New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark with Exclusive Access

The draw here is not just a ghost story at night. It’s the chance to enter a private, above-ground cemetery associated with a centuries-old secret society, then hear how New Orleans burial customs, epidemics, and storms shaped the city’s relationship with death.

I like two things about this tour: the cemetery access is unusual, and the guide puts the ghost tales in a real historical setting. You also get an EMF reader to try, which gives the spooky part a hands-on twist rather than leaving you to listen from the bus.

One consideration: the paranormal equipment is for exploration, not proof. If you want a serious ghost hunt or a long, quiet cemetery visit, this brisk two-hour bus tour may not be your match. The cemetery walks are brief, and the Charity Hospital Cemetery stop is listed at just five minutes.

• Private cemetery access: Walk inside an above-ground cemetery that is otherwise not open to this tour’s competitors.
• A mix of history and ghost stories: Hear about burial traditions, local legends, and reported paranormal encounters.
• EMF readers included: Your guide explains how to use the devices as you search for unexplained activity.
• Several layers of New Orleans history: Stops include the Hurricane Katrina Memorial and Charity Hospital Cemetery.
• A short break before the return: The route includes a 15-minute break at Morning Call Coffee Stand.
• Plan for an evening start: Arrive 30 minutes early at the French Quarter meeting point, where drinks and food are available to buy.

Inside the cemetery after dark

New Orleans’s above-ground tombs are more than a striking backdrop for a ghost tour. The city’s burial customs developed in response to local conditions, and this tour uses the cemeteries to explain how people here have honored and buried the dead. You hear that history while standing among the tombs, rather than only seeing cemetery gates from a bus window.

The private cemetery visit is the tour’s most distinctive feature. The site is identified as Odd Fellows Rest, and the operator says it has exclusive access to a private cemetery owned by a centuries-old secret society. That access gives you a closer look at a place you would not ordinarily enter on your own. It is a meaningful advantage for anyone who has already seen the more familiar cemetery exteriors around town.

The guide adds the ghost-story layer, including personal experiences and accounts of unexplained events. Expect the stories to be part of the evening’s entertainment, not a guarantee that something paranormal will happen. The EMF readers give you a way to participate, but they do not settle the question of what causes a reading. If you approach them with curiosity rather than certainty, they can add fun to the walk.

From the French Quarter to the cemetery gates

The tour starts at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours in the French Quarter. Look for the flagship bus outside the red door tour booth and Bon’s New Orleans Street Food. You are asked to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure, so leave a little time to find the meeting point and check in.

There is an opportunity to buy a beer, cocktail, or food before departure. Those purchases are not included in the $36 price, so treat the pre-tour drink as an optional extra, not part of the package. If you’d rather save your appetite for later, you can simply meet the group and board.

Once on board, the guide takes you through parts of New Orleans, including the French Quarter and Mid-City. Some places, such as St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 and St. Louis Cathedral, are passed by rather than visited. That distinction matters: this is a city-and-cemetery tour, but the emphasis is on selected stops, not getting off at every landmark.

A bus makes sense for an evening route that links cemeteries in different parts of town. You can rest between walks, listen to the guide’s narration, and see more of the city than you could comfortably cover on foot in two hours. The trade-off is that some sights are glimpsed from the bus, and the time on the ground is limited.

Odd Fellows Rest and the value of access

At Odd Fellows Rest, you get off the bus for a guided walk through the cemetery. The above-ground tombs give the guide a setting for explaining local burial practices and telling stories tied to the site. The group can also use EMF readers while the guide explains how to operate them and what people look for when searching for paranormal activity.

This is the part of the tour to savor. A cemetery after dark feels different from one seen in daylight, and the guide’s account of the site gives the walk structure. You are not simply being sent to wander among tombs with a gadget; the guide links the place, its history, and the ghost stories.

The private access also helps explain the tour’s value. At $36 per person, you are paying for a guide, transportation, the equipment, and entry to a cemetery that is not generally open to this company’s competitors. If you are interested in cemetery history or unusual access, that combination makes the price easier to justify than a basic bus ride with spooky narration.

Still, keep expectations in proportion. The experience is guided and shared with a group, not a private investigation. Some people may enjoy the EMF activity as a playful way to explore; others may find the historical stories more compelling than the device readings. Both are reasonable ways to take part.

Remembering Katrina and the yellow fever dead

The route also visits the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, where the group has about 15 minutes for a guided walk. The memorial adds a modern chapter to a tour that could otherwise focus only on older cemeteries and ghost lore. It offers a moment to remember people lost during the storm and to consider how New Orleans’s history of death reaches into recent times.

The next named stop is Charity Hospital Cemetery, described as one of the country’s largest cemeteries associated with the yellow fever pandemic. The visit is listed at about five minutes. That is enough for a brief introduction and a look around, but not a long, reflective visit. If this cemetery is a particular interest, plan to take in the guide’s explanation while you are there.

The route includes a 15-minute break at Morning Call Coffee Stand. It gives you a pause between stops and a chance to use the break for food or a drink if you choose. The tour information does not say that refreshments are included, so budget separately for anything you buy.

St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 is part of the bus sightseeing route, not a scheduled walk. The bus also passes St. Louis Cathedral. These glimpses help place the cemeteries within the wider city, but don’t count on entering every site mentioned along the way.

The guide shapes the evening

This tour depends heavily on the person telling the stories. Guides named in past experiences include Jai, J, Jeff, Geoff, and David, with drivers including Bruce, Corey, and Stephen. Names and staffing can vary, of course, but the recurring strengths are clear: lively storytelling, local history, humor, and a willingness to answer questions.

That matters because a cemetery tour can turn flat if it relies on a list of ghost tales. Here, the best guide approach is to connect the supernatural stories to New Orleans customs and history, while leaving room for you to decide what you believe. Several guides have been described as warm, animated, and able to keep the group involved. One guide even invited a child to help lead part of the tour, a thoughtful touch for a family group.

The tone is not meant to be grim throughout. Expect eerie stories, but also humor and conversation. That blend works well if you want a spooky night out with some historical substance. If you prefer a solemn memorial visit or a highly academic lecture, the entertaining style may feel too light.

The tour is in English. It is not suitable for children under 10, a useful limit to consider if you are planning an outing with younger children. Older children and teens may enjoy the stories and equipment, but the evening’s cemetery setting and paranormal themes are best suited to those comfortable with them.

What the $36 price gets you

The $36 ticket covers a two-hour bus tour, a professional local guide, visits to two or three cemeteries, EMF readers, and exclusive access to the private cemetery. Alcoholic drinks are not included, though they are available to buy at check-in. Food and other purchases are also extra.

For the price, the strongest value is the combination of transportation and special access. You don’t need to arrange rides between cemetery stops, and you get a guide to explain what you are seeing. The night setting, the private cemetery, and the EMF activity make it more specific than a general city sightseeing loop.

The main limit is time. A two-hour tour can introduce several places, but it cannot give every stop a long visit. Charity Hospital Cemetery is a very short stop, and some landmarks are only viewed from the bus. Go for a varied introduction, not an in-depth visit to every cemetery.

The tour has a 4.6 rating from 1,654 ratings, and transport has been rated especially well. That fits the practical appeal of the bus: the cemetery stops are spread across the city, and the driver handles the trip while the guide keeps the group oriented. It is a useful way to cover ground without piecing together your own evening route.

Who will enjoy this tour most

Choose this outing if you like local history with a spooky edge, want to see a cemetery after dark, or are curious about New Orleans burial traditions. It also suits visitors who want a guided introduction to several sites without spending the night arranging transport or researching access rules.

It is a good pick for a group with mixed interests. One person can focus on the history, another can enjoy the ghost tales, and everyone can try the EMF readers. You do not have to believe in ghosts to find the cemetery stories and burial customs interesting.

Think twice if you want long stretches of quiet time in the cemeteries, a private tour, or a guaranteed paranormal encounter. The bus moves between locations, and some stops are brief. The best approach is to treat any unexplained readings as part of the evening’s mystery, not as a promise.

Should you book the after-dark tour?

At $36, this is a worthwhile way to pair New Orleans history with a nighttime cemetery visit, especially if the private Odd Fellows Rest access interests you. I’d book it for the guide-led stories, the city’s distinctive burial culture, and the chance to explore with an EMF reader. Go in expecting a lively group tour with several short stops, not a quiet night-long investigation.

Arrive 30 minutes early, bring a curious mind, and remember that drinks cost extra. If that sounds like your kind of evening, this tour offers a memorable look at a side of New Orleans that is difficult to experience on your own.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The bus tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $36 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours. Look for the flagship bus outside the red door tour booth and Bon’s New Orleans Street Food in the French Quarter.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive 30 minutes before the tour time.

Is the tour in English?

Yes. The live guide speaks English.

Are EMF readers included?

Yes. EMF readers are included, and the guide explains how to use them to search for paranormal activity.

Which cemeteries does the tour visit?

The tour visits two or three cemeteries. Named stops include Odd Fellows Rest, Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery, and Charity Hospital Cemetery. St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 is passed by on the bus.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Alcoholic drinks are not included, but they are available to buy at check-in. Food is also available to buy before departure.

Is the tour suitable for children?

It is not suitable for children under 10.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.