Parking & Transportation for French Quarter Festival
French Quarter Festival is a New Orleans spring event and tradition with four days of live music performances, local food vendors, and activities throughout the French Quarter.
The festival takes place from April 16 to 19 with performance and venue locations throughout the historic neighborhood. With the event bringing thousands of New Orleanians and visitors downtown, planning transportation, arrival, and departure is important to enjoy the event to the fullest capacity.
Parking Locations
The French Quarter Festival does not offer dedicated parking for attendees, but it recommends several public lots within walking distance of the festival grounds. These include the French Market lot, 300 N. Peters St., 211 Conti St., and The Garage at Canal Place. Parking lots can fill up fast, so organizers recommend arriving early to secure a spot. There are also paid parking spots and facilities around the area.
Despite these options, parking in and surrounding the French Quarter can be challenging due to high visitor traffic. The roads may experience closures and traffic due to the crowds and stages. Many streets in close proximity to performance areas may be restricted to passersby and traffic, so the route may need to be planned accordingly, with preparation to walk a few blocks to reach your destination.
Public Transportation & Alternative Options
Leaving a car behind altogether can be more convenient for some festival goers. New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) services provide access to downtown and the Quarter. Streetcars have multiple lines, such as the Canal/Cemeteries (#47), Riverfront (#49), Magazine (#11), and St. Charles (#12), that offer routes stopping close to festival grounds.
There is also a wide network of RTA bus routes that connects various parts of the city to the French courter, which are convenient for visitors coming from uptown for mid-city neighborhoods.
For those in Algiers Point, a ferry departs from across the Mississippi river and lands on Canal Street, close to the festival entrance. For updates on transportation and RTA services, individuals can call the Rideline at (504) 248-3900, download the Le Pass app, or visit norta.com/servicealerts.
There are also local bike-share options, such as Blue Bikes, that are convenient for festival goers. Riders can leave bikes at stations around the perimeter including Canal Place or near Louis Armstrong Park.
Rideshares and Taxis
There are also taxi options or rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft available throughout the city. Although, increased demand and surge pricing are common during events like French Quarter Fest. To save time, individuals can schedule pickup and drop-off in less crowded areas outside the French Quarter but still within walking distance.
Travel In and Out of New Orleans
The New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is available for those traveling into the city at Terminal 1 Drive in Kenner, Louisiana. Since 2019, the airport has been renovated with a dedicated pickup spot for rideshare app users. Specifically, this is located on Level 1 outside baggage claim between doors 9 and 11.
There are United cabs and taxis also available outside baggage claim. There are also airport shuttle tickets that can be purchased on Level 1 outside baggage claim between doors 3 and 4.
Additional Tips
Planning ahead and identifying parking or transit options before the festival gives individuals extra time as parking lots fill up early and streets get crowded. It is also important to expect road closures near stages or areas that are blocked for vehicles during festival hours. Finally, it is important to stay informed and check RTA service alerts and festival updates for the chance of detours or common changes in transit schedules.
