New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access

New Orleans keeps its dead above ground, and this tour gives you a rare chance to see that tradition after dark. The main event is exclusive access to Odd Fellows Rest, a private cemetery that other tour companies cannot enter. Inside, your guide mixes burial customs, local history, and ghost stories while you walk among the tombs.

I like the small amount of walking between bus rides, and I like the stop for a drink or beignets at Morning Call. Guides such as Jeff, Geoff, and J are praised for keeping the mood lively while explaining the practical reasons behind New Orleans burial customs. The main caution is that the tour may spend most of its time at one cemetery, with other sites viewed only from outside or through a gate.

Key points to know before booking

• Odd Fellows Rest is the main attraction: You receive evening access to a private cemetery normally closed to the public.
• The tour lasts about two hours: Expect a mix of bus commentary, walking, cemetery stops, and a quick restroom break.
• You see more than ghosts: The guide explains above-ground burials, local figures, Hurricane Katrina, and the city’s cemetery customs.
• EMF readers are included: You can use the devices during the cemetery walk as part of the paranormal side of the tour.
• The bus helps in poor weather: It is air-conditioned, and the driver can keep it warm or comfortable when the night turns cold.
• This is not the Marie Laveau tour: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not included, so do not book this experience expecting her tomb.

Why Odd Fellows Rest makes this tour different

Many New Orleans cemetery tours focus on famous names and well-known gates. This one earns its price mainly through access. Odd Fellows Rest is a private cemetery, and this company is described as the only tour operator allowed inside. That gives you something more than a drive past rows of tombs.

The cemetery is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization with its own burial traditions. Your guide explains the setting, the people connected with it, and the way New Orleans uses above-ground tombs. The cemetery becomes more interesting once you understand that these structures are shaped by local conditions and custom, not simply built for decoration.

You walk through the grounds with the group while the guide tells stories and points out details. The experience is partly historical tour, partly ghost investigation, and partly nighttime walk. You can treat the EMF readers as a bit of fun, or use them as a way to pay closer attention to the surroundings.

The best guides make room for both sides. Jeff and Geoff are often singled out for clear storytelling, humor, and strong knowledge of the city. J is also praised for being friendly, energetic, and attentive, including helping a parent who used a mobility device. Your exact guide will depend on the departure, but the quality of the commentary matters a great deal here.

What happens at the French Quarter meeting point

The tour begins at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours, at 620 Decatur Street, in the French Quarter. Bon’s New Orleans Street Food is listed as the starting area, giving you a convenient place to buy a drink before boarding. Arrive at least 15 minutes early, especially if you need to find the meeting point in a crowded part of the Quarter.

Parking near Decatur Street is limited and costs extra. I would walk, use public transportation, or take a rideshare if you are not already nearby. The location is convenient, but the French Quarter can make a simple pickup feel less simple if you arrive at the last minute.

You may bring your own drink onto the bus, but alcoholic drinks are not included. The tour also stops at Morning Call Coffee Stand, where you can use the restroom and buy a drink or beignets. Treat this as a short break, not a full meal stop.

The bus ride: cemetery history between stops

The air-conditioned bus is more than transport. The guide uses the ride to explain what you are seeing and to point out cemeteries along the route. You may pass Cypress Grove and Greenwood cemeteries, both known for the above-ground tombs that give New Orleans burial grounds their distinctive appearance.

This part is useful because you see how widespread the cemetery style is before entering Odd Fellows Rest. The guide can put the private cemetery into a larger city setting instead of treating it as an isolated haunted location.

The vehicle also matters after sunset. New Orleans weather can turn cold, windy, or wet, and several people have found the warm bus welcome later in the evening. The tour operates in all weather, so wear layers and comfortable shoes. You will still walk on mostly flat surfaces, but you must manage a few steps to board and leave the bus.

The group size can reach 42 people. A smaller departure may feel more personal, and a small group gives you more room to ask questions or look closely at the cemetery details. A full bus can feel less intimate, especially during the walking portion, though the vehicle keeps the group together and provides security at night.

Walking inside Odd Fellows Rest after dark

The evening visit to Odd Fellows Rest is the heart of the experience. You leave the bus and walk through the private cemetery with your guide, learning how New Orleans burial practices differ from those in many other American cities.

The tombs are the main visual draw. They create a quiet, enclosed setting that feels very different from a standard cemetery of individual graves. At night, the limited light and old stonework naturally add a spooky edge, but the guide keeps the visit grounded in history and human stories.

Plan to spend a large part of the tour here. The listed timing gives Odd Fellows Rest about 35 minutes, though the actual pace can vary. Some departures have spent close to an hour in the cemetery, which gives you time for photos, questions, and a slower look at the tombs. For some people, that is exactly what makes the tour worthwhile. If you expect several long cemetery walks, it may feel too concentrated.

The guide’s style can shape the entire visit. A strong storyteller makes the stop entertaining without losing the historical detail. Jeff and Geoff are frequently praised for their stories and ability to keep people laughing on the bus and engaged on foot. J is also noted for a warm, personable approach.

Still, this is a live tour, not a timed audio program. One poor fit can affect the evening. A guide who spends too long on personal stories or delays answers may leave less time for later stops. If you want a tightly controlled schedule, keep that possibility in mind.

Morning Call and the short refreshment break

After Odd Fellows Rest, the bus stops at Morning Call Coffee Stand for about 10 minutes. This is mainly a restroom break, with time to buy a drink or beignets.

