Before you can join us on our free New Orleans walking tours, you'll have to make it from the airport to the French Quarter.
With that in mind, I’m going to cover each of the airport transfers available in New Orleans.
I love to travel, so I’m always going to and from the airport. By now, I’m practically an expert on New Orleans airport transit.
I’ll provide details about taxis, rideshares, public transportation, private shuttles, and more.
The French Quarter is approximately 13 miles from the airport, and the journey should take 20-30 minutes no matter which option you choose.
In the video below, my friend Andrew, another tour guide with Tours by Foot New Orleans, explains it all in 7 minutes.
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft
- Shared Shuttles
- Public Shuttle Bus
- Private Shuttles
- Car Rentals
- Tips From Locals and Travelers
- How to Ride the Streetcars
Taxi or Uber/Lyft
This is probably the easiest way to get from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to the city, and it’s also one of the most affordable options.
Typically, this costs less than a private transfer, and it may even cost less than a shared transfer!
TIP: Folks in New Orleans love to talk about their city, and one perk of using a taxi or ride service is getting tips or recommendations from your driver. I have people on my tours all the time who talk about great suggestions their taxi driver gave them!
Taxis
Taxis are almost always available at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
You’ll find them at the Arrivals Curb just outside the Level 1 Baggage Claim near Door 7.
Rides from the Airport to either the Central Business District or the French Quarter have the following flat-rate prices:
- 1-2 Passengers: $36 per person
- 3 or More Passengers: $15 per person
- All taxis are required to accept credit card payments
If you do the math, this is actually cheaper per person than the shared transfers when you’re paying for at least 3 people.
Taxis are also cheaper than any of the private transfers, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Since you don’t have to share a taxi with anyone else, it’s almost exactly like a private transfer.
TIP: If you aren’t staying in or near the French Quarter, I would recommend a taxi. I live near the Garden District, and I take a taxi directly to my house. It saves time and keeps me from having to lug my suitcase onto the streetcar.
Uber/Lyft
The minimum fare you can expect from Uber or Lyft is $33 for an airport transfer, but I’ve often found you end up paying between $43-$50.
Prices tend to increase during periods when their service is in high demand.
Depending on which type of vehicle you choose, you might be able to save some money using these rideshare services.
But you can expect to pay at least $30-$35 for fare between the airport and the French Quarter.
This price is not much lower for an individual than it would be to grab a taxi, so it might not be worth the extra time to pull up a rideshare app on your phone.
In my experience, it’s not necessary to schedule a taxi ride from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, but you will need to schedule an Uber or Lyft ride.
This extra effort makes sense if you’re going to save a decent amount of money, but if you’re only going to save a few bucks, it’s easier to just grab a taxi when you get to the airport. That’s why I think taxis are the way to go.
Rideshare services must pick up their customers at the designated area just outside of the Level 1 Baggage Claim at Zone 3.
This location will always be the middle curb, located between doors 7-11.
TIP: Although Uber/Lyft might not be the best choice for an airport transfer in New Orleans, I often use them to get around the city. Just be careful of price surges if you’re visiting during Mardi Gras or other big events!
Shared Shuttles
Shared shuttles are one of the most affordable forms of transportation between the airport and New Orleans, and you can book tickets in advance to save some time.
Shared shuttles include both one-way and round-trip options.
If you want to take care of your transportation to and from the airport all at once, this is one of the best ways to do that.
This type of airport transfer is typically available at least once every half hour, and it takes around 20-30 minutes to reach the city. Travel times depend on where your hotel is located.
Airport Shuttle New Orleans
This is the official ground transportation at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. I haven’t used it before, but I’ve heard it’s reliable.
Unfortunately, the shuttle only accepts groups of 10 or more. But if you’re traveling with a large group, it can be a useful and affordable option!
Airport Shuttle New Orleans provides transportation to and from Downtown and Uptown hotels, the French Quarter, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and Cruise Ship Terminals.
If you would like to arrange a ride with the Airport Shuttle, you will have to request a reservation in advance on their website.
It’s best to do this at least a few days in advance, since it may take up to 24 hours for them to respond to your request.
They offer pickups at most hotels in the downtown and uptown areas of New Orleans.
Burton Transit
If you’re looking for an affordable airport transfer, this company offers a pretty good deal when you purchase tickets for at least four passengers.
As with their competitors, Burton Transit also provides shuttles between the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and hotels in the Downtown and Uptown areas.
Shuttles are also available between the cruise ports and most New Orleans hotels.
Rides between either the airport or cruise ports and the city typically take around 30 minutes.
Prices:
- One-Way for 4 or More Passengers: $40 per person
- Round Trip for 4 or More Passengers: $80 per person
NOTE: As with other shared shuttle services, bookings may be limited. We recommend booking your tickets well in advance.
Public Shuttle Bus
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority offers a very affordable public shuttle bus between the airport and the downtown area.
Named the 202 Airport Express, this is the cheapest way to get from the airport to the French Quarter, with ticket prices at $1.50 per ride.
