New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

The best part of this New Orleans cemetery bus tour is the chance to enter Odd Fellows Rest after dark, a private cemetery that this tour is specifically permitted to access. Inside, your guide connects the tombs to New Orleans burial customs, local characters, and ghost stories while you test EMF readers for unexplained activity. I like the mix of real history and playful spooky theater, and I like that the bus keeps you moving between cemeteries without asking you to walk across the city at night.

I also appreciate the short stop for a restroom break and a drink, plus the way guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J keep the ride lively with stories and humor. The main caution is that most of the cemetery time is concentrated at Odd Fellows Rest. Other sites may be drive-bys or viewed through a gate, so this is not a long walking tour of several open cemeteries.

Key points at a glance

• Exclusive access to Odd Fellows Rest: The central feature is entry into a private cemetery not generally open to the public at night.
• New Orleans burial customs: Learn why above-ground tombs are common here and how local burial practices developed.
• History mixed with ghost stories: Guides balance factual background, dramatic tales, and a little good-natured fear.
• EMF readers included: You can use the devices during the cemetery visit to look for possible paranormal activity.
• Comfortable bus transportation: The air-conditioned vehicle cuts down on city walking and returns you to the French Quarter meeting point.
• A short coffee or drink stop: Morning Call Coffee Stand provides a practical break, with time to buy a drink or beignets.

Why Odd Fellows Rest is the real reason to go

New Orleans cemeteries are unlike the graveyards many visitors know at home. The city’s high water table helped shape the use of above-ground tombs, creating rows of brick and stone chambers that look almost like small buildings. You will see examples of this style as the bus passes cemeteries such as Cypress Grove and Greenwood, but the strongest experience comes when you can walk among the tombs yourself.

Odd Fellows Rest is the heart of the evening. The cemetery is private, and this tour has special permission to enter. That access gives the experience something a standard drive-by cannot provide. You can look closely at the tombs, hear how they were used, and see the details that disappear when you remain on a bus or peer through a fence.

The visit lasts roughly 35 minutes, though the full evening runs about two hours. That is enough time for a guided walk without turning the experience into a long, tiring cemetery trek. The ground is mostly flat, but you should still wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk outdoors after dark.

The cemetery itself is more important than any promise of a ghost sighting. I would book this for the architecture, burial customs, and access first. The paranormal side works best as an extra layer of fun.

What the bus ride adds to the evening

The bus leaves from New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours at 620 Decatur Street, a convenient location in the French Quarter. Bon’s New Orleans Street Food is nearby, so you can meet for the tour after eating or pick up a drink before departure. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early, especially if you need to find a parking space.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the driver handles the city transportation while the guide provides live commentary. That arrangement matters in New Orleans, where a cemetery may look close on a map but can take time to reach through traffic, construction, festivals, or a parade route. The route can change for those reasons, so treat the listed stops as a guide rather than a fixed promise.

The group can be as large as 42 people. That is a sizable bus, but the best experiences depend on the guide’s ability to keep the commentary clear and the group moving. Recent tours have featured Jeff, Geoff, and J, with Corey, Carl, and Bruce among the drivers mentioned. Jeff and Geoff are especially noted for strong storytelling, while J is described as warm, funny, and attentive to a guest using a mobility device.

You may bring your own drink on the bus, but alcohol is not included. The practical approach is to buy something before departure or during the break, then follow the company’s directions about bringing it aboard.

The cemetery drive and above-ground tombs

Before and after the main stop, the bus passes several New Orleans cemeteries. This part is less active than the walk through Odd Fellows Rest, but it gives you a wider sense of the city’s burial style. Your guide points out the distinctive above-ground tombs and explains how cemetery design connects to local conditions and customs.

Do not expect to leave the bus at every cemetery. The experience includes drive-bys, and the exact route may shift because of city events or road work. If you want a detailed walking visit inside several historic cemeteries, this will feel limited. If you prefer seeing more of New Orleans while someone else handles the driving, the bus format is useful.

The commentary is where this stretch earns its place. A good guide turns a row of tombs into a story about the people buried there, the way the city treats the dead, and the legends that have grown around the sites. The strongest guides also know when to keep the jokes moving and when to let the setting speak for itself.

A 35-minute walk inside Odd Fellows Rest

Once inside Odd Fellows Rest, the tour shifts from sightseeing to close observation. You will walk among tombs, hear about the cemetery’s connection to the Odd Fellows organization, and learn about the people and burial practices tied to the site. The atmosphere is naturally eerie at night, but the historical detail keeps the visit grounded.

This is also where the EMF readers come in. The devices give you something to do beyond listening, especially if you enjoy testing a place for possible paranormal signals. They cannot prove that a ghost is present, and the experience does not need to settle that question. Skeptics can treat the equipment as part of the evening’s entertainment, while believers get a hands-on tool for the search.

Photography is part of the appeal. The tombs and nighttime setting create unusual pictures, though you should be respectful and follow any instructions from the guide. A cemetery is still a place of remembrance, even when the tour discusses ghosts.

The guide makes a major difference here. Jeff and Geoff are repeatedly praised for combining historical detail with humor and energy. J is also singled out for making the tour welcoming and helping guests who need extra assistance. One poor experience points to a real risk: if the guide spends too much time on personal stories or lets the first stop run long, later stops may be shortened. The quality of the evening depends heavily on pacing.

