Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

New Orleans gets stranger after sunset. This roughly two-hour outing leaves the French Quarter for quieter streets, then brings you into Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, where above-ground tombs, iron fences, and nighttime stories create a setting that daytime tours cannot match. I like the access to a cemetery after dark, and I like the mix of cemetery customs, local history, and ghost-hunting fun.

The $30 price is fair if you want transportation and a lively guide rather than a long, scholarly cemetery lecture. The main catch is that the experience can shift from spooky history tour to BYOB party bus, depending on your guide and group. Loud music, limited storytelling, and a short time at the cemetery have disappointed some people, so your expectations matter.

The essential details before you book

• After-dark cemetery access: This tour visits Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 at night, a rare chance to see New Orleans tombs without the usual daytime crowds.
• A moving tour, not a single-site walk: You ride beyond the French Quarter to cemeteries, City Park, the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, and other possible stops.
• BYOB changes the mood: You may bring your own drinks, but alcohol is not included. Responsible behavior is required.
• Guide quality matters: Guides named Henry, Ray, Roy, and Marcus have earned strong praise for humor and local stories, though the amount of narration can vary.
• Plan for walking and steps: The cemetery paths are mostly flat, but you must climb a few steps to enter and leave the bus.
• Meet early at Voodoo Tavern: Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure at 1140 Decatur Street in the French Quarter.

Meeting at Voodoo Tavern on Decatur Street

Your evening begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, at 1140 Decatur Street. This is a handy French Quarter location, and it gives you a chance to buy a drink before boarding if you want to make use of the BYOB setup. Parking nearby is limited and usually costs money, so walking, public transit, or a rideshare is the sensible choice.

Arrive early. Thirty minutes is not excessive here, especially if you need to find the meeting point, use a restroom, or buy a drink. The bus can fill quickly, and arriving late has caused avoidable confusion. One especially useful rule is simple: do not be the last person on board if you are traveling with a group. There have been complaints about overbooking and someone being unable to join after the bus filled.

The meeting point can feel less polished than the tour itself. Road construction and pickup restrictions have also made the area awkward at times. I would treat the bar as a starting point, not part of the attraction. Eat beforehand or pick up food there, then keep your drink secure for the ride.

The bus holds up to 56 people, although some departures may feel smaller. The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible, and you need to manage a few steps. Service animals are allowed, and most people who can walk comfortably on flat ground should manage the cemetery portions without trouble.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 after dark

The first major stop is Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, founded in 1865 by the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana Free and Accepted Masons. It feels different from New Orleans’ better-known Catholic cemeteries because it reflects Masonic traditions and communal burial practices.

The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks, with Conti Street dividing the sections. Its triangular plan mirrors the Masonic square-and-compass emblem, while cast-iron fences mark the edges. Oak rows line parts of the grounds, and the tombs are set in compact rows along Bienville Street.

This layout matters because you are not simply wandering among random graves. The cemetery reflects an organized social world. Lodge members pooled money for large group tombs, which explains why many structures are elaborate but communal rather than built for one wealthy family. That detail gives the cemetery a useful human story beyond the usual ghost-tour treatment.

You get about 30 minutes here, including a guided introduction and time to look around. The exact balance can vary. Some guides point out burial customs, notable graves, and unusual tombs before letting you explore on your own. Other departures have offered only a brief talk, leaving too much empty time for people expecting a steady stream of ghost stories.

The cemetery may also be better lit than you expect. That helps you see the tombs and walk safely, but it can soften the spooky mood. If your goal is a frightening theatrical show, this may feel tame. If you like old cemeteries, unusual burial traditions, and a chance to inspect the details at your own pace, the stop has real appeal.

Bring a phone or camera. The tour encourages you to look for orbs and other supposed signs of paranormal activity in your photos. Treat that as playful entertainment, not proof of ghosts. The supplied EMF reader can add a little ghost-hunting fun, especially for families and first-time participants.

Why New Orleans tombs make this tour different

New Orleans’ above-ground burial tradition is one of the main reasons to choose this outing. The city’s high water table made traditional underground burial difficult in many places, and the tombs create a very different visual and cultural setting from an ordinary cemetery.

Here, the focus is not only on famous names. You are looking at family tombs, communal lodge tombs, columbaria, ironwork, walkways, and the way burial spaces were organized. The Masonic cemetery helps show that New Orleans burial customs were shaped by religion, fraternal groups, public health concerns, money, and local conditions.

The tour does not include St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 or Marie Laveau’s tomb. If seeing Marie Laveau’s resting place is your main goal, book a different cemetery experience. This tour typically focuses on Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, the Charity Hospital pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, and other locations, depending on the route and access that night.

That changing route is useful, but it also means you should not expect a fixed list of famous graves. Ask your guide what is included at the start. The most satisfying part of the evening is often the explanation of how New Orleans buries its dead, rather than a single celebrity tomb.

Riding through City Park and stopping at Morning Call

Between cemetery stops, the bus passes through City Park, a 1,300-acre urban park founded in 1854. It is one of the country’s oldest city parks, known for old oak trees and moss-covered branches. The park has long been linked with dances, concerts, and even formal duels.

The drive gives the tour a wider sense of New Orleans. You leave the French Quarter behind and see a quieter side of the city, though the amount of commentary during the ride depends heavily on the guide. Some departures use lively music, including clever song choices that add to the evening. Others have featured loud hip-hop or party music that made conversation difficult, especially near the back of the bus.

That is a real comfort issue if you have tinnitus or dislike loud music. You may want to sit toward the front and ask about the volume before the bus leaves. The music can make the trip feel social and relaxed, but it can also crowd out the ghost stories you paid to hear.

