The tour typically visits Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery with special access for this experience. It also passes Cypress Grove and Greenwood cemeteries.

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 effects of Hurricane Katrina, and you can pay respects at the related cemetery and memorial site.

Can I enter every cemetery on the route?

No. Odd Fellows Rest is the main cemetery you enter. Other cemeteries may be viewed from the bus or through a locked gate.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about two hours, including driving, cemetery visits, commentary, and the restroom break.

Are drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included. You may purchase a drink before the tour or during the stop and bring it on the bus.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible. You must be able to walk and manage a few steps to board and exit the bus.

Is there much walking?

There is a fair amount of walking, mostly on flat surfaces, but the activity is not considered strenuous. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Where does the tour meet?

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

How early should I arrive?

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. Parking near the French Quarter is limited and may involve a fee, so walking or public transportation can be easier.