New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

Cemeteries get stranger after dark. This two-hour New Orleans bus tour mixes above-ground tombs, ghost tales, and local history, with the rare chance to enter Odd Fellows Rest at night. I like the easy bus transport and the guides’ lively storytelling, especially when Jeff or J leads the group. The main drawback is that the tour may include only one cemetery you can enter, while other stops are viewed from outside.

I also like the practical setup: you can bring a drink on the bus, use a restroom at Morning Call, and avoid wandering through dark cemetery streets alone. At about $40 per person, it offers fair value if exclusive access and spooky atmosphere matter more to you than seeing several cemetery interiors. The route can change, and cold or wet weather may make the outdoor portions less comfortable.

Key points to know before booking

• Odd Fellows Rest is the main event: This private cemetery is the only cemetery on the route with regular evening entry.
• Most of the tour happens by bus or outside the gates: Cypress Grove, Greenwood, and Charity Hospital Cemetery may be viewed from the road or gate.
• Guides make or break the evening: Jeff, Geoff, and J have earned especially strong praise for storytelling, humor, and historical detail.
• EMF readers add a playful ghost-hunting angle: You can use the devices while deciding for yourself what you believe.
• The tour is not wheelchair accessible: You must manage bus steps and walk on mostly flat ground.
• Arrive 15 minutes early: The meeting point is at 620 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, with limited paid parking nearby.

Why New Orleans cemeteries look different

New Orleans cemeteries are not simply graveyards with rows of headstones. The city’s high water table helped lead to the widespread use of above-ground tombs, giving many cemeteries their distinctive appearance.

On this tour, the guide explains how burial customs, weather, disease, family traditions, and city history shaped these places. That background matters because the tombs are more than spooky scenery. They show how New Orleans adapted burial practices to local conditions and developed a style unlike what you see in most American cities.

The bus ride also gives you a broad look at the city’s cemetery culture. As you pass Cypress Grove and Greenwood, the guide points out the architecture and explains what you are seeing. You do not get long walks inside every cemetery, but the drive-by commentary helps connect the separate sites.

I think this balance is one of the tour’s strengths. You get context without spending the whole evening on foot. If your main goal is to enter several cemeteries, though, this may feel limited.

Starting near Bon’s New Orleans Street Food

The meeting point is New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours at 620 Decatur Street, right in the French Quarter. The location is convenient if you are already exploring the quarter, and Bon’s New Orleans Street Food is nearby for a quick bite or drink before departure.

Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Parking near the French Quarter is limited and costs extra, so walking, public transportation, or a rideshare is usually the easier choice. The tour ends back at the same meeting point, which is helpful if you have dinner plans or another evening activity nearby.

You can bring a drink for the bus, but alcohol is not included. A later stop gives you another chance to purchase a drink, so you do not need to arrive carrying one. Keep your hands free for boarding, walking, and handling the EMF reader.

The bus ride and the cemetery drive-by

The air-conditioned bus handles the longer stretches between stops and offers live commentary along the way. The vehicle is not a luxury coach, but it provides shelter from heat, rain, wind, or cold, all of which can affect a night outdoors in New Orleans.

The route passes several cemeteries with large above-ground tombs. Cypress Grove and Greenwood are part of the visual story, even when you do not get out to explore them. The guide uses the ride to explain burial customs, local figures, ghost stories, and the city’s haunted reputation.

This part can be easy to underestimate. You are not just being driven from one gate to another. The bus gives the guide time to set up the stories and explain why each cemetery matters. The best guides, including Jeff, Geoff, and J, keep the ride lively with jokes, facts, and spooky suspense.

The quality depends heavily on the guide’s style. Several guides have been praised for being warm, energetic, and clear, while one unhappy account described a guide who talked too much about himself and spent too long at the first stop. That warning is worth keeping in mind: a strong guide adds real value, but the pacing can vary.

Entering Odd Fellows Rest after dark

Odd Fellows Rest is the signature stop. The tour has exclusive access to this private cemetery at night, and the company says it is the only tour allowed to enter after dark.

You spend the longest part of the evening here, often around 35 minutes and sometimes close to an hour depending on the route and guide. You walk among the tombs while hearing stories about the cemetery, its members, burial practices, and people connected with the site.

The private access changes the mood. Looking through the gates of a cemetery is one thing. Walking inside after dark, with a small group and a guide, feels more personal and atmospheric. You can take photographs, examine the tombs, and use the EMF readers as the group moves around.

The EMF devices are best treated as entertainment rather than proof of ghosts. They give you a hands-on activity and encourage the group to pay attention to its surroundings. Skeptics can enjoy the fun without accepting every supernatural claim, while believers get a tool that fits the evening’s theme.

This is also where the tour earns much of its price. You are paying for access that is not normally available, not simply for a bus ride past public cemeteries. If the guide gives Odd Fellows Rest enough time and explains its background well, the stop can feel worthwhile even if you are not interested in paranormal claims.

Wear shoes with good support. The walking is mostly flat and not considered strenuous, but you will need to walk and manage several steps to enter and leave the bus.

A short break at Morning Call

The stop at Morning Call is brief, around 10 minutes, and serves mainly as a restroom break. You may also purchase a drink or a sweet treat before returning to the bus.

This pause is useful because cemetery tours often take place at night, when nearby facilities may be harder to find. It also gives you a chance to warm up or cool off before the final stop.

Do not expect a long café visit. The timing is quick, so use the restroom first and decide on refreshments without delaying the group. You can take a drink back onto the bus, but alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price.

The Hurricane Katrina memorial and Charity Hospital Cemetery

The route also includes the cemetery and memorial connected with the unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. This stop adds a serious human dimension to an evening that otherwise leans toward ghost stories and theatrical suspense.

