Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

New Orleans keeps its dead above ground, and this tour lets you see that unusual tradition after dark, far from the French Quarter crowds. You ride to Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, walk among compact tombs, and hear stories about burial customs, ghosts, and the city’s past.

I like the access to a cemetery at night and the easy bus ride into quieter neighborhoods. I also like the stop at Morning Call Cafe, where you can buy coffee, beignets, and use the restroom. The main drawback is uneven quality: some guides, including Henry, Roy, and Ray, make the night lively and informative, while other departures can feel more like a loud BYOB party bus than a focused ghost tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Night access to Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: This is the main reason to book, since cemetery visits after dark are unusual in New Orleans.
• Above-ground burial traditions: Learn why New Orleans uses tombs and communal vaults instead of ordinary underground graves.
• Guides shape the experience: Henry, Roy, and Ray have received especially strong praise for humor, local knowledge, and engaging storytelling.
• BYOB changes the mood: You may bring your own drinks, but loud or disruptive behavior can get you removed.
• Morning Call Cafe adds a useful break: Expect coffee, beignets, and a bathroom stop, though some people feel the stop takes too much time.
• Not a Marie Laveau tour: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and Marie Laveau’s tomb are not included.

A ghost tour that leaves the French Quarter

Most New Orleans ghost tours stay close to the French Quarter, where bars, streetcars, music, and crowds can make it hard to feel the city’s quieter side. This outing takes you by bus to cemeteries and neighborhoods away from the main tourist streets.

The tour lasts about two hours and costs $30 per person. That is a fair price if you want transportation, a guided cemetery walk, and a short look at several different parts of New Orleans. It is less appealing if you expect a nonstop sequence of polished ghost stories or a long, quiet cemetery exploration.

You meet at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys at 1140 Decatur Street. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. This matters because the meeting place can be busy, parking near the French Quarter is limited, and a few departures have had trouble with late arrivals or crowded boarding.

The bus can hold up to 56 people, although some departures are smaller. You should expect a casual atmosphere, English commentary, music, and a BYOB setup. Bring only what you can manage responsibly. The operator makes clear that disruptive behavior is not allowed.

What makes Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 unusual

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. It differs from the Catholic cemeteries most often associated with New Orleans.

The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks and has a triangular plan. Conti Street cuts through it, while the internal paths echo the Masonic square and compass symbol. Cast-iron fences surround the two sections, and oak trees line the northern and western edges.

Inside, the tombs sit close together in rows. A broad paved walkway runs through the center, with smaller paths leading between the vaults. This layout gives you a good sense of how much space these cemeteries save by placing bodies in above-ground tombs and communal structures.

The communal nature of the cemetery is especially interesting. Masonic lodge members pooled money for large group tombs, creating elaborate burial places that could serve many people over time. Your guide explains how these arrangements differ from family tombs and why above-ground burial became such a familiar feature of New Orleans.

You receive about 30 minutes here. That is enough time to walk, look closely at the tombs, and take photographs, but not enough for a slow architectural study of every section. Some departures provide a short talk followed by free time to explore. Others offer more active storytelling and ghost-hunting help.

The setting is atmospheric, but do not expect complete darkness. Parts of the cemetery may be well lit for safety. If you want a frightening experience built around jump scares, this may feel mild. If you like old tombs, local customs, and the chance to use an EMF reader or inspect your photos for orbs, it can be fun.

How the ghost stories affect the night

The supernatural side depends heavily on your guide. Henry has been praised for mixing facts with humor and even choosing clever songs for the bus ride. Roy has been described as charismatic, interactive, and good at explaining burial customs while helping with ghost-hunting tools. Ray has also earned praise for his energy and ability to make the tour feel personal.

That guide-to-guide difference matters here. This is not a scripted theater show with the same tightly controlled performance every night. One guide may tell personal stories, point out notable graves, and involve you in the search for paranormal signs. Another may give a short explanation and let you walk on your own.

You can bring a camera or phone and look for orbs or other unusual shapes in your photographs. An EMF reader may also be available. Treat these tools as part of the fun rather than proof of anything. The strongest part of the tour is usually the setting and the chance to hear local beliefs while standing among the tombs.

Some departures use loud music during the drive. That suits people looking for a social night out, but it can bother anyone who wants a quiet, spooky ride. If you have tinnitus or are sensitive to noise, sit away from the rear speakers if possible and tell the guide early that you need a lower volume.

City Park and the Morning Call pause

The route passes through City Park, a 1,300-acre public park that has been part of New Orleans life since 1854. It is one of the country’s oldest urban parks, with large historic oaks and moss-covered branches.

You may hear about the park’s long connection to dances, concerts, and old-fashioned duels known as affaires d’honneur. The park gives the tour a change of pace. After the enclosed rows of tombs, the broad tree-filled setting shows another side of New Orleans.

The stop at Morning Call Cafe is practical as well as pleasant. You can buy coffee and beignets, and this is the best known bathroom break during the tour. Allow extra money if you want food or drinks because these purchases are not included in the $30 price.

