New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

The dead tell New Orleans stories. This after-dark bus tour pairs cemetery access with sharp local history, spooky tales, and an EMF reader you can use inside Odd Fellows Rest. I especially like the exclusive entry to Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery not generally open to tour groups, and the way the bus links burial customs, Hurricane Katrina, and the city’s ghost lore. The main drawback is that the advertised cemetery variety can feel limited, since much of the tour centers on one cemetery and another nighttime stop may be viewed through a gate.

You meet in the French Quarter, grab a drink before departure if you wish, then ride in an air-conditioned bus through New Orleans’ above-ground-tomb country. Guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J have earned strong praise for their humor and storytelling, while drivers including Cory, Bruce, and Carl help keep the ride comfortable. Still, arrive ready for outdoor walking, changing weather, and a tour that can feel less satisfying if you want several full cemetery visits.

Key points at a glance

• Odd Fellows Rest after dark: Enter a private cemetery with exclusive tour access and spend the main walking portion among its tombs.
• History with a spooky edge: Learn why New Orleans cemeteries look different from those in many other American cities.
• EMF readers included: Try the equipment while hearing stories about spirits and alleged paranormal activity.
• Comfortable bus transport: Ride between cemeteries in an air-conditioned vehicle, with live commentary along the way.
• Short refreshment stop: Pause at Morning Call Coffee Stand for a restroom break and the chance to buy a drink or beignets.
• Good value for the right audience: At $40.32, the tour makes sense if exclusive access and storytelling matter more to you than a long list of cemetery entrances.

Why New Orleans cemeteries look different

New Orleans burial customs are one of the best reasons to take this tour, even if you are not sold on ghosts. Instead of rows of underground graves, many local cemeteries use above-ground tombs. The city’s relationship with water, soil, heat, and flooding helped shape this distinctive approach.

Your guide explains the practical and human side of these burials. You will hear about how tombs are used, how families and burial societies fit into the system, and why these places feel more like small stone neighborhoods than ordinary graveyards.

That context gives the tour more weight than a simple hunt for strange sounds or unexplained readings. I like the balance when the guide moves from a burial detail to a ghost story, then back to the people and events connected with the site.

New Orleans’ cemeteries also reflect social groups, faiths, family ties, and mutual-aid organizations. Odd Fellows Rest connects to the Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization that cared for its members and maintained its own burial ground. The tour uses that setting to explain a side of the city that is easy to miss on a standard French Quarter walk.

Starting near Bon’s in the French Quarter

The meeting point is New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours at 620 Decatur Street, near the heart of the French Quarter. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. The location is convenient for walking and public transportation, but parking nearby is limited and paid, so driving adds avoidable stress.

Bon’s New Orleans Street Food is listed as the opening point, giving you a chance to pick up a drink before boarding. Alcoholic drinks are not included, but you can purchase a beverage at the nearby stop and bring your own drink on the bus. Confirm the local rules at the start, and keep your drink sensible while walking through a cemetery.

This small pre-tour window is useful. You can use the restroom, get settled, and avoid beginning the evening hungry. If you are coming directly from dinner or a French Quarter bar, do not cut it close. Streets, crowds, and parking can slow you down.

The activity ends back at the same meeting point. That return is handy if you have dinner plans nearby or want to continue your evening in the French Quarter.

Riding past Cypress Grove and Greenwood

Once aboard, the guide begins the city commentary. The bus passes cemeteries including Cypress Grove and Greenwood, where you can see the repeated pattern of above-ground tombs from the street.

These drive-by views are not the same as getting out and walking among the tombs. Still, they help you understand the scale and style of New Orleans burial grounds. The bus also saves your legs and provides a warmer, safer-feeling way to cover ground after dark.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and recent tour experiences describe it as clean and warm. That matters more than it might sound. New Orleans evenings can be windy or cold, and one group found the final cemetery stop less appealing because the weather had turned unpleasant.

The maximum group size is 42 people. That is large enough to feel like a proper group outing rather than a private tour, but the bus setting keeps the experience organized. A smaller departure can make it easier to ask questions and hear the guide clearly. Your experience will depend partly on the size of your particular departure.

