New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

A New Orleans cemetery bus tour is already a fun twist, but this one ups the creep factor with exclusive nighttime access and a guide who mixes burial history with spooky storytelling. I especially like the chance to see the city’s famous above-ground tomb style up close, then step back on the bus for quick, well-timed breaks. The other thing I really like is the extra layer of play, since you’ll get EMF readers to try during the cemetery time, even if you’re more curious than convinced. The main drawback to plan for is time, because the tour tends to focus most of the walking on the first cemetery.

You’ll start in the French Quarter area and ride through a small route of notable sites, with the “haunted” theme clearly baked in. Guides on this tour, including names like Geoff, Jeff, Jay, J, and even Carl, are often praised for keeping the group laughing while still packing in practical burial facts you can actually use. One other consideration: the bus isn’t wheelchair accessible and you should be ready for some walking plus a few steps to board and exit.

Key things to know before you go

• Exclusive nighttime entry at Odd Fellows Rest: this tour is presented as the only company allowed in.
• Drive-by views of above-ground tombs: Cypress Grove and Greenwood are part of the route, with tombs pointed out from the bus.
• Short comfort stops built in: a quick restroom break at Morning Call Coffee Stand and a drink option near the start.
• Hurricane Katrina memorial visit: you’ll have time to pay respects at the memorial for unclaimed bodies.
• EMF readers are part of the experience: you’ll get a chance to try during cemetery time, no matter your beliefs.
• Small group on a max 42-seat bus: you get easier listening and more room to ask questions.

Why Odd Fellows Rest After Dark feels like the main event

Most cemetery tours in New Orleans are about looking from outside and taking photos through gates. This one is structured around the idea that you should actually get inside a private cemetery after dark. Odd Fellows Rest is the anchor stop, and the tour strongly emphasizes that they are the only company allowed to enter that cemetery.

That matters because New Orleans cemeteries are visual first, and rules second. The famous above-ground tombs, the vaults, the layout, and the way families claim space are what make this city’s burial culture so different from what most people picture. When you’re walking the paths at night, you notice details faster, like how the stonework ages and how the layout shapes sightlines. Add the guide’s stories and it becomes less like a history lecture and more like moving through a living city myth.

Price and value: what $40.32 actually buys you

At $40.32 per person for about 2 hours, the best way to think about value is what’s included that you can’t easily DIY. You’re paying for transportation, on-board commentary, and, most importantly, the access piece. If you try to wing it, you can see plenty of cemeteries during the day, but getting the same kind of organized after-dark entry is the hard part.

This tour also includes the tools for the spooky angle: EMF readers are provided for you to try. I treat that as a fun extra, not a guarantee, but it does change the mood. Instead of simply watching headstones in the dark, you’re doing something with the group, like taking turns scanning, asking the guide what to look for, and comparing notes.

You also get a guide plus a set route, which is more useful than it sounds in the French Quarter. Even if you know your way around, it’s easy to lose time crossing neighborhoods, and cemeteries have their own walking rhythm.

Meeting at 620 Decatur: how to start without stress

You’ll meet at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours, 620 Decatur St #600, and the tour ends back there. This location is in the thick of the French Quarter, so it’s convenient, but it’s also busy and parking can be tight.

My practical advice: arrive early enough that you’re not rushing for the bus. Aim for about 15 minutes before departure so you can find the right spot and settle in. And if you’re bringing drinks, plan ahead. You can enjoy a drink on the bus, but drinks themselves are not included in the ticket price, and alcoholic beverages aren’t included.

One nice touch is that this tour runs in all weather conditions. That means you’ll want layers. Night in New Orleans can swing from warm to chilly fast, and the walking time is still walking time.

The route in plain English: French Quarter to cemetery to back again

After you check in, the tour starts with a quick cultural warm-up near the French Quarter. There’s a short stop that pairs well with an early drink idea, then you head toward the main cemetery time.

From there, the pattern repeats: cemetery, short walking time, then bus time to connect between sites. You’ll also do a restroom break at Morning Call Coffee Stand. It’s not a big pause, but it’s exactly the kind you want on a night tour when you don’t want to gamble on finding bathrooms later.

A lot of your route time is built for viewing. That’s why you’ll spend time driving by certain cemeteries so the guide can point out the classic above-ground tomb style without turning the night into a long march.

Odd Fellows Rest: what you should expect inside

This is the stop that most people remember. You’ll enter Odd Fellows Rest with the tour’s exclusive nighttime access, and the walking time is about 35 minutes once the main group gets settled in. There’s also an earlier short window related to the first stop that helps set the tone, but Odd Fellows is the clear focal point.

What makes it work is pacing. The guide’s commentary guides your eyes, so you aren’t just wandering looking at random stones. You’ll learn how burials work here, why families claim space above ground, and how the cemeteries function as a kind of social record.

One theme that keeps showing up with guides on this tour is storytelling that blends facts with spooky theater. Names like Geoff and Jay often show up in the guide credits, and the vibe you’ll be aiming for is the same: jokes on the bus, sharp direction in the cemetery, and time to get photos without feeling like you’re sprinting.

A fair heads-up about time at the cemetery

The only real downside is that you can end up spending more time at Odd Fellows Rest than you expected if you thought the tour would feel like a quick walk-through of multiple cemeteries. If you’re hoping for several separate full cemetery walks, the format may feel a bit concentrated. I’d still say it’s worth it, because access is the prize here, not the number of gates you pass.

