Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

New Orleans saves some of its strangest sights for after sunset. On this roughly two-hour bus tour, you leave the French Quarter for above-ground tombs, quiet cemetery lanes, and stories about the city’s unusual burial customs. It is billed as the only New Orleans ghost tour with after-dark cemetery access, which gives it a setting most French Quarter ghost walks cannot match.

I like the chance to see the Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and the way the tour connects burial traditions with the city’s past. I also like the easy bus ride, the BYOB format, and the occasional guides such as Henry, Roy, or Ray, who have been praised for making the history lively. The main caution is that the tour’s mood can swing from spooky cemetery walk to loud party bus, depending on the guide and group.

Key points at a glance

• After-dark cemetery access: Walk among above-ground tombs after nightfall, a rare option in New Orleans.
• Masonic history: Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 uses a distinctive triangular layout, communal tombs, and unusual lodge monuments.
• BYOB bus ride: Bring your own drink, but expect music and a social atmosphere rather than a quiet historical lecture.
• City Park and Morning Call: The route may include old oak trees, coffee, beignets, and a useful restroom stop.
• Katrina memorial: Pay respects at a memorial for 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures.
• Affordable price: At $30 per person, the tour offers good value if you want transportation, a cemetery walk, and a casual introduction to New Orleans ghost lore.

What the $30 price gets you

At $30 per person, this is one of the less expensive ways to visit New Orleans cemeteries at night. Your fare covers the driver-guide, live commentary on the bus, cemetery admission, and pickup and return at the meeting point. You are paying for a compact evening outing, not an elaborate production with costumes, theater, or long guided walks at every stop.

I think the price works best for a first visit to New Orleans. You get a ride beyond the French Quarter, some local burial history, a cemetery visit, and a look at places that are harder to fit into a standard sightseeing day. The bus also saves you from arranging transportation to cemeteries outside the central tourist area.

The value drops if you want a tightly scripted ghost investigation. Some guides give plenty of context and encourage you to use EMF readers or inspect your photographs for orbs. Other tours may offer only a short explanation at the cemetery before letting you wander. Music can take up much of the ride, too.

This difference matters. The experience is strongest when your guide, such as Henry or Roy, takes time to explain what you are seeing and keeps the group involved. It is less satisfying if you expect a steady stream of documented ghost stories or detailed commentary at every stop.

Starting at Voodoo Tavern in the French Quarter

The meeting point is Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys at 1140 Decatur Street. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. That advice is especially useful here because the tour has had issues with late arrivals and full seating.

The tavern is also the practical source of your BYOB drink. Drinks are not included, but you can purchase something to take with you. Eat beforehand or pick up food at the tavern if you wish, since the tour itself is not built around a meal.

The location sits in the French Quarter, where walking or public transportation is usually easier than driving. Parking is limited and paid, and road construction or traffic can make a rideshare or streetcar connection more sensible. I would not arrive at the last minute with a drink in hand and a car to park. Give yourself time to find the meeting point, use a restroom, and board early.

Arriving early also helps with seating. The maximum group size is 56, and one full-bus experience is not the same as a small walking tour. Some passengers have found the rear of the vehicle especially loud, so choose your seat with care if you are sensitive to music or have tinnitus.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 after dark

The main cemetery stop is Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, founded in 1865 by the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana Free and Accepted Masons. It differs from the Catholic cemeteries most closely associated with New Orleans.

The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks and has a triangular plan. Conti Street cuts through the site, while the internal paths echo the Masonic square-and-compass emblem. Cast-iron fences enclose the two sections, and oak-lined edges soften the rows of compact tombs.

The tombs are unusual partly because the cemetery served Masonic lodges. Members pooled money to build large communal tombs, rather than relying only on individual family monuments. That arrangement gives the cemetery a different look and offers a useful lesson in how organizations, not just families, shaped New Orleans burial customs.

You will have time to walk among the tombs while your guide explains the site. The ground is mostly flat, but you still need comfortable shoes and enough mobility to manage the bus steps. This is not a strenuous walk, though it is not suitable for wheelchair users because the vehicle is not wheelchair accessible.

The lighting may be brighter than you expect. That helps you see the tombs and walk safely, but it can reduce the spooky effect. If your ideal ghost tour involves near darkness and a dramatic buildup, this stop may feel more historic than frightening.

That is not a bad thing. The cemetery’s value comes from the architecture, layout, and burial practices as much as from any paranormal claim. Bring a camera if you enjoy checking photographs for orbs or other odd shapes. Just treat that as a playful part of the evening, not a promise of proof.

Other cemetery stops and route changes

The exact route can vary. The tour is associated with Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, Charity Hospital’s pauper field, and Odd Fellows Rest. The FAQ also refers to visits to more than one cemetery, while some departures spend more time at columbariums or different sections than you might expect.

Charity Hospital’s pauper field connects the tour to people whose burials did not receive the elaborate family monuments seen elsewhere in New Orleans. Odd Fellows Rest adds another fraternal connection, tied to a lesser-known society. These locations broaden the picture beyond famous names and tourist icons.

You will not visit Marie Laveau’s tomb. Her burial place is in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, which is not part of this tour. If Marie Laveau is your main reason for booking a cemetery visit, choose a tour that specifically includes St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 instead.

The benefit of this route is that it takes you away from the most familiar French Quarter stories. The drawback is less certainty about exactly how long you will spend at each cemetery. Ask your guide early about the evening’s sequence so you know when to take photographs, use the restroom, or stay close to the group.

City Park, old oaks, and a possible Morning Call stop

The bus passes through City Park, a 1,300-acre public park founded in 1854. It is one of the oldest urban parks in the United States, with historic oak trees and moss-covered branches that have framed dances, concerts, and even formal duels.