Entering Odd Fellows Rest after dark

Odd Fellows Rest is the heart of the experience. The tour has exclusive access to this private cemetery, and you spend about 35 minutes there with the guide. This is the part that separates the tour from a simple bus ride past famous burial grounds.

You should expect to leave the bus and walk among the tombs. The surfaces are generally flat, and the activity is not considered strenuous, but you need to manage steps when boarding and exiting the bus as well as a fair amount of walking at the cemetery.

Bring comfortable shoes. At night, steady footing matters more than looking dressed up for the French Quarter. Layered clothing is also smart because you may move from a climate-controlled bus to open air and back again.

The guide uses the cemetery to explain its history, point out notable resting places, and set up the supernatural stories. Several guides, especially Jeff and Geoff, have been praised for mixing facts with jokes and dramatic timing. J has also received strong praise for being personable and helpful, including assisting a mother who used a mobility device.

The mood is intentionally spooky, but it is not a horror attraction with actors or elaborate effects. The atmosphere comes from darkness, old tombs, quiet walking, and stories about people connected with the cemetery. If you enjoy suspense built through narration, this works well. If you want theatrical scares every few minutes, you may find it subdued.

Testing EMF readers among the tombs

EMF readers are included, and you can use them during the cemetery visit. The devices detect electromagnetic changes, but the tour presents them as a way to look for possible paranormal activity. They are best treated as a playful tool, not scientific proof of ghosts.

I like this addition because it gives you something to do while listening. Instead of standing passively as the guide talks, you can watch the device and compare readings with what is happening around you. It also gives families and friends a light activity to share.

Keep your expectations grounded. An EMF reading alone does not confirm a spirit, and the tour’s strongest material comes from its history and storytelling. The equipment adds atmosphere, but it should not be the sole reason you book.

The guide’s personality matters here. Jeff, Geoff, and J are repeatedly praised for keeping groups engaged, laughing, and alert to the possibility of something unusual. Names and staff can change, so do not book on the assumption that one particular guide will lead your departure.

The Morning Call break

The tour makes a roughly 10-minute stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand. This is primarily a quick restroom break, with time to buy a drink or beignets.

Do not expect a full meal stop. Ten minutes is enough for a short comfort break, not a leisurely snack. If you want food, order quickly and keep an eye on the departure time.

This pause also breaks up the walking and bus commentary. That is helpful on a two-hour evening tour, especially if you have been sightseeing all day. It gives you a chance to warm up, stretch, and decide how much of the next stop you want to see on foot.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial and Charity Hospital Cemetery

The final cemetery-related portion connects New Orleans burial grounds with Hurricane Katrina. The memorial was created for unclaimed bodies from the disaster, and the guide explains the lasting effects of Katrina while giving you a chance to pay respects.

This section changes the tone. The tour is still framed around haunted New Orleans, but the memorial calls for more care and less showmanship. I value that shift because it connects the city’s supernatural reputation with a real tragedy that affected families and neighborhoods.

At night, access here may be more limited than the wording of the tour suggests. The cemetery can be closed, leaving you to look through the gate while the guide provides the background. One evening group found this stop brief and chose to remain on the bus because of cold, windy weather.

That is an important expectation to set. You may not get a full walk inside every cemetery named during the ride. Odd Fellows Rest is the reliable centerpiece, while the Katrina and Charity Hospital portion may be a gate-side visit or a walk-by depending on access and conditions.

Routes can also change because of parades, festivals, construction, or other city events. New Orleans is a working city, not a museum set aside for tours. A changed route can be disappointing, but it is part of visiting during a busy event season.

How much cemetery time will you really get?

The tour lasts about two hours, but the time is divided among riding, commentary, the restroom stop, and cemetery visits. Odd Fellows Rest receives the main amount of walking time. The other cemeteries help fill out the picture but may be viewed from the bus or outside a locked gate.

This creates a clear choice. If you want one unusual cemetery that few tour groups can enter, the schedule works. If you want to walk through several famous cemeteries, you may feel shortchanged.

