What Is the Best Time to Travel to New Orleans?
Spring is the most popular time to travel to New Orleans, but if you want the best deals, you should visit in summer or winter.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you’re itching to explore the French Quarter, lose yourself in the jazz on Bourbon Street, or just eat a really good po-boy, the best time to travel to
New Orleans
will depend on your heat tolerance, budget, and interests. Spring is the most popular time to visit thanks to Mardi Gras, but summer and winter are when you’ll find the best deals.The Big Easy is one of America’s most popular vacation destinations—but picking a time to visit New Orleans can feel like navigating a treacherous swamp of exorbitant prices and menacing forecasts. Extreme temperatures and over-the-top travel costs could stop the good times from rolling, so it’s important to time your visit carefully.
Car insurance
super app Jerry
knows how hard it is to plan the perfect road trip—that’s why we’ve done the research to help you find the ideal time to travel to New Orleans for that not-too-hot, not-too-expensive, not-too-crowded getaway. The best times of year to travel to New Orleans
Finding the best time to travel to New Orleans depends on a few key questions. If you’re planning a trip to Mardi Gras, you’ll need to go during the most popular season: spring. But if getting a good deal on travel and lodging is more important to you, aim for the summer or winter.
Peak season: February to May
The good: Mardi Gras, most activities available
The bad: Crowded, sky-high rates
The weather: Low 70s to mid-80s
Spring is the undisputed king of New Orleans tourism. February and March are the most popular months to visit New Orleans, due to the Mardi Gras festival falling during those dates, but April and May are close behind.
Mardi Gras is the Big Easy’s biggest tourism draw. This one-of-a-kind festival can fall
any time between February 3 and March 9
, so a spring visit is a must if Fat Tuesday is on your list.Other high season events include the
French Quarter Festival
in April and the New Orleans Jazz + Heritage Festival
in April/May. Pro Tip If you’re planning to travel to New Orleans in the spring, book as far in advance as you can—at least two months before your trip, if possible!
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Off-season: June to September
The good: Lowest rates, fewer crowds
The bad: Heat, heavy rain
The weather: Low 90s and above
If you’re willing to brave the swampy heat of a New Orleans summer, you’ll land the best deals and miss most of the crowds.
You won’t miss out on the culture, either: early June sees the
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
, and later in the month R&B fans can attend the annual Essence Music Festival
. Or, if you’re an old-school jazz fan, head down to Crescent City in August for Satchmo SummerFest
at the New Orleans Jazz Museum for two days honoring the legendary Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. Shoulder season: October to January
The good: Lower rates than spring, lots of cultural festivals
The bad: Fewer attractions and events than in spring, higher rates than summer
The weather: 60s to 80s, depending on the month
Fall and winter make up New Orleans’s so-called “shoulder season”—i.e., between the high and low seasons. If you visit during these months, you’ll be missing the worst of the Louisiana heat, but still getting a taste of the best the city has to offer.
If you’re interested in the city’s gorgeous architecture, a winter visit might be your best bet, especially if you can time your trip around
the holidays
! Foodies will get their fill in autumn with the Louisiana Seafood Festival
, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
, and the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
. And don’t miss the New Orleans Film Festival
in October!MORE: Austin to New Orleans road trip
The cheapest time to travel to New Orleans
If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest time to visit New Orleans, book your visit for the summer. High temperatures and intense humidity scare off most tourists during the months of June, July, and August, so you’ll find the best deals during that period.
However, if heat doesn’t agree with you, you can still get some pretty amazing bargains if you schedule your visit for December or January, when the city has fewer major festivals. Not only will you get to experience New Orleans at its coolest, but you’ll save money by coming just before the Mardi Gras rush.
MORE: Road trip Tampa to New Orleans
Find the best month for your visit to New Orleans
Ready to narrow down the right month to travel to the Big Easy? Check out the table below to find the ideal time for your New Orleans adventure based on the activities you’re planning.
Activity | Best month to visit | Why? |
|---|---|---|
Mardi Gras | February or March | Mardi Gras will always fall between February 3 and March 9, so check this year’s date to schedule your trip. |
Crawfish season | March, April, or May | If you’re craving a crawfish boil, aim for the peak of crawfish season in mid- to late spring. |
Boat tours | Winter | The New Orleans Steamboat Company offers dinner cruises and jazz cruises on historic Mississippi steamboats with special events around the winter holidays. |
Jazz | May or August | Hit up the famous New Orleans Jazz + Heritage Festival in May, or check out SatchmoFest at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in August. |
Bourbon Street | April or December | The French Quarter Festival amps up the joy on Bourbon Street every April, but opt for December for bright holiday spirits with fewer crowds. |
Architecture tours | December or January | Stick to the shoulder season for architecture tours: you’ll avoid both crowding and unbearable heat, and enjoy the city’s beauty in peace. |
Seafood | October or November | You’ll get amazing seafood any time of year in the Big Easy, but the best seafood festivals are in the fall. |
Swamp tours | October through January | Stick to the cooler months if you want to explore gator territory on a guided swamp tour |
Pro Tip You’ll find good food, good music, and beautiful architecture year-round in New Orleans, so time your trip based on savings and weather if you’re not interested in special events.
How to find savings on car and rental insurance
Whether you’re driving to NOLA or
renting a car
at the airport, it’s important to make sure you’ve got a solid car insurance policy in place before you set out. Jerry
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On average, Jerry users save about $887 a year on car insurance. With savings like that, you might be able to afford that high season vacation of your dreams!
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
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What is the worst time to travel to New Orleans?
There’s no wrong time to visit the Big Easy—the worst time for your visit will depend on your personal preferences. Can’t stand the heat? Stick to the cooler spring or, better yet, come in the dead of winter. Want the full Mardis Gras experience? Don’t visit in the autumn. And if your priority is getting a good deal, the worst time to travel to New Orleans is February through April.
What months are hurricane season in New Orleans?
Hurricane season
in Louisiana generally runs from June 1 to November 30. June, July, and August tend to see the heaviest rains of the year.
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