The Morning Call break

The stop at Morning Call Coffee Stand lasts about 10 minutes and serves a simple purpose: use the restroom, buy a drink, or pick up a beignet. It is not a major sightseeing stop, but it gives you a chance to warm up, refresh, and regroup.

Some tours have found this pause especially welcome in cold or windy weather. The bus may be comfortable, but the cemetery walk is outdoors, and New Orleans nights are not always mild. Layered clothing is a smart choice, even when the daytime forecast looks warm.

The stop also helps if you did not have time to eat before departure. Still, do not treat it as a full meal break. Ten minutes passes quickly, so arrive ready to order and return to the bus.

The Hurricane Katrina memorial and Charity Hospital Cemetery

The tour also includes the cemetery and memorial associated with unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. Your guide explains the lasting effects of the storm and gives you time to pay respects. This adds a serious, modern chapter to an evening that otherwise leans toward old tombs and ghost stories.

The exact viewing arrangement matters. Charity Hospital Cemetery may be closed at night, so you might see it through the gate rather than walk inside. That can feel anticlimactic if you expect another private cemetery visit, but the stop still carries weight because of the memorial’s connection to Katrina and the people who had no identified burial elsewhere.

One itinerary description also says the group may walk by the site. In practical terms, expect the guide to explain the location and show you what access allows that evening. If conditions or local rules change, the route may be adjusted.

How the spooky side works

This is a ghost tour with a historical base, not a solemn cemetery lecture. Guides use dramatic timing, spooky stories, and humor to keep the bus engaged. You may find yourself laughing one minute and watching the dark corners of the cemetery the next.

I like that the paranormal material is paired with real places and burial customs. The setting does much of the work, and the guide’s stories give the tombs a human connection. The EMF readers add participation without requiring you to accept every legend as fact.

Expect atmosphere, not guaranteed evidence. The tour may produce an odd reading or a good story, but no one can promise a ghost encounter. You will get more from the evening if you enjoy folklore, local history, and a bit of theatrical suspense.

Price, group size, and overall value

At $40.32 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a two-hour evening that includes transportation, a guide, cemetery admission to Odd Fellows Rest, and EMF equipment. The private access is the main value. Without that entry, the experience would be closer to a narrated bus ride with a few exterior views.

A group discount may improve the price for families or friends booking together. The maximum group size is 42, so ask yourself how much personal attention you want. A smaller group can make it easier to ask questions and move around the cemetery, while a full bus may feel less intimate.

The tour is also a practical choice if you want cemetery history but do not want to walk long distances through the city at night. You spend most of the evening riding between sites, with one main walking stop and a short break. That makes it less strenuous than a long walking tour, though you must manage a few steps when boarding and leaving the bus.

The bus is not wheelchair accessible. Everyone must be able to walk and navigate the bus steps. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate if they are comfortable with the walking and outdoor portions.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this experience if you want a different side of New Orleans beyond restaurants, music, and French Quarter architecture. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and groups of friends who enjoy local stories with a spooky edge.

It is particularly good for:

• First-time visitors who want cemetery context without arranging several separate visits
• People interested in New Orleans burial customs and above-ground tombs
• Ghost-tour fans who prefer real history mixed with folklore
• Solo visitors who want the security of a group and bus transportation
• Anyone who wants a nighttime activity with limited walking

I would look elsewhere if your main goal is to visit Marie Laveau’s tomb. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not part of this tour. You also should not book it expecting long visits inside multiple cemeteries, since Odd Fellows Rest is the main interior stop and other locations may be viewed from the bus or through gates.

Practical advice before you book

Wear shoes suitable for walking on flat outdoor surfaces, and bring layers. Cold, wind, or rain can change how long you want to remain outside, even though the tour operates in all weather.

Use public transportation, walk, or take a rideshare to the French Quarter meeting point if possible. Parking near Decatur Street is limited and costs extra. Arrive 15 minutes before departure, because late arrival can be difficult once the bus leaves.

Cancellation is flexible only up to 24 hours before the start time. You receive a full refund if you cancel by then, but cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour?

Book it if private nighttime access to Odd Fellows Rest is the feature you want most. The combination of a clean, climate-controlled bus, lively guides, cemetery history, ghost stories, and EMF readers creates a well-rounded evening for $40.32.

Go in with accurate expectations. You will not enter every cemetery, Marie Laveau’s tomb is not included, and Charity Hospital Cemetery may be viewed only through its gate at night. If you value access, storytelling, and a manageable amount of walking, this is a strong pick. If you want a quiet, in-depth visit to several historic cemeteries, choose a longer daytime walking experience instead.

FAQ

Which cemetery does the tour visit?

The tour typically enters Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery with exclusive access for this experience. The bus also passes Cypress Grove and Greenwood cemeteries, where you can see New Orleans above-ground tombs.

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 guide explains the effects of Hurricane Katrina and takes you to the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from the storm.

Can I bring a drink on the bus?

Yes. You may bring your own drink, but alcoholic beverages are not included. The tour also stops at Morning Call Coffee Stand, where you can buy a drink or beignets.

How much walking is involved?

There is a fair amount of walking, mainly during the cemetery visit, but the surfaces are mostly flat. You also need to manage a few steps to board and leave the bus.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible. All participants must be able to walk and navigate the bus steps. Service animals are allowed.

Where does the tour begin and end?

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

How large can the group be?

The tour can include up to 42 people. Group discounts are available.

What happens if the weather or city conditions change?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, but the route may change because of parades, festivals, construction, or other local conditions. You should wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing.