Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

The dead have their own city here. This two-hour New Orleans tour leaves the French Quarter for Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, where above-ground tombs, dark walkways, and unusual burial customs replace the usual bar crawl. I like the rare after-dark cemetery access, and I like the mix of ghost hunting, local history, and a bus ride through less-visited parts of the city. The main caution is that the storytelling can vary by guide, and some departures feel more like a BYOB party bus than a serious ghost tour.

The $30 price is fair if you want transportation, cemetery access, and a relaxed night out in one package. Guides such as Roy, Henry, and Ray have earned warm praise for their humor and energy, but some guests found the history too brief, the music too loud, or the stops too short. Arrive early, use the restroom before boarding, and choose this tour for atmosphere and fun rather than a long, scholarly cemetery lecture.

What Makes This New Orleans Ghost Tour Different

• After-dark cemetery access: You walk among above-ground tombs after nightfall, a rare feature in New Orleans.
• Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: Founded in 1865, this cemetery has unusual group tombs and a layout shaped by Masonic symbols.
• BYOB bus ride: You may bring your own drinks, or buy one at Voodoo Tavern and Poboys before departure.
• More than ghost stories: The route can include City Park, the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, and other cemeteries.
• Guide quality matters: Roy, Henry, and Ray have been praised for being funny and engaging, while other departures have offered less narration.
• A useful middle stop: Morning Call Cafe offers the chance to buy coffee and beignets, though restroom arrangements may vary.

Why the Cemetery Setting Matters After Dark

New Orleans cemeteries look different from ordinary graveyards. Because the city sits low and has a high water table, many burials take place above ground in tombs and vaults. This tour gives you a chance to see those structures at night, when the quiet lanes and compact rows take on a more mysterious mood.

The experience begins at Voodoo Tavern and Poboys, at 1140 Decatur Street in the French Quarter. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. This is not the sort of tour where you want to rush in at the last moment with a drink in hand and discover that the bus has already loaded.

The meeting spot is convenient for anyone staying in the French Quarter, but parking nearby is limited and costly. Walking, public transportation, or a rideshare service is the sensible choice. The tour returns to the same location, so you can continue your evening nearby without arranging a second pickup.

The vehicle holds as many as 56 people, though some departures may feel smaller. Since seating and loading can affect your experience, arriving early is smart. One party found that a member of its group could not board when the bus filled, and another account described a late pickup that delayed the start. Those problems may not happen on your departure, but they make early arrival even more important.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: The Tour’s Strongest Stop

The cemetery was founded in 1865 by the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana Free and Accepted Masons. Unlike the Catholic cemeteries that dominate New Orleans sightseeing, this one reflects Masonic traditions and communal burial practices.

Its most unusual feature is the number of group tombs. Lodge members pooled money to build large shared structures, so the cemetery can feel less like a collection of individual family plots and more like a series of compact stone buildings for entire organizations.

The layout is unusual, too. The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped blocks with Conti Street cutting between them. Its triangular plan, combined with angular internal paths, echoes the Masonic square and compass. Cast-iron fences enclose the two sections, and oak trees line the northern and western edges.

You receive about 30 minutes here, with admission included. That gives you time to walk among the tombs and look closely at the architecture, but it is not a long guided visit. The guide may explain burial customs, point out certain graves, and offer ghost stories before giving you time to explore on your own.

That last part divides opinions. I like having a few minutes to look around without a running commentary. You can study the ironwork, tomb fronts, and shadows at your own pace. If you expect a story at every corner, though, the stop may feel thin.

Lighting is another factor. Some departures have found the cemetery well lit, which makes walking easier but reduces the spooky mood. You should think of this as a historic cemetery visit with a supernatural theme, not a theatrical haunted house.

Ghost Hunting, Orbs, and Personal Stories

The tour encourages you to use your camera to look for orbs and other possible signs of paranormal activity. The guide may also provide EMF equipment for guests who want to try a more active form of ghost hunting.

Keep your expectations sensible. A strange glow in a photograph can come from dust, moisture, or light reflecting from the lens. The fun is in looking, comparing pictures, and deciding for yourself. You do not need to believe in ghosts to enjoy the setting.

The best guides add personal stories and local character. Roy has been singled out for his warmth, humor, and ghost-hunting help. Henry has been praised for combining cemetery facts with jokes and lively music choices. Ray has also made a strong impression with an easygoing style and good group care.

The less successful departures have had very little narration. One guide reportedly spent only a few minutes explaining the cemetery before sending the group off to explore. Another account described loud hip-hop or party music during the ride, with little discussion of local history.

That contrast is important. This is a guide-led experience, so the tone depends heavily on who is driving that night. You might get a funny local storyteller, or you might get a casual host who treats the route as a moving BYOB party. If you want a tightly written ghost narrative, this tour is not a sure thing.

The Bus Ride Beyond the French Quarter

The bus takes you away from the French Quarter and into quieter parts of New Orleans. That change of setting is useful. You are not just standing on a crowded Bourbon Street corner listening to another story about the same few blocks.

The ride passes through City Park, a 1,300-acre urban park established in 1854. It is one of the oldest city parks in the United States, with old oaks and moss-covered canopies that have long been tied to New Orleans social life.

Depending on the guide and route, City Park may be treated as a scenic drive, a short pause near a large oak, or part of the ghost-story program. The supplied itinerary describes a stop at Morning Call Cafe, where you can buy coffee and beignets. That is a welcome change of pace from the cemetery and a chance to get something warm or sweet.

The bathroom situation deserves attention. One account praised the mid-tour stop for snacks and a restroom, while another said the bus ride lasted more than two hours without a bathroom break. Since conditions may vary, use the restroom before boarding and ask the guide about the planned stop when you check in.