City Park changes the rhythm of the evening. After tombs and ghost stories, the old oaks offer a quieter look at New Orleans. The stop is not a full park tour, so do not book this expecting extended time among every major park attraction. It is a scenic pause within a short nighttime route.

The tour may stop at Morning Call Cafe, where you can buy coffee and beignets. This is also the most useful place for a restroom break. Some departures have included the stop, while some people have found the overall tour had no meaningful bathroom break. I recommend using the restroom before boarding and treating Morning Call as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

The cafe stop can also soften the spooky mood. If you want a continuous ghost story from start to finish, coffee, powdered sugar, and casual conversation may feel like a detour. If you prefer a relaxed evening with a snack and a pause between walking sections, it is welcome.

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial

The Hurricane Katrina Memorial offers the tour’s most serious moment. The site honors 85 unclaimed victims of the 2005 levee failures. Your guide explains the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina, and you have a chance to pause at the memorial.

This stop gives the tour more weight than a simple collection of ghost stories. New Orleans cemeteries are tied not only to old legends but also to modern loss, disaster, public health, and the challenge of caring for the dead. I appreciate having time to acknowledge that reality.

The tone may feel uneven if you came only for spooky entertainment. That is part of the point, though. A good guide handles the memorial with respect and does not treat it as just another stop on a party route. Your own behavior matters here as well, especially if you are carrying alcohol from the BYOB portion.

BYOB rules, music, and the atmosphere on the bus

BYOB means you may bring your own drinks, not that drinks are supplied. You are expected to drink responsibly and respect the rest of the group. If you become disruptive, you can be asked to leave.

The alcohol policy shapes the tour’s personality. Some departures feel like a friendly evening out, with music and joking between stops. Others can feel more like a party bus than a traditional history tour. Loud hip-hop or other party music has disappointed some people who wanted jazz, quiet, or more narration.

I would book this for a social group that enjoys a casual drink and does not mind music. I would be more cautious if you want a calm, literary ghost walk or if loud sound is a concern. Parents should also remember that the minimum age is six, but the material includes death, cemeteries, and frightening stories. Younger children may find some subjects upsetting.

Guide quality makes a large difference. Henry has been praised for pairing humor with burial history and even choosing clever songs for the ride. Roy has been described as personable, entertaining, and helpful with ghost-hunting tools. Ray has also been singled out for making the evening fun.

Other departures have felt thin on storytelling. In one case, the guide openly encouraged people to research the cemetery on their own. That is not ideal if you are paying for interpretation, so keep your expectations flexible.

How the walking and timing work

The whole activity lasts about two hours, including the bus rides, cemetery walking, park area, and final return to the French Quarter. You may be on your feet for a fair part of the evening, but the walking is mostly on flat surfaces.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring layers. New Orleans weather can change, and a cemetery walk can feel cooler than the bus. Smart casual clothing is recommended, but practical shoes matter more than dressing up.

Stay with the group when moving between stops. The cemeteries may give you time to look around on your own, but you should confirm the meeting point and return time before wandering. A missed bus can turn a pleasant ghost story into an expensive rideshare.

The tour ends back at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys. That makes it easy to continue your night in the French Quarter, though you may prefer to arrange a rideshare if you have been drinking.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this tour if you want:

• A low-cost night activity beyond the French Quarter
• A look at New Orleans above-ground burial customs
• A cemetery visit after dark
• A casual BYOB setting with music
• A guide-led introduction rather than a long academic lecture
• A mix of ghost stories, local history, City Park, and Katrina remembrance

I would choose something else if you need:

• A guaranteed visit to Marie Laveau’s tomb
• A quiet ride with little or no music
• A highly detailed lecture at every cemetery
• A fully accessible vehicle
• A tightly controlled, theatrical ghost investigation
• Guaranteed bathroom stops at set times

The tour is family-friendly for ages six and up, but the BYOB atmosphere and morbid stories may suit adults better. Couples, friends, and families with older children can all enjoy it, provided they understand that the mood may shift from spooky to social.

Cancellation and practical booking advice

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If bad weather or a failure to reach the minimum number of participants cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Because the tour is often booked about two weeks ahead, I would reserve early if your New Orleans schedule is tight. Still, do not book it without reading the mood correctly. This is an affordable cemetery and ghost outing with a BYOB bus format, not a polished haunted attraction.

Should you book the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour?

Book it if you want an inexpensive, social way to see New Orleans cemeteries after dark. The Masonic tombs, unusual fraternal burial customs, City Park oaks, and Katrina memorial create a route with more variety than a standard French Quarter ghost walk.

Your best chance of a strong experience is to arrive early, choose your seat carefully, bring a modest drink, and ask about the route and restroom plan. If Henry, Roy, or Ray is leading, expect a lively guide who may add personal stories and ghost-hunting tools. If your priority is serious historical depth or a truly scary atmosphere, look for a more focused cemetery or history tour instead.

FAQ

Where does the Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour begin?

The tour begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, 1140 Decatur Street in the French Quarter. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours and returns to the same French Quarter meeting point.

Which cemeteries does the tour visit?

The tour typically includes Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and may also visit Charity Hospital’s pauper field, Odd Fellows Rest, and other cemeteries depending on the route.

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 tour does visit other notable tombs and resting places.

Are drinks included?

No. You may bring your own drinks or purchase one at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys before departure. Responsible drinking is required.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is limited to people age six and older. It includes morbid stories and cemetery visits, so younger children may need extra discretion.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and you must be able to walk on mostly flat surfaces and manage steps to board and exit.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If poor weather cancels the activity, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.