The stop at Morning Call Cafe gives you a chance to buy coffee and beignets. It also serves as the most useful break in the program, since there is not always a separate bathroom stop. Be prepared for the possibility of going more than two hours without a formal restroom break if the route runs long. One passenger described a tour lasting over two hours, so use the facilities when you have the chance.

This pause works best if you see it as a local snack stop rather than a major sightseeing visit. Coffee and beignets add a pleasant New Orleans touch, but you are not given a long culinary experience. Keep an eye on the meeting time so you do not get left behind.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial and a quieter ending

The tour concludes its sightseeing with a visit to the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. The site honors 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures, making it a far more serious stop than the playful ghost-hunting portions.

This is where the evening shifts tone. You have been looking for paranormal signs and hearing cemetery stories, then you are asked to pause at a place tied to real loss. I appreciate that contrast. It connects New Orleans’ fascination with death and remembrance to a modern tragedy rather than treating every grave as a prop for entertainment.

The guide may also discuss the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina and take you to Odd Fellows Rest, associated with a little-known fraternal society. The exact order and stops can change, but the memorial is an important reason to pay attention. It gives the tour more substance than a simple ride between bars and cemeteries.

Some people have found the final park or memorial stop less dramatic than expected, especially when the guide spends more time on personal anecdotes than local history. Others have enjoyed the personal style and humor. Again, the guide shapes the evening. A strong guide can make a modest stop memorable; a weak one can make an interesting place feel rushed.

Guides, storytelling, and the party-bus question

The strongest praise goes to the guides who balance humor with useful local information. Henry has been singled out for explaining burial practices, using clever music, and keeping families entertained. Ray and Roy have also been praised for warmth, local knowledge, ghost-hunting tools, and a lively approach. Marcus has been described as funny and pleasant, though one departure with him felt more like a music-filled ride than a serious ghost tour.

I would book this tour expecting an informal guide, not a museum lecture. You may hear fascinating stories about cemetery customs, personal paranormal experiences, and prominent New Orleans figures. You may also get time to explore quietly with only a short explanation at the entrance.

The BYOB format is central to the experience. It can help a friendly group loosen up, and responsible passengers can create a fun evening. But drinking is not an excuse for disruptive behavior. The company says anyone causing trouble can be removed from the tour, which is fair on a small bus shared by strangers.

If you want a focused ghost narrative, ask at the beginning how much walking and storytelling are planned. If the guide invites questions, use that opening. Specific questions about burial practices, Masonic symbols, Katrina, or local legends can draw out a better experience than simply waiting for a scripted presentation.

Is $30 a fair price?

At $30 per person, the tour offers reasonable value for a two-hour outing that includes transportation from the French Quarter, a driver-guide, cemetery access, live commentary, and several stops. You also avoid arranging taxis or rideshares to cemeteries outside the Quarter.

The value drops if you mainly want a long guided walk with detailed stories. Some departures spend only 10 to 15 minutes at a cemetery or leave you to explore independently. In that case, much of what you are buying is the bus ride, the atmosphere, and the chance to visit places that are awkward to reach on your own.

I think the price works best for first-time visitors who want a relaxed evening activity with a spooky theme. It is less convincing for serious cemetery fans who expect dense historical detail or a carefully staged ghost investigation.

The overall score is 4.5 from 2,685 ratings, but the spread of experiences is worth noting. The high marks center on funny, caring guides and the unusual access after dark. The low marks focus on weak storytelling, loud music, disorganized pickup, and the sense that the bus became a party vehicle.

Who should book this New Orleans ghost tour?

You are a good match if you want:

• A casual night out that mixes history and ghost stories
• A chance to see above-ground tombs after dark
• Transportation beyond the French Quarter
• A BYOB activity with music and social energy
• A family-friendly tour for ages 6 and up, with some morbid tales
• Light walking on mostly flat surfaces

You may want another tour if you need a quiet, highly structured experience, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, or a guaranteed visit to Marie Laveau’s tomb. You should also skip it if loud music or alcohol-centered groups would spoil your evening.

Wear comfortable shoes and layers. Smart casual clothing is recommended, but practical clothes matter more than dressing up. The cemetery paths are not described as strenuous, yet nighttime walking, bus steps, and uneven attention from the guide mean you should stay alert.

Book at least 24 hours ahead if your plans might change. Cancellation is free up to that point, while cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded. The tour can also be canceled for poor weather or if the minimum number of people is not reached, with a different date or full refund offered.

Should you book the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour?

Book it if you want an accessible introduction to New Orleans burial customs with a social, slightly rowdy mood. The after-dark cemetery access is the real draw, and a good guide such as Henry, Ray, or Roy can turn the evening into a memorable mix of local stories, humor, and ghost-hunting games.

Do not book it expecting a polished theatrical production every time. The route, music, crowd, and storytelling can vary, and some departures offer less cemetery time than the description suggests. Arrive early, sit near the front if loud sound bothers you, use the restroom at Morning Call, and think of the experience as a BYOB history ride with spooky stops.

For $30, I would recommend it to flexible visitors who value atmosphere and personality over a strict script. If your priority is detailed cemetery history or a specific famous tomb, choose a more specialized walking tour instead.

FAQ

Where does the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour begin?

It begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, located at 1140 Decatur Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the starting meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

How long does the tour last?

The listed duration is approximately two hours, though the exact length can vary.

Which cemetery does the tour visit?

The tour includes Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and may also visit the Charity Hospital pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, and other 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.

Are drinks included?

No. You may bring your own drinks, but you must drink responsibly and avoid disruptive behavior.

Is the tour family-friendly?

Yes. It is limited to people age 6 and older, though the tour includes morbid stories that may frighten younger children.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

No. You must be able to walk and manage a few steps to board and leave the bus.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.