Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

New Orleans saves some of its most unusual history for the dark. This roughly two-hour BYOB bus tour leaves the French Quarter for quiet cemeteries, where above-ground tombs, narrow paths, and old burial customs make a stronger impression than a standard bar-to-bar ghost walk. Guides such as Henry and Roy have earned especially warm praise for being funny, engaging, and well informed.

I like the chance to enter a cemetery after nightfall, and I like that the route gets you beyond the French Quarter to places you might not reach on your own. I also appreciate the stop connected to Hurricane Katrina, which gives the evening some weight. The main concern is the uneven storytelling. Some guides build a lively ghost tale, while others leave you wandering with only a short introduction.

Key points to know before booking

• Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: Walk among unusual communal tombs in a cemetery founded in 1865.
• A true BYOB format: Bring your own drink, but keep it quiet and respectful on the bus.
• Guide quality matters: Henry, Roy, Ray, and Marcus have each been praised for humor and local insight.
• More history than horror: Burial customs and New Orleans tradition are central, while the scare factor can vary.
• City Park and Morning Call: The route may include a snack and bathroom break for coffee and beignets.
• Plan for walking: Surfaces are mostly flat, but you must manage bus steps, and the vehicle is not wheelchair accessible.

What this New Orleans night tour really offers

This is best understood as a cemetery history tour with ghost-hunting touches, not a haunted-house show. You ride a small bus from the French Quarter, listen to music and commentary, then walk among tombs while your guide explains above-ground burial, local customs, and stories tied to the dead.

The BYOB label shapes the mood. Some groups treat the ride as a relaxed social outing, while others arrive hoping for a serious paranormal investigation. You can bring your own libation, and the meeting point at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys is also a practical place to buy a drink before departure. Responsible drinking is expected, and disruptive behavior can get you removed.

The experience costs $30 per person, which is reasonable if you value the transportation, cemetery access, guide, and unusual route. It is less convincing value if you want a packed schedule of historic sites or a polished theatrical performance. You may spend only 10 to 15 minutes at one stop, then more time riding, talking, or taking a break.

Meeting at Voodoo Tavern in the French Quarter

The tour begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, 1140 Decatur Street, about 30 minutes before departure. Arrive early. The pickup area can be awkward during road construction, and late arrivals have caused delays and confusion.

The location is convenient if you are already in the French Quarter, but parking is limited and paid. I would walk, use public transportation, or arrange a rideshare rather than drive into the Quarter and hunt for a space. The tour ends at the same meeting point.

Arriving early also gives you time to use the restroom and buy a drink if you want one for the bus. Do not count on a bathroom stop immediately after departure. One of the clearest practical complaints about the tour is that the full ride can pass without a restroom break, although other routes include a stop at Morning Call Cafe.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and its unusual tombs

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 feels different from New Orleans Catholic cemeteries, both in layout and in the way many tombs were created.

The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks, with Conti Street cutting through the grounds. Its triangular plan and angular paths echo the Masonic square and compass. Cast-iron fences enclose the two sections, and oak-lined edges soften the geometry.

The tombs are packed into rows, with a broad paved path leading toward smaller walkways. The most distinctive feature is the number of communal tombs. Lodge members pooled money to build large group structures, creating an arrangement that feels less like a collection of private family monuments and more like a record of shared community life.

That detail is one reason I find the stop worthwhile even if you are not convinced by ghosts. New Orleans burial customs are practical responses to local conditions, tradition, and limited space. The above-ground tombs are not simply spooky scenery. They tell you how families and civic groups organized remembrance.

Night lighting can make the cemetery atmospheric, but this is not always a pitch-black experience. Some parts may be well lit enough to reduce the fright factor. You may hear a few focused stories, then receive time to walk around, take photographs, and look for unusual details yourself.

That open format has two sides. It gives you room to explore instead of standing shoulder to shoulder while a guide performs. But if you expect a continuous narrative, you may find the stop too brief. I would pay close attention during the introduction, then use your free time to study the tombs and paths.

Ghost stories, EMF readers, and the limits of the scares

The paranormal side is informal. Guides may help you use an EMF reader, a device intended to detect electromagnetic changes, and encourage you to examine your photographs for orbs or other odd shapes.

Treat this as entertainment rather than proof. A strange light in a phone photograph can come from dust, moisture, reflections, or a camera flare. Still, the equipment gives the walking portion a clear purpose, especially for families and friends who want an activity beyond listening to stories.

The quality of the ghost material depends heavily on the guide. Henry has been praised for mixing history with jokes and even choosing clever music for the ride. Roy has received strong praise for being charismatic, local, interactive, and willing to explain the burial traditions. Ray is another guide described as funny and attentive.

That personal touch matters here. The route has quiet stretches, and the cemeteries do not provide a nonstop stream of dramatic events. A guide who can connect a tomb, a local custom, and a ghost story will make the evening feel full. A guide who gives a short talk and sends you off to explore may leave you feeling that the tour needed more substance.

City Park, Morning Call, and the change of pace

The bus route passes through City Park, a 1,300-acre public park that has served New Orleans since 1854. It is one of the nation’s oldest urban parks, known for historic oak trees and moss-covered canopies.