The stop is practical rather than a major sightseeing event. You have already been walking, and a quick pause helps before the next cemetery-related visit. Since drinks are not included, bring cash or another accepted payment method if you want something from the stand. The tour allows you to bring a drink on the bus, but alcohol is not part of the price.

This break can also change the mood. The group moves from a dark cemetery into a casual food stop, then back into the city’s more somber memorial sites. That contrast is typical of New Orleans, where serious history and everyday pleasure often share the same evening.

Charity Hospital Cemetery and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial

The later stop centers on the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from Hurricane Katrina. Your guide explains the lasting effects of the storm and gives you a chance to pay respects.

This stop carries a different weight from the ghost stories. The focus is not just on haunted folklore, but on a painful event that shaped New Orleans and its people. That historical context gives the tour more substance than a simple search for paranormal activity.

You should know that access here is more limited. The cemetery may be closed at night, so you might view it through the gate or walk by rather than enter. One common route includes looking through the locked gates while the guide explains the memorial. If the weather is cold or windy, some people choose to remain on the bus.

The route may also pass other cemeteries without stopping. Cypress Grove and Greenwood are examples of sites you may see from the bus. Parades, festivals, construction, and other city conditions can change the route, so the exact order and amount of time at each location are not fixed.

Ghost stories, EMF readers, and the right mindset

The paranormal side is deliberately part of the fun. You receive EMF readers and can use them during the cemetery visit to look for unusual readings. The equipment adds a hands-on activity, especially for families and groups of friends who want something beyond listening to a guide.

I would approach the EMF readers as entertainment rather than proof. The strongest part of the tour is the combination of local history, burial customs, architecture, and atmosphere. If you happen to get an unusual reading, enjoy the moment. If nothing happens, the cemetery and stories still provide the main value.

The tone is usually lively rather than grim. Guides use humor, spooky tales, and dramatic delivery, and several guides are praised for keeping people laughing while also covering serious history. That makes the tour a good fit for people who want atmosphere without a solemn lecture.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet, private cemetery visit. You are part of a group, and the guide sets the pace. The night setting creates a little tension, but the group and bus make the experience feel more secure than visiting an unfamiliar cemetery alone.

Is the $40.32 price fair?

At $40.32 per person, the price is reasonable if you value the private cemetery access and live guiding. You are paying for about two hours of transport, commentary, evening entry to Odd Fellows Rest, EMF equipment, and the convenience of seeing several cemetery areas without arranging separate rides.

The value drops if you mainly want to see a long list of cemeteries. You may enter only Odd Fellows Rest, while other locations are drive-bys or gate-side visits. The Hurricane Katrina Memorial stop adds important context, but it is not necessarily a full walk through an open cemetery.

Compared with a basic walking ghost tour, this experience gives you more shelter from the weather and less strenuous movement. It also reaches places that would be awkward to visit independently at night. On the other hand, a walking tour may provide more continuous time in the streets and a stronger sense of the French Quarter.

The 93 percent recommendation rate and 4.7 rating from 1,694 ratings suggest that the tour delivers well for most people. I would still read the schedule realistically: this is an access-focused cemetery tour with ghost-story elements, not an exhaustive tour of every famous burial ground in New Orleans.

Who will enjoy this cemetery tour most?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a different side of New Orleans, families with older children, couples, solo visitors, and anyone curious about local burial customs. The bus is especially helpful if you do not want to walk long distances after dark.

It also suits people who enjoy a guide with personality. Jeff, Geoff, and J are noted for humor, energy, storytelling, and practical help. Your enjoyment will depend partly on how well the guide’s style matches yours.

You should think twice if you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and everyone must be able to walk and manage steps while boarding and leaving. The walking itself is mostly flat and not considered strenuous, but comfortable shoes remain important.

The tour works in all weather, so dress in layers. A windy winter evening can feel much colder outside than expected, while the air-conditioned bus may feel welcome in warmer months. A mobile ticket is provided, and service animals are allowed.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Odd Fellows Rest access is the main reason you are interested. That private evening visit, combined with a strong guide and the chance to use EMF readers, gives the experience its real purpose.

Choose something else if your priority is Marie Laveau’s tomb, a long walking route, or entry into several cemeteries. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not included, and some later stops may be viewed only from outside.

For most people, the tour is a good-value way to add cemetery history, Katrina remembrance, local stories, and a little nighttime suspense to a New Orleans visit. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Once you are inside that final 24-hour window, the payment is not refundable.

FAQ

Which cemetery do I enter during the tour?

The tour typically includes evening access to Odd Fellows Rest. The company states that it is the only tour operator allowed to enter this private cemetery.

Does the tour visit Marie Laveau’s tomb?

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

Can I see Cypress Grove and Greenwood cemeteries?

You may pass Cypress Grove and Greenwood by bus. The guide points out their above-ground tombs, but they are not listed as the main walking stop.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina Memorial?

Yes. The guide explains the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and the route includes the cemetery and memorial connected with unclaimed bodies from the storm. At night, you may view the site through the gate if it is closed.

Are drinks included?

No. You may buy a drink at Bon’s New Orleans Street Food or Morning Call Coffee Stand and bring it on the bus. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

How much walking is involved?

There is a fair amount of walking, mostly on flat surfaces, but the tour is not considered strenuous. You must be able to walk and manage a few steps to board and exit the bus.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.