Your guide explains the lasting effects of the hurricane and gives you time to pay respects. That makes this stop different from the spooky tales at Odd Fellows Rest. It asks you to think about recent New Orleans history, loss, and the city’s effort to honor people whose remains were not claimed.

Access here is more limited. The cemetery may be closed at night, so you might look through the gate and hear the history rather than walk inside. That distinction is important when you decide what the tour offers.

Some departures include a short walk-by or gate-side visit instead of a full stop inside. If you expect to enter several cemeteries, this could disappoint you. If you value the story and memorial aspect, the stop adds weight and variety to the evening.

What the guides add to the night

The strongest part of this tour is the human delivery. Jeff and Geoff receive repeated praise for their history, humor, and storytelling. J is also praised for being personable, funny, helpful, and attentive to a guest using a mobility device.

A good guide explains the technical side of New Orleans burials while keeping the mood light. You may hear about how tombs are used, why the city’s cemeteries look the way they do, and which notable people are connected with the sites. Then the tone shifts toward ghost stories and EMF readings.

That mix suits New Orleans. The city’s cemetery traditions are interesting even without anything supernatural, but the haunted angle gives the evening energy. The best guides let you enjoy both sides without insisting that you believe every story.

Guide assignments vary, so you cannot count on having Jeff, Geoff, or J. Still, the repeated praise for several guides suggests that the company has a strong pool of hosts. One poor account also shows why pacing matters. If a guide spends too long on personal stories, later stops may be shortened or missed.

Marie Laveau, famous tombs, and what you will not see

This tour does not visit Marie Laveau’s tomb. Her resting place is in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, which is not part of this route.

You will, however, hear about and see the resting places of other prominent people. The guide points out notable tombs and explains the people and customs connected with them. If Marie Laveau is your top priority, choose a separate St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 experience instead.

This tour works better for people who want a broader look at New Orleans cemetery traditions, including a private cemetery and the Katrina memorial. It is less suitable if you have one famous tomb at the top of your list.

Is $40.32 a fair price?

At $40.32 per person, the cost is reasonable for a two-hour evening experience that includes transportation, a live guide, exclusive cemetery entry, and EMF reader use. You are not paying admission to a long list of attractions. You are paying for access, storytelling, and the convenience of moving between sites without arranging transportation yourself.

The value is strongest if you are staying in the French Quarter and want an easy night activity. The bus saves you from figuring out how to reach cemeteries outside the quarter, and the group setting feels safer than exploring dark cemetery areas alone.

The value is weaker if your main goal is quantity. You may enter only Odd Fellows Rest, while the other sites are seen from the bus or through gates. A walking ghost tour might offer more street-level atmosphere, while a daytime cemetery visit could give you more time for photographs.

Group discounts may be available, and the tour is commonly booked about two weeks ahead. That is useful if you are planning a busy New Orleans stay, especially around festivals, parades, or holiday periods when routes may change.

Weather, walking, and practical comfort

The tour operates in all weather conditions, so check the forecast before you go. New Orleans nights can feel damp, windy, hot, or cold, and the outdoor cemetery portion is more exposed than the air-conditioned bus.

Wear comfortable shoes and use layers. A jacket is helpful on a cool night, while light clothing and water may matter in warm weather. The bus can keep you comfortable between stops, but you still need to walk outside at Odd Fellows Rest.

The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part if they can walk and manage bus steps. Since the walking is mostly flat and not considered strenuous, the main issue is boarding and exiting the vehicle rather than long hikes.

The maximum group size is 42 people. A smaller departure may feel more personal and make it easier to ask questions or hear the guide clearly. A full bus can still work well, but the experience will feel less intimate.

Who should book this cemetery tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a guided look at New Orleans cemeteries without spending the entire night walking. It suits couples, families with older children, friends, solo visitors, and anyone who likes history with a dose of theatrical suspense.

It is especially good for:

• People curious about above-ground tombs and local burial customs
• Visitors who want exclusive nighttime access to Odd Fellows Rest
• Skeptics who enjoy ghost stories as entertainment
• Believers who want to use EMF readers in a cemetery setting
• Solo visitors who prefer a group and bus rather than exploring alone
• Anyone who wants a cemetery experience with limited strenuous walking

I would pause before booking if you need wheelchair access, want to visit Marie Laveau’s tomb, or expect to enter multiple cemeteries. I would also avoid scheduling it as your only New Orleans history activity. The haunted stories are fun, but the most useful parts are the explanations of burial traditions, Hurricane Katrina, and the people connected with the cemeteries.

Final verdict: book it for access, stories, and atmosphere

This is a good-value New Orleans evening tour when you understand its limits. Odd Fellows Rest is the reason to book, and the guide is the reason the tour succeeds. The bus, restroom stop, exclusive access, and EMF readers make the experience easy and entertaining.

Book it if you want one special cemetery entry, a knowledgeable and lively guide, and a safe way to explore the haunted side of the city. Skip it if you want several open cemetery visits or a focused tour of Marie Laveau and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, so check your plans before the deadline.

FAQ

Which cemetery does the tour visit?

The tour typically enters Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery with exclusive nighttime 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 included. The guide does discuss and show other notable resting places.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina memorial?

Yes. The route includes the cemetery and memorial connected with the unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. At night, you may view the site through the gate if it is closed.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours, including the bus ride, cemetery visits, restroom break, and commentary.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours, 620 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Parking nearby is limited and paid, so allow extra time if you are driving.

Can I bring a drink?

Yes. You may bring a drink onto the bus. Alcoholic beverages are not included, but you can purchase a drink during the stop near Morning Call.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

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

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour operates in all weather conditions. Wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing, and remember that routes may change because of parades, festivals, construction, or other conditions.