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St. Charles Streetcar to the Garden District

Updated: February 22, 2024

Whenever we're guiding a tour in New Orleans, there's a pretty good chance that someone will ask where to board the St. Charles Streetcar.

That's why we decided to write this helpful guide with all the information you'll need to ride this historic attraction and see some of the most interesting sites along the way.

This post is about taking the St. Charles Streetcar from the French Quarter to the Garden District and beyond.

We include tips for visitors on where to board, fares, and passes as well as a guide to riding New Orleans Streetcars.

The Historic St. Charles Streetcar Line is the city's longest and the world's oldest continuously operating street railway system.

Travel along St. Charles Avenue, following the path of the Mississippi River, past beautiful mansions and live oaks, then around the Riverbend, past Audubon Park, Loyola, and Tulane Universities, and into Carrollton at Claiborne Avenue, which is the end of the line.

Streetcar Map New Orleans
New Orleans Streetcar Map

The cars on this line are vintage streetcars that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have not been altered.

This means that there is no air conditioning and that the cars are driven with their windows open.

Because the cars are registered landmarks, not all of them are ADA-compliant. Having said that, there are two vehicles on this line that are compliant for anyone who requires assistance.


WHERE TO BOARD THE ST. CHARLES STREETCAR

From the western edge of the French Quarter, you can access the stop by crossing Canal Street at Bourbon.

The street names change on either side of Canal St., and Bourbon St. becomes Carondolet (pronounced car-ron-doe-let).

The stop is located on the right side of the Foot Locker store and is detectable by an elongated yellow car stop sign.

Click here for directions to the streetcar stop.

You could also use this Google 360 street view to familiarize yourself with the streetcar stop.

The image below is from Canal Street looking southwest along Carondelet

St. Charles Avenue Streetcar map

WHAT YOU WILL SEE

Before we tell you what to expect, we want you to be aware of our GPS-enabled audio tour of the St. Charles Streetcar that you could take with you.

Here's a sample.

Click here to get the audio tour.



Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy some of New Orleans' finest architecture.

While on your journey from the Central Business District to the outskirts of Uptown, you will pass through the first of the “American Neighborhoods”.

Known today as the Central Business District, it was the first neighborhood for the American prospectors arriving in town shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Many of the properties in this area date back to the 1820s.

National WWII Museum in New Orleans

If you have time, you might consider stopping at the National World War 2 Museum.

And if you are considering a tourist attraction pass, then know that this museum is included in all of them.

After approximately 2.5 miles, exit at the Washington Avenue stop.

Your streetcar conductor will be calling out every stop, so you won’t have to worry about passing it by. You will also see lots of people getting off at this stop.

Walk down Washington Avenue (to the left upon exiting the streetcar) and walk one block.

You will meet your Garden District guide in front of the Rink, a large yellow building to your left.

Or you could visit on your own, we have a GPS-enabled audio tour as well as a guide to the neighborhood.

This is also the stop for Commander's Palace, the iconic New Orleans restaurant.

This part continues until around Tulane and Loyola Universities and Audubon Park and Zoo and is one of the most visually stunning parts of the line.


FARES AND PASSES

New Orleans buses and streetcars are operated by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Their website offers comprehensive information on their routes, schedules, and fares.

Jazzy Pass New Orleans

For children over 2 and adults, both the bus and streetcar cost $1.25 to ride, children under 2 are free and for adults 65+ with I.D. is 40 cents.

It is important to know that exact change is required when purchasing one-way and single-day passes from your streetcar driver.

Drivers do not issue change. Any change due will be printed on a ticket card, which you can use for your next streetcar ride.

The RTA offers unlimited ride passes (Jazzy passes) for added convenience and savings. Their one-day pass can be purchased directly from the driver or conductor for $3.00.

3-day ($9), 5-day ($15), and 31-day ($55) passes must be purchased online or at a Jazzy Pass Ticket Vending Machine.

All other Jazzy passes have to be purchased from a vendor and most Walgreens locations carry these Passes. Jazzy Pass purchase locations.


ST. CHARLES STREETCAT SCHEDULE

The St. Charles Streetcar operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is even used by locals. Here is a schedule indicating when you can expect them to make a stop during your trip.

4 am - 8 amEvery 30-40 minutes
8 am - 12 pmEvery 15 minutes
12 pm - 6 pmEvery 12 minutes
6 pm - 4 amEvery 15-30 minutes

For more specific times and a better idea of how long you'll have to wait, please read the official RTA Streetcar Schedule.


Tips From Locals and Travelers

Although we do our best to provide all the details you'll need to enjoy the St. Charles Streetcar, chances are we'll invariably miss something along the way.

Thankfully, we also have a New Orleans Travel Tips group on Facebook where you can ask our 40,000 members about their best advice for riding the streetcar.

Here are a few of the most helpful suggestions we found.

One of the most common recommendations we see is a visit to Commander's Palace. This is a very popular restaurant in the area, and one of the best spots for lunch along the St. Charles Streetcar route.

If you're looking for other places to hop off and do some sightseeing, these are some of the most typical suggestions.

Lafayette Cemetery #1 is one of the most popular stops, but it is currently closed with no indication of when it will be reopened to the public.

Magazine Street is always a great place for shopping, and we recommend visiting this area if you're looking for some unique businesses.

Audubon Park is of course right next to the Zoo, which is another great place to visit as well.

Here's a helpful tip to consider if you're driving into the city. There is free street parking in front of the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA).

Just a short walk from there, you'll find a Streetcar that runs along South Carrolton Avenue, and this will take you to St. Charles Avenue where you can hop on and ride to the French Quarter.

It's also worth noting that many of the houses along St. Charles Avenue go all out when decorating for holidays such as Halloween and Mardi Gras.

This is an excellent activity if you're looking for something to do after dark in the Garden District.

For even more excellent recommendations, make sure to check our New Orleans Travel Tips group on Facebook.


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About The Author

Sarah Hester

Sarah first moved to New Orleans in 2001 to work for the American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana. While working in the communities of New Orleans she fell in love with the unique culture of the Big Easy; it's food, music, architecture, wildlife, and most of all history. Read More... Sarah began her career with FTBF, first as a guide, then as an owner/operator. She believes every day is a good day if she gets to impart her love of her beloved New Orleans with Free Tours By Foot guests. She especially likes to convert new Who Dat Saints Fans!
Updated: February 22nd, 2024
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