Drive-bys of Cypress Grove and Greenwood: the tomb style explained fast

Between stops, you’ll ride past cemeteries where Cypress Grove and Greenwood are typically part of the route. The bus part is not filler. The guide uses the drive-by time to explain what you’re seeing, especially New Orleans above-ground tombs.

From the bus, you get a quick sense of how the cemeteries sit within the city grid and how the tombs create a kind of second skyline. You also get context for later cemetery visuals, which helps when you’re walking and suddenly you recognize shapes you saw earlier.

If you’re a “show me rather than tell me” kind of person, this portion can be surprisingly satisfying. You’re still moving, so you don’t freeze waiting, and you’re getting a guided visual lesson.

Morning Call Coffee Stand and the small breaks that matter

Night tours have one goal: keep the group comfortable enough that people actually stay engaged. This tour includes a quick restroom stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand, around 10 minutes.

It’s short, so don’t plan on doing a full sit-down coffee moment. The point is to let you reset your body so you can handle the next cemetery viewing without counting the minutes.

If you want to buy something to take with you, the tour also includes drink options early in the night. You can bring your own drink to enjoy on the bus, but the main idea is this is not an all-inclusive bar crawl. Plan for water too, especially if you’re taking photos in the cold and then warming up on the bus.

Katrina Memorial Cemetery: history that hits differently at night

One of the most meaningful stops comes after the quick coffee break. You’ll visit the memorial for unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina, with time to pay respects. This isn’t presented as just spooky scenery. It’s part of the larger story of New Orleans after tragedy, and it changes the tone of the tour in a good way.

At night, it can feel quieter around memorial spaces. You tend to notice the names and the intent of the place more than you would in daylight when you’re distracted by street activity. The guide will explain the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina, and that context makes the memorial more than a “stop on the list.”

After that, you may have a walk-by moment at another site on the route. If you’ve done other ghost tours in New Orleans, you’ll recognize the pattern: quick look, guide context, then back to the bus so everyone stays together.

EMF readers: how to treat the spooky tech with a good attitude

The tour includes EMF readers, and the guide will encourage you to try to spot activity during cemetery time. Here’s my practical approach: use it like a group activity, not like a scientific test.

In practice, it’s still fun because it forces you to slow down and pay attention. You’ll likely take turns holding the reader, compare what the group sees, and listen to how the guide frames the readings as part of the folklore.

If you’re skeptical, you can still enjoy the experience. The real win is the combination of guide stories, night atmosphere, and shared focus. If you’re a believer, the readers give you a tangible action to do, which can make the moment feel more intense.

Either way, keep your expectations grounded. The best haunted moments here come from your guide’s storytelling and the atmosphere of walking through New Orleans burial culture after dark.

Group size, bus comfort, and night weather tips

The tour runs on an air-conditioned vehicle, and the group is capped at 42 travelers. That matters because night ghost tours can get chaotic if the group is too big, and the bus time is where you need to be able to hear the commentary.

Comfort is a theme in the way this tour gets praised. People highlight a clean bus and a comfortable temperature, which helps when you step out into cooler air. Still, plan your outfit like you’re dressing for a mix of sunless streets and brief walks: layer up and wear comfortable shoes.

Also note the tour involves some walking and you’ll navigate a few steps to board and exit the bus. If you’re traveling with mobility limitations, this matters. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and while most people can participate, you should be ready for flat walking plus stairs at the bus.

Who should book the cemetery bus tour, and who might skip it

This is a strong fit if you want a New Orleans experience that’s structured, not random. It’s great for couples, small groups, and solo travelers who like guided storytelling and don’t want to manage route planning alone.

It’s also a good choice if you’re curious about how New Orleans burials work. You’ll get explanations for the above-ground tomb culture and you’ll see the places where families and communities preserved memory.

I’d suggest skipping or reconsidering if you hate cold night walking, dislike concentrated time in one main cemetery, or need wheelchair access. And if you’re expecting a nonstop sequence of multiple full cemetery entrances, the format is different. The focus stays on Odd Fellows Rest, then wraps around with drive-bys and shorter cemetery viewing.

Should you book this New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour After Dark?

If you want exclusive access plus a guide who can make burial history feel like a story you can see, this tour is worth your time. The price is reasonable for what you get, especially when you factor in nighttime entry and the guided explanation of tombs that most visitors only see from the outside.

I’d book it if you’re the type who likes being part of an organized group night out, with a mix of spooky fun and respectful memorial time. If that sounds like your pace, you’ll probably have a great time.

But if you’re looking for a quick hop across many cemeteries or you want no walking and minimal time on your feet, you may feel the tour is more concentrated than you hoped.

FAQ

Which cemetery do we enter during the New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour After Dark?

This tour typically visits Odd Fellows Rest with exclusive nighttime access. It also passes by cemeteries such as Cypress Grove and Greenwood for above-ground tomb views, while other stops are walk-by or gate viewing depending on access.

Does the tour include Marie Laveau’s tomb?

No. Marie Laveau’s tomb is located in St. Louis cemetery 1, which is not included on this tour.

Is a Hurricane Katrina memorial stop included?

Yes. You visit a memorial created to house the unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina, and the guide explains the lasting effects.

What is the duration of the New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour?

The tour is listed at about 2 hours.

Where is the meeting point, and where does it end?

You meet at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours, 620 Decatur St #600, New Orleans, LA 70130, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

Can I use public transportation to reach the meeting location?

Yes. The meeting location is near public transportation.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible, and how much walking is involved?

The bus is not wheelchair accessible. The tour has a fair amount of walking on mostly flat surfaces, and you will need to navigate a few steps to board and exit the bus.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.