This part of the route shifts the mood. Instead of rows of tombs, you get broad park scenery and stories tied to old dances, concerts, and duels. The park is not just filler between cemeteries. It helps show how New Orleans layers the beautiful, the social, and the morbid within the same city.

The tour may stop at Morning Call Cafe, where you can buy coffee and beignets. This is useful for two reasons: it offers a chance to get a snack, and it may provide the bathroom break that some riders need during a two-hour outing.

The stop can also feel longer than expected if you came for a tightly paced ghost tour. If your priority is cemetery time, ask yourself how much value you place on a relaxed cafe break. If you like mixing local food with history, this pause makes the evening more comfortable.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial brings a serious note

A visit to the Hurricane Katrina Memorial adds a more reflective element. The site honors 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures. After the ghost stories and playful paranormal activity, this stop asks you to think about real loss and the lasting effects of the storm.

I consider this an important part of the route because it keeps the evening from becoming only a party bus with tombs. New Orleans cemetery traditions are tied to how the city has faced disease, flooding, death, and remembrance over many generations. The memorial gives those subjects a modern and human connection.

The experience may also include the Charity Hospital pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, or other cemeteries, depending on the route. Marie Laveau’s tomb is not included because it is in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. If that famous tomb is your main goal, book a different cemetery visit.

The bus ride can make or break the evening

The vehicle takes you beyond the French Quarter, which is the tour’s practical advantage. You do not need to arrange transportation to distant cemeteries, and the guide can point out parts of the city between stops.

The atmosphere on the bus varies. Music is part of the experience, and some groups enjoy the party feel. Others have found the music too loud, especially from the back of the vehicle. If you have tinnitus or dislike loud music, sit near the front and tell the guide early.

The maximum group size is 56 people, though some departures are smaller. A full bus can feel social and lively, but it also makes boarding and seating more important. Arrive early rather than assuming your whole party will board together at the last minute. There has even been a report of a reservation issue in which one person in a group could not board because the bus was over capacity, so I would confirm your place and show up well ahead of time.

The bus itself is not wheelchair accessible. You need to climb a few steps and walk through the cemeteries. The walking is mostly on flat ground and is not considered strenuous, but comfortable shoes are essential.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this outing if you want a mix of New Orleans history, cemetery architecture, ghost stories, and a casual social ride. It suits adults, couples, friends, and families with children age six or older who can handle morbid subjects.

It is also a good pick for a repeat visitor who has already spent time in the French Quarter. The cemetery access after dark gives you something different from the usual haunted pub route, and the bus carries you to quieter parts of the city.

Families should know that the tone is not frightening in the same way as a horror attraction. You may hear stories about death, unclaimed victims, and paranormal activity, but the guide may also use jokes and music. Younger children may find the subject matter unsettling.

I would skip it if you want Marie Laveau’s tomb, a long scholarly lecture, or a tightly written ghost narrative from start to finish. You may also want another option if loud music and drinking do not suit you. The BYOB setup is part of the identity of the tour, not a minor detail.

How to get the best value from the $30 price

At $30, the tour is fairly priced when the guide is strong and the route includes several stops. You are paying for a bus ride, cemetery access, live commentary, and the convenience of reaching sites outside the French Quarter.

You will get better value if you treat the evening as a flexible local outing rather than a formal museum tour. Look closely at the tomb construction. Ask questions about communal burials. Take photographs, but do not let the search for orbs distract you from the real history around you.

I would eat before departure or plan to buy something at Morning Call. Food and drinks are not included, and the tour’s breaks may vary. Wear smart-casual clothing with layers, since the outdoor portions can feel different from the bus.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, you normally receive no refund. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour?

Book it if you want after-dark cemetery access, a relaxed BYOB outing, and a chance to see New Orleans burial traditions outside the French Quarter. Guides such as Henry and Roy can make the experience funny, personal, and surprisingly thoughtful.

Go in expecting uneven pacing. The strongest version includes lively stories, useful history, interactive ghost-hunting tools, and a meaningful Katrina memorial stop. The weakest version feels like loud music, a short cemetery talk, and too much unscheduled wandering.

My advice is simple: arrive early, sit near the front if you are sensitive to noise, bring a modest drink, and judge the tour as a social cemetery tour with ghost elements. If that sounds appealing, $30 is a sensible buy. If you want a serious haunted-history lesson, choose a tour built around storytelling rather than BYOB.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, 1140 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. The tour returns to this same meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Allow extra time if you are driving because traffic and parking in the French Quarter can be difficult.

Which cemeteries does the tour visit?

The route typically includes Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and Charity Hospital pauper’s field, along with other cemeteries. It may also include Odd Fellows Rest and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial 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.

Are drinks included?

No. The tour is BYOB, so you may bring your own drinks. You are expected to drink responsibly and avoid disruptive behavior.

Is the tour family-friendly?

Children age six and older may participate. The tour includes morbid stories and subjects, so younger children may need extra guidance.

How much walking is involved?

There is a fair amount of walking, mostly on flat surfaces. You also need to manage steps when boarding and leaving the bus.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and all participants must be able to walk and use the bus steps.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather or insufficient bookings cancel the tour, you will be offered another date or a full refund.