As you can imagine, this is anything but a private transfer, and you can expect to be riding with several other people.
Another factor to consider is the departure times for this bus, as it only leaves and arrives at the airport 9 times each day.
Between the hours of 8:20 am - 2:10 pm, there are no buses available from the airport.
There is only one bus between the hours of 3:45 am - 6:10 am and 2:10 pm - 4:05 pm.
Learn more about the schedule here.
These hours are meant to serve the most common arrival times, but if you happen to arrive outside of those time periods, you’ll have to wait a while for the next bus.
In other words, if this is how you plan to reach the city, I recommend planning out your trip so that you arrive in time to catch the public shuttle bus.
If you don’t plan this out, you might be in for a long wait.
However, if you do make plans accordingly, you could knock $20 or more off the cost of getting into New Orleans.
The 202 Airport Express services stop at Loyola + Howard and Loyola + Perdido, both located near the French Quarter.
If you need to take another bus or streetcar to reach your hotel, you can expect to pay either a quarter for transfers or $1.25 for a new ticket.
TIP: While this might be close enough for most people, it will be a long walk away from some hotels. I love cheap options like this, but I would say this method is best for solo travelers looking to save money or people who are traveling light and staying around the French Quarter.
Private Shuttles
If you’d rather get a private airport shuttle to-and-from New Orleans, you can expect to pay a much higher price.
That being said, you won’t have to worry about sharing the ride with anyone else!
I never use services like this because I think they’re too expensive. But if you’re traveling with a large enough group, a private transfer may not cost much more per person than a shared service.
Talixo Services
This company focuses on one-way private transfers.
The main difference between this and a shared transfer is that you get more personal attention and you can pick which vehicle you want them to use.
Your driver will meet and greet you at your starting location, and drop-offs are available at any point between the airport and the city.
You can expect a 45-minute wait for transfers from the airport and a 15-minute wait for city pick-ups.
All taxes and fees are covered in the fixed price for this service.
Prices:
- One-Way Private Transfer by Sedan: $133.50 for 3 people
- Price per person: $44.50
- One-Way Private Transfer by Business Sedan: $137.50 for 3 people
- Price per person: $45.83
- One-Way Private Transfer by Van: $199 for 3 people
- Price per person: $66.33
- Not currently available.
Taxi2Airport
As with their competitors, this company also offers one-way private transfers between the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and almost any location in the city.
They currently provide transportation via either a sedan or a minivan.
Prices are for multiple passengers, so I’d encourage solo travelers to consider another option.
Once again, taxes and fees will be covered by the fixed price listed below.
Prices:
- One-Way Private Transfer by Sedan: $163.50 for 3 people
- Price per person: $54.50
- One-Way Private Transfer by Minivan: $178.80 for 3 people
- Price per person: $59.60
- Not currently available.
Read our post on how to ride streetcars in New Orleans.
Car Rentals
The last option is just to rent your own car and drive it around New Orleans on your own.
Prices for car rentals are anywhere from $37-$85 per day on average.
I would recommend renting a car if you’re planning to visit locations like the Barataria Preserve or one of the many Plantations near New Orleans.
But if you’re going to spend most of your time in the French Quarter, renting a car is not the way to go. The horse-drawn carriages are charming, but it’s no fun getting stuck behind one while you’re driving, and street parking is hard to come by. Take it from someone who has gotten parking tickets in the French Quarter before!
TIP: If you’d like to explore outside of New Orleans, you may want to try Abita Springs on the North Shore. They have a brewery, bike trails, and one of my favorite local attractions: the Abita Mystery House. And later you can brag that you drove over the longest water-spanning bridge in the world!
Tips From Locals and Travelers
If you're having trouble deciding which service to use for transportation from the Louis Armstrong Airport to the French Quarter, it might help to see the opinions of others who have traveled to the Big Easy in the past.
Thankfully, we have a Facebook Group called New Orleans Travel Tips where members often discuss subjects such as this one.
Here are a few of the more helpful comments we found related to transfers from the New Orleans airport.
If you're wondering which option to choose when you're arriving early in the morning, most people recommend getting a cab.
Some insist that your hotel might even be willing to set up the entire process for you ahead of time!
Paula also notes that cabs are capped at $36 and they are usually vans, so there should be plenty of room for your family and your luggage as well.
It's also worth noting that you probably won't have any trouble getting a cab, as most of the time there are more than enough to meet the needs of travelers flying into Louis Armstrong Airport.
Although taking a cab is one of the most popular options, it's worth noting that those who use the bus do not report any major issues with that service.
The main problem with the bus is that they don't drop you off right in front of your hotel like an Uber or Taxi would.
If you prefer Uber or Lyft instead of a cab, most travelers report that it's quick and easy, meaning it's another great option if you don't feel like waiting for a bus.
For more helpful suggestions, or if you want to ask a different question, consider visiting our New Orleans Travel Tips group on Facebook!
