Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

New Orleans gets stranger after sunset. This roughly two-hour tour takes you beyond the French Quarter to above-ground tombs, old city traditions, City Park, and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. Its biggest draw is simple: you get after-dark cemetery access, something most New Orleans ghost tours do not offer.

I like the unusual setting and the chance to learn why New Orleans buries many people in tombs above ground. I also like the relaxed BYOB format, which can make the bus ride feel social and festive. The main caution is that the experience can lean more toward a party bus with cemetery stops than a tightly scripted ghost investigation, especially when the music is loud or the guide keeps the storytelling brief.

The $30 price is fair if you want a quick introduction to New Orleans burial customs, local legends, and several out-of-the-way sites. It is less convincing if you expect a long walk through historic cemeteries, a steady stream of ghost stories, or a polished theatrical production.

Key points to know before booking

• Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 after dark: Walk among compact rows of unusual above-ground tombs in a cemetery founded in 1865.
• BYOB bus format: Bring your own drink, or buy one near the meeting point, but disruptive behavior is not allowed.
• Guides make the difference: Henry, Ray, Roy, and other guides have earned praise for humor, local insight, and personal ghost stories.
• A social, music-filled ride: Some groups enjoy the songs and party atmosphere, while others find the bus too loud.
• More than ghost stories: The tour can include City Park, Morning Call Cafe, the Katrina Memorial, Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, and Odd Fellows Rest.
• Plan for walking and steps: The cemetery walk is mostly flat, but the bus is not wheelchair accessible and you must climb aboard.

Meeting at Voodoo Tavern in the French Quarter

The tour begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys at 1140 Decatur Street, in the French Quarter. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. That early arrival matters because the pickup area can become crowded, and late arrivals may delay the group.

The tavern is also the practical place to buy a drink for the BYOB ride. Drinks are not included in the $30 price, so bring your own libation or purchase one before boarding. You are expected to drink responsibly. If you become disruptive, the operator can remove you from the tour.

Parking near Decatur Street is limited and paid. I would walk, use public transportation, or arrange a rideshare rather than wrestle with French Quarter parking. The exact pickup area can also be affected by road construction, so give yourself extra time and confirm where the bus is waiting.

The bus holds as many as 56 people. That is a fairly large group for a cemetery walk, and your position on the bus can affect the experience. Arrive early if you want a better choice of seats. One particularly useful warning: the back of the vehicle can be loud, and music volume may bother anyone with tinnitus or sensitivity to noise.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and the geometry of the tombs

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. This cemetery feels different from the Catholic burial grounds most closely associated with New Orleans.

Its layout is especially interesting. The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks and has a triangular plan, with Conti Street cutting through the property. The internal paths reflect the Masonic square and compass emblem. Cast-iron fences divide the two sections, while oak-lined edges give the place a more enclosed, shadowy feel after dark.

The tombs are arranged in compact rows parallel to Bienville Street. A broad paved walkway runs through the center, with narrower paths leading between the tombs. That arrangement makes the cemetery easy to explore on foot, although the amount of time available may feel short.

The unusual tombs are connected to the cemetery’s communal character. Masonic lodge members pooled money to build group tombs, rather than each family creating a separate monument. That gives you a useful window into how fraternal organizations shaped burial customs in New Orleans.

The walk here lasts about 30 minutes, with the guide explaining above-ground burial, local customs, and selected graves. Some guides use ghost-hunting tools such as an EMF reader and encourage you to check your photos for orbs or other odd shapes.

Keep your expectations measured. The cemetery may be well lit, which helps you see the architecture but reduces the spooky mood. Some guides offer only a short talk, then allow you to look around on your own. Others, including guides such as Roy and Henry, have been praised for making the stop interactive, funny, and personal.

That difference is central to this tour. Your guide may shape half the experience. A strong storyteller can turn a short cemetery walk into an entertaining lesson about New Orleans. A weaker one may leave you wishing for more graves, more context, and a clearer ghost story.

City Park, oak trees, and a break at Morning Call

The bus continues through City Park, a 1,300-acre public park that has been part of New Orleans life since 1854. It is one of the oldest urban parks in the United States, with broad oak canopies and moss-covered branches that create a fitting setting for local legends.

This portion is not a formal park tour. Instead, the ride gives you a look at a quieter side of the city beyond the French Quarter. The guide may tell stories connected to the old oaks, past dances, concerts, and duels known as affaires d’honneur.

The tour stops at Morning Call Cafe, where you can buy coffee and beignets. This is also the most useful break in the evening, since the bus does not appear to offer regular bathroom stops. Budget extra time if you want a snack, a hot drink, or a bathroom visit.

The stop can feel slightly uneven. Some people appreciate the chance to stretch, eat, and regroup. Others feel the tour spends too much time at the cafe and not enough time in the cemeteries. If your main goal is ghost lore, this is the point where the itinerary may seem less focused.

Still, the cafe stop adds a practical New Orleans touch. A beignet and coffee in City Park fit the city better than another generic bar stop. Just remember that food and drinks at Morning Call are additional costs.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial and a quieter final stop

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial brings a different mood. The site honors 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures. After the playful ghost stories and BYOB bus atmosphere, this memorial offers a needed moment of quiet.

I consider this one of the tour’s most meaningful elements. It connects New Orleans burial practices and death customs with a modern tragedy that still shapes the city. A good guide can explain the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina without turning the memorial into a quick photo stop.

