Transportation ideas from Kenner to the French Quarters

[HenanSan]

We are staying at a hotel in Kenner, near the airport on Veterans Blvd for 2 days prior to our cruise.  Anyone knows if you can take public transportation from Kenner, near Williams and Veterans Blvd, that will get us near a trolley or into the French Quarters?  OR if we drive into the Quarters is there good parking?  I keep hearing that parking is difficult downtown. There will be 2 adults and 3 kids from 3 to 10.

[princeton123211]

41 minutes ago, HenanSan said:

OR if we drive into the Quarters is there good parking?  I keep hearing that parking is difficult downtown.

Driving is not a good idea-- decent, safe parking is expensive and not abundant. Leave the car outside of the city if you can. 

 

42 minutes ago, HenanSan said:

Anyone knows if you can take public transportation from Kenner, near Williams and Veterans Blvd, that will get us near a trolley or into the French Quarters?

Public transportation in the form of busses are cheap but they can take a very long time to get into the French Quarter-- sometimes close to an hour. They offer shuttles which are more direct but are more like $25 per person. 

 

The easiest way to get into the city from where you are is by taxi or Uber. Uber would be about $25 for the entire family.  

[tallyho8]

I would drive into town. There is usually adequate parking in the parking lots in the French Quarter along Decatur or N. Peters St. unless a festival is in town. The cost of parking would be cheaper than taking a taxi there and back. Everything in the Quarter is then within walking distance including taking the St. Charles streetcar for a scenic, inexpensive ride.

[HenanSan]

1 hour ago, tallyho8 said:

There is usually adequate parking in the parking lots in the French Quarter along Decatur or N. Peters St. unless a festival is in town. The cost of parking would be cheaper than taking a taxi there and back. Everything in the Quarter is then within walking distance including taking the St. Charles streetcar for a scenic, inexpensive ride.

 

For parking is it a flat fee for the day or by the hour?  I plan to spend the day in the FQ site seeing.

[Lynda59]

There are lots of parking lots, but prices vary a lot.  So are per hour, some are flat fee.   Most meters are $3/hour - usually limit 2 hours.  There is an app for the meters, too.  The meter maids are usually out so be careful.  I usually park by the Riverwalk Mall - whale wall lot.  The Riverwalk will give you a discount if you spend $20 or more at Mall or food court.  This mall is adjacent to the Port.  Some Quarter restaurants offer validated parking, too.

 

Public transportation is not impossible, but it is different transit lines, so it would not be fast.  

 

You can also drive to City Park and then catch the streetcar (please do not call them trolleys) into the city.  Bring exact change - streetcar conductors do not give change.  Most rides are $1.25.  Also routes can change during Mardi Gras parades.  www.norta.com

 

You may want to consider Uber/Lyft. 

 

 

[tallyho8]

You can also park at HARRAH'S casino all day for free as long as you play the slots for 30 minutes. I usually play a 25 cent machine very slowly and you order free drinks from the machine while playing. In 30 minutes I average losing about $5 maximum and get 2 free margaritas while playing. Not a bad price for 2 drinks and all day free parking; 

[HenanSan]

21 hours ago, tallyho8 said:

You can also park at HARRAH'S casino all day for free as long as you play the slots for 30 minutes. I usually play a 25 cent machine very slowly and you order free drinks from the machine while playing. In 30 minutes I average losing about $5 maximum and get 2 free margaritas while playing. Not a bad price for 2 drinks and all day free parking; 

 

I like this idea!  I can play for a while others tour the Quarters and get free parking!  Yep.  This sounds too good to be true.