One low-rated experience focused on this issue. The guide reportedly spent too long at the first cemetery, then had to shorten the remaining stops. That appears to be an exception among the supplied experiences, but it points to a real risk: the balance of time depends on the guide and the group.

Ask questions early if a subject interests you. Guides are praised for their stories, but one person felt the commentary became too focused on the guide and that questions were postponed. A strong guide can make the tour memorable, yet a long personal monologue can reduce the time available at later stops.

Is $40.32 a fair price?

At $40.32 per person, the price is reasonable for a two-hour guided outing with bus transportation, live commentary, exclusive cemetery entry, and EMF readers. You are paying for access and interpretation, not just a seat on a vehicle.

The exclusive entry is the value anchor. Odd Fellows Rest is not simply another cemetery viewed from a sidewalk. You get to walk inside with a guide, hear its stories in place, and use the paranormal equipment among the tombs.

The price is less compelling if you mainly want a broad sightseeing loop. Some cemeteries are drive-by views, and the final memorial may be visible only through a gate at night. In that case, you are paying a fair rate for a themed history tour, but not for several full cemetery admissions.

Group discounts may improve the cost for families or friends. The tour is booked, on average, about 14 days ahead, so planning early is sensible, especially if you need a particular evening.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancel later than that, or make changes within the final 24 hours, and you will not receive a refund.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this tour for:

• First-time New Orleans visitors who want something beyond food, music, and French Quarter architecture.
• Couples and friends who enjoy spooky stories without needing a full haunted-house production.
• Families with older children who can manage nighttime walking and appreciate history mixed with humor.
• Solo visitors who prefer cemetery visits with a guide and a group rather than going alone after dark.
• People curious about New Orleans burial customs and the social groups tied to local cemeteries.

I would think twice if you need a wheelchair-accessible bus. The vehicle is not wheelchair accessible, and everyone must be able to climb a few steps to board and leave. Service animals are allowed, and most participants can take part, but the walking and bus steps still matter.

You should also reconsider if your main goal is Marie Laveau’s tomb. This tour does not visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where her tomb is located. It does visit other notable resting places and focuses on Odd Fellows Rest, Cypress Grove, Greenwood, and the Katrina memorial area instead.

Practical tips for a smoother evening

Wear comfortable shoes and bring layers. The bus may be warm while the cemetery is cold, windy, or damp, and the tour operates in all weather conditions.

Arrive 15 minutes early at 620 Decatur Street. Walking or public transportation is easier than finding a parking space in the French Quarter.

Use the restroom before departure, then take advantage of the Morning Call stop. Drinks are not included, but you can buy one before or during the planned refreshment portion. Alcoholic beverages are not supplied by the tour.

Keep your camera ready, but do not let photographs replace the explanation. The tombs and gates can make striking night pictures, and several people enjoyed the photo opportunities, but the guide’s descriptions provide the meaning behind what you see.

Most important, treat the cemetery as a place of remembrance. The ghost stories are part of New Orleans culture, yet the Katrina memorial concerns real loss. A respectful attitude makes the experience better for everyone.

Should you book the New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour?

Book it if exclusive access to Odd Fellows Rest is your priority. The combination of a private cemetery, a witty guide, above-ground tombs, ghost stories, and EMF readers creates a distinctive evening that is hard to reproduce on your own.

I would not book it expecting several long cemetery walks or Marie Laveau’s tomb. You will likely spend most of your walking time at Odd Fellows Rest, with other sites explained from the bus or viewed through gates.

For $40.32, this is a good-value choice for history-minded visitors who enjoy a little theatrical suspense. Choose an evening when you can handle outdoor weather, arrive early, and keep your expectations focused on one special cemetery rather than a full cemetery crawl.

FAQ

Which cemetery does the tour visit?

The tour typically enters Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery with exclusive 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 other prominent people and resting places.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina Memorial?

Yes. The guide explains the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and the tour includes the memorial cemetery created for unclaimed bodies from the disaster. At night, access may be limited, so you may view the site through the gate.

Are drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included. You can buy a drink before the tour or at the local stop and bring your own drink on the bus.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

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

What happens if I need to cancel?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.