The tour may also visit Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field and Odd Fellows Rest, depending on the operating schedule and route. Charity Hospital’s burial ground adds context about people who died without known family or resources. Odd Fellows Rest relates to another fraternal organization and gives you a second look at how societies cared for their dead.

Because the stops can vary, you should not book this tour expecting a fixed list of every cemetery. The named itinerary includes Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, City Park, Morning Call Cafe, and the Katrina Memorial, while the tour information also identifies Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field and Odd Fellows Rest as typical locations.

The tour does not visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 or Marie Laveau’s tomb. If you specifically want Marie Laveau, choose a different cemetery tour. You will instead see other prominent graves and resting places, with the guide explaining local customs along the way.

Ghost stories, EMF tools, and the real level of fright

This is a ghost tour, but it is not necessarily a scare attraction. The mood depends on the guide, the group, the lighting, and the amount of music playing on the bus.

You may hear stories of paranormal activity and use an EMF reader to look for unusual readings. You can also take photos and check them for orbs or other possible signs of spirits. That part is best treated as playful ghost hunting rather than proof of the supernatural.

The strongest guides use humor and local experience to build the mood. Roy has been praised for being interactive and for handing out ghost-hunting tools. Henry has received repeated praise for his energy, clever song choices, historical explanations, and ability to make a last-minute booking feel worthwhile.

Other guides may take a looser approach. You might get a few facts at a graveyard, some time to wander, and a personal story that does not directly connect to the cemetery. That can be fun for a relaxed night out, but it may disappoint you if you want a carefully developed narrative.

Music is another dividing line. Some people enjoy the songs and party atmosphere. Others find loud hip-hop or bus noise distracting, especially during the ride between stops. If you want a calm historical tour, this may not be your best choice. If you like a drink, music, jokes, and a little spooky scenery, the format makes more sense.

Is $30 good value for two hours?

At $30 per person, this is one of the more affordable ways to see New Orleans cemeteries after dark. The price includes the driver-guide, live commentary on the bus, cemetery access, and pickup and return to the French Quarter meeting point.

The value depends on what you want from the night. You are paying for transportation to neighborhoods beyond the French Quarter, a guided cemetery walk, a few additional sites, and the novelty of visiting after dark. You are not paying for drinks, beignets, a private group, or a long, scholarly cemetery lecture.

I think the price works well for first-time visitors who want a broad sample of New Orleans death traditions without committing to a longer tour. It also works for groups of friends who want an easy evening activity with a social side.

The value drops if the guide provides little commentary or if the bus spends too much time playing music. At that point, you are mainly paying for a ride to a cemetery and a short independent walk. The experience can still be pleasant, but it may not feel like a full ghost tour.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would suggest this tour to you if you like a casual mix of history, local legends, drinks, and group energy. It suits couples, families with children age six and older, and friends looking for something different from the French Quarter’s usual nightlife.

Families should know that the material includes death, unclaimed victims, graveyards, and frightening tales. The tour is allowed for children six and older, but younger children may find the subject matter unsettling.

You should choose another experience if you want a serious cemetery history lesson, a quiet night walk, or a tightly timed paranormal investigation. The BYOB format and loud music can make the tour feel more like a themed social outing than a traditional guided walk.

The tour involves a fair amount of walking, though it is mostly on flat surfaces. Wear comfortable shoes and bring layers. You must manage a few steps to board and leave the bus, and the vehicle is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed.

Practical tips for a smoother night

Arrive early, especially if your group wants to sit together. A late arrival can cause confusion, and the bus may already be filling when you reach the meeting point.

Bring a small drink rather than a large collection of bottles. You want something easy to carry during the cemetery walk, and responsible drinking is part of the agreement.

Wear shoes that can handle paved paths and cemetery walkways. A light jacket is useful because New Orleans evenings can feel different from the warmer daytime hours, and bus air-conditioning may add a chill.

Keep your phone charged. The tour encourages photos, and you may want to use the camera during the cemetery walk. Do not expect every strange shape in a picture to be paranormal, but checking your photos is part of the fun.

Ask your guide questions. The better guides respond well to curiosity, and questions about tomb construction, family customs, fraternal groups, and Katrina can bring more substance to a short stop.

Finally, treat the cemetery and memorial with respect. The BYOB setup is informal, but these are real burial grounds and a site connected to real loss.

Should you book the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour?

Book it if you want an affordable, social night tour with real cemetery access, unusual burial customs, and a chance to see parts of New Orleans beyond the French Quarter. The best guides, especially Henry and Roy, can make the two hours funny, informative, and memorable.

Skip it if you want a consistently scary experience or a detailed history tour with long cemetery visits. The guide quality, bus volume, and balance between storytelling and free time can vary.

My practical verdict: this is a good-value introduction to New Orleans cemeteries, provided you see it as a relaxed BYOB ghost ride rather than a serious paranormal study. Arrive early, sit away from the loudest part of the bus if needed, keep your expectations flexible, and let the city’s unusual burial traditions do much of the haunting.

FAQ

Where does the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour begin?

The tour begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, located at 1140 Decatur Street in the French Quarter.

How early should I arrive?

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

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $30 per person.

Which cemeteries does the tour visit?

The tour starts at Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and typically may also visit Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, and other cemetery sites.

Does the tour visit Marie Laveau’s tomb?

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

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, but you may bring your own alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks. You must drink responsibly and avoid disruptive behavior.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is limited to people age six and older. It includes morbid subjects and ghost stories, so younger children may find some material frightening.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

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

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.