Music is part of the ride. That can help create a social mood, especially if you bring a drink and want a casual night out. It can also be too loud, particularly near the back of the vehicle. If you have tinnitus or dislike loud music, board early and ask about a quieter seat.

Additional Cemeteries and Route Changes

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 is the clearest central stop, but the route can include other burial sites. The tour information names Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, and the experience may also include Odd Fellows Rest or another cemetery.

That variety is useful because New Orleans burial grounds do not all look alike. A Masonic cemetery emphasizes communal lodge tombs. A pauper’s field carries a more sobering connection to people buried without identified family arrangements. Odd Fellows Rest reflects another fraternal tradition.

The exact route is not always presented in the same way. Some descriptions focus on Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, City Park, Morning Call Cafe, and the Katrina memorial. Other details identify two cemeteries and mention additional sites. You should treat the route as flexible rather than expecting a fixed sequence at every departure.

That flexibility can work in your favor, especially if the guide adjusts for weather, traffic, cemetery access, or group timing. It also means you should not book this specifically to see one famous tomb unless the tour clearly confirms it.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial

The tour concludes with a stop at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery, where 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures are remembered. This is the most serious part of the evening.

The memorial adds needed weight to a tour that can otherwise lean toward music, drinks, and ghost stories. Hurricane Katrina is not distant folklore. Its effects still shape how people understand New Orleans, its neighborhoods, and its cemeteries.

Expect a short, contemplative visit rather than a full disaster-history program. The guide explains the lasting effects of Katrina, and you have a chance to pay respects. This stop may not feel spooky, but it gives the tour a human center.

For me, this is one reason the experience can offer more than a standard ghost bus. The evening moves from Masonic burial customs to possible paranormal stories and then to a real tragedy that changed the city. The tone is uneven at times, but that range can make the route more meaningful.

Price, Timing, and What You Get for $30

At $30 per person, this is one of the less expensive ways to see cemeteries outside the French Quarter at night. The price includes the driver-guide, live commentary on the bus, cemetery access, and pickup and return at the designated meeting point.

You are not paying for a private tour, a long museum-style lecture, or a guaranteed paranormal event. You are paying for transportation, access to a less commonly visited cemetery after dark, and an evening activity that combines history with entertainment.

That makes the value strongest for first-time visitors who want a social night out. It is also useful if you would not feel comfortable finding these cemeteries on your own after dark. The bus removes the need to plan a route through several neighborhoods.

The value is weaker if your main goal is detailed history. Some departures have included only a few short talks, with more time spent walking independently or listening to music. In that case, a dedicated cemetery history tour may suit you better, though it may not offer the same after-dark access or BYOB format.

The tour takes about two hours, but allow extra time in case of traffic, loading delays, or a longer stop. Wear comfortable shoes because you will walk on mostly flat surfaces, and use layers since New Orleans evenings can shift from warm to cool.

BYOB Rules and the Best Way to Prepare

Drinks are not included, but you may bring your own. Voodoo Tavern and Poboys is the meeting point, so you can purchase a drink there before boarding. The BYOB policy is meant to keep the ride relaxed, not turn it into a free-for-all.

Drink responsibly and keep your behavior considerate. Anyone who becomes disruptive can be removed from the tour. If you want the history and ghost stories to come through clearly, keep your drink modest and avoid bringing anything that could spill or cause trouble on the bus.

Dress in smart casual clothes with comfortable shoes. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and you need to manage a few steps when boarding and exiting. Service animals are allowed, and most people who can walk comfortably should manage the cemetery paths without much trouble.

The tour is intended for ages six and up. Children who enjoy spooky stories and unusual history may have fun, but some tales involve death, unclaimed victims, and disturbing burial subjects. Use your judgment for younger children.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want:

• A low-cost night activity beyond the French Quarter
• A chance to enter a cemetery after dark
• A casual BYOB outing with music and group energy
• Basic context about New Orleans tombs and burial customs
• A guide who can make history funny and personal
• A flexible mix of cemeteries, City Park, and Katrina history

I would be more cautious if you want a carefully structured ghost investigation. The route can be entertaining, but the quality of the narration is not perfectly consistent. You may get an excellent guide such as Roy, Henry, or Ray, or you may find yourself wishing for longer talks and more specific stories.

The tour also suits couples, families with older children, and groups of friends who want something different from another night in the French Quarter. It is less suitable for anyone who dislikes loud music, alcohol-centered outings, or walking through cemeteries with only brief guidance.

Should You Book the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour?

Book it if your priority is after-dark access, low cost, and a lively evening rather than a polished historical production. The Masonic cemetery, the above-ground tombs, and the Katrina memorial give the tour real substance, while the BYOB format keeps it informal.

Skip it if you need a quiet, detailed lecture or a guaranteed stream of frightening stories. The experience can be uneven, and the bus may feel more like a party ride than a ghost program.

For the best chance at a good outing, arrive 30 minutes early, use the restroom first, avoid the back row if loud sound bothers you, and keep your drink under control. Go with curiosity, not the expectation that every photograph will contain an orb. At $30, this is a reasonable way to see a different side of New Orleans, provided you accept that the guide and group mood will shape much of the night.

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. The activity returns to the same meeting point.

How early should I arrive?

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. This allows time for traffic, parking, check-in, and boarding.

Which cemeteries does the tour visit?

The tour typically visits Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and may include Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, Odd Fellows Rest, and other cemeteries. The exact route 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 guide may show you other notable tombs and resting places.

Can I bring alcohol on the bus?

Yes. Drinks are not included, but you may bring your own beverages. You can also purchase a drink at Voodoo Tavern and Poboys. Responsible behavior is required, and disruptive passengers may be asked to leave.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and all participants must be able to walk and manage a few steps to board and exit. The walking portions are mostly on flat surfaces.