The break can feel welcome, especially on a warm night or after walking through the cemetery. It can also feel too long if you came mainly for graveyards and ghost stories. One important point: do not assume the tour includes regular bathroom stops beyond this pause. A recent complaint described a two-hour ride with no convenient restroom break, so use the facilities when you have the chance.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial and its quiet lesson

The tour ends its sightseeing portion at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, a place connected to 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures. This is not a spooky attraction in the usual sense. It is a sober stop that adds modern New Orleans history to a night focused on older graves and ghost lore.

The memorial gives you a moment to think about the human cost of the storm and the way New Orleans continues to live with its effects. I appreciate this part of the route because it keeps the tour from treating every burial place as mere entertainment.

The route may also include Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, or another cemetery, depending on the departure. Odd Fellows Rest was reserved for members of a little-known organization, while the pauper’s field offers a different view of how the city cared for people without the money or family connections needed for a private tomb.

Because the exact cemetery mix can vary, ask your guide at the start what is planned that evening. The listed route centers on Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, City Park, and the Katrina Memorial, while the operator also identifies other burial grounds as regular possibilities.

The BYOB setup, music, and bus ride

BYOB means you provide your own drinks. You can buy something at or near the meeting point, including at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, then bring it onto the bus. Drinks are not included in the tour price.

This arrangement can make the ride social and relaxed, but it also changes the tone. Some departures feel like a light party bus, with music playing between stops. Others offer more commentary and focus on the cemeteries. Do not book this expecting a silent, candlelit ride.

Responsible drinking is important. The operator can ask you to leave if you become disruptive, and the tour does not promise refunds for that situation. Families can join, with a minimum age of six, but keep in mind that the stories involve death, unclaimed victims, ghosts, and burial customs. Young children may find some of it upsetting.

The bus is not wheelchair accessible. You need to climb a few steps and walk through the cemetery on mostly flat surfaces. Comfortable shoes and layered clothing make sense. New Orleans weather can shift, and the open-air walking portions may feel very different from the air-conditioned bus.

What the $30 price really covers

At $30, this is one of the more affordable ways to combine transportation and cemetery access at night. You get a driver-guide, live commentary on the bus, pickup and return to the French Quarter meeting point, and access to the included cemetery stop.

The value is strongest if you want a simple introduction to New Orleans burial customs without arranging transport to cemeteries outside the French Quarter. The bus saves you from navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods after dark, and the guide gives context that you would miss by simply walking past a tomb during the day.

The value drops if you want a long guided walk, detailed architectural commentary, or a carefully built ghost narrative. Some departures spend only a short time explaining the cemetery before sending you off to look around. The Morning Call stop can also take up a noticeable part of the two-hour schedule.

I would think of this as a social cemetery outing with ghost-tour elements, not as a serious paranormal investigation. That description will help you set the right expectations.

Meeting point, timing, and practical planning

The meeting point is Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys at 1140 Decatur Street in the French Quarter. Parking is limited and paid, so walking, public transportation, or a rideshare is usually easier. If you drive, allow time for traffic and finding a space.

Arrive 30 minutes before departure. This gives you time to check in, buy a drink if you want one, find the right vehicle, and use a nearby restroom. Arriving early also helps you board before the bus fills up. One departure had a seating problem involving a group reservation, so do not cut it close.

The tour returns to the same meeting point. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part if they can walk and manage the bus steps. The activity is not considered strenuous, but you will spend time standing and walking on cemetery paths.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Inside that window, changes and refunds are not accepted. Weather or low enrollment can also lead to a cancellation, in which case you should be offered another date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to you if you like New Orleans culture, unusual burial practices, local ghost lore, and a relaxed night out. It is especially useful early in your visit because it takes you beyond the French Quarter and gives you a basic framework for understanding the city’s cemeteries.

Families with older children can enjoy it, provided they are comfortable with morbid stories. Couples and friends who want to bring a drink and listen to music may like the casual mood.

I would choose another tour if your main goal is Marie Laveau’s tomb. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not included, so you will not see her final resting place here. I would also look elsewhere if you want a quiet, serious historical walk with extensive detail at every stop.

Should you book the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour?

Book it for nighttime cemetery access, a low price, and an easy introduction to New Orleans burial traditions. The best departures are made by guides such as Henry, Roy, and Ray, who add humor, personal stories, and useful context.

Go in expecting a flexible, party-friendly experience rather than a tightly scripted scare show. Arrive early, use the bathroom before boarding, keep the music issue in mind, and confirm which cemeteries are on your route. If those limits suit you, this is a good-value way to see a quieter and more unusual side of New Orleans.

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 New Orleans’ French Quarter.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. This allows time for traffic, parking, check-in, and boarding.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours and returns to the original meeting point.

Which cemeteries does the tour visit?

The route typically includes Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and may also include Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, and other cemeteries. The exact stops can vary.

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 tour does visit other prominent graves and resting places.

Can I bring my own drinks?

Yes. This is a BYOB tour, but drinks are not included. You must drink responsibly and avoid disruptive behavior.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The minimum age is six. The tour is family-friendly, but it includes stories about death, ghosts, burial practices, and the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and you must be able to walk through the cemetery and manage several steps when boarding and leaving the bus.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.