Mardi Gras parades are back for the first time since 2020, and with parades in the streets of New Orleans come changes to traffic, public transit and pedestrian routes.
Parade goers who plan to use the city’s buses, streetcars and ferries to get around can use this guide to travel around New Orleans during Carnival. The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority will provide continuous updates on further route changes and delays on its website.
To find a schedule of the major parades happening in New Orleans this year, read WWNO’s 2022 Mardi Gras Guide.
Note: All New Orleans transit detours begin two hours before each parade.
Uptown parade route transit changes
Streetcar routes
12-St. Charles Streetcar: During parades taking place Feb. 18,19, 20, 23 and 24, streetcar service will only operate from Carrollton and Claiborne avenues to St. Charles and Napoleon avenues. The last streetcar traveling downtown will cease passenger trips departing from the St. Charles and Napoleon stop at 4:30 p.m. and start back up once the parade clears St. Charles Avenue. St. Charles shuttle bus services will run from St. Charles Avenue and Valence Street to Canal Street via the 15-Freret route, terminating at Elk Place. Traveling from Canal Street and Elks Place to St. Charles and Valence Street, the St. Charles shuttle buses will travel along Loyola using the 15-Freret route back to Valence Street and St. Charles Avenue.
From Friday, Feb. 25 to Tuesday, March 1, all streetcar service will terminate at St. Charles and Napoleon Avenues. Streetcar service will be replaced with buses from Napoleon Avenue to Canal Street until 4:30 p.m. Starting at 4:30 p.m., St. Charles shuttle bus services will run from St. Charles and Valence Street to Canal Street via the 15-Freret route, terminating at Elk Place. From Canal and Elks to St. Charles and Valence Street, the St. Charles Avenue shuttle buses will travel along Loyola Avenue via the Freret-15 route back to Valence Street and St. Charles Avenue. During the Krewe of Endymion Parade and on Mardi Gras Day, shuttle service will terminate at the Union Passenger Terminal. Regular St. Charles Avenue streetcar service will resume Wednesday, March 3 at 5:00 a.m.
47/48-Canal Streetcar: Service will terminate at Bourbon Street. No service from Bourbon Street to Harrah’s Casino. Streetcar service along the 47/48-Canal Streetcar will cease at Bourbon Street beginning two hours before the parade.
49-Union Passenger Terminal/Riverfront Streetcar: Line will be split. Service will run from Harrah’s to French Market. One car will run from the Union Passenger Terminal to Bourbon Street.
Bus routes
5-Marigny/Bywater: Line will be rerouted from Elysian Fields Avenue to St. Claude Avenue, instead traveling to Duncan Plaza. Line will not be serviced from Elysian Fields Avenue to Canal Street at Decatur Street.
55-Elysian Fields: Will follow the same route at the 5-Marigny/Bywater.
10-Tchoupitoulas: Service will terminate at Marengo. Shuttle bus will service from Valence Street to Exposition Boulevard (Audubon Park) until the parade clears. Service will terminate at Poydras Street. No service from Poydras to Canal streets.
11-Magazine: Service will terminate at Marengo. A shuttle bus will run from Valence Street to Exposition Boulevard (Audubon Park) until the parade clears. Service will terminate at Poydras Street. No service from Poydras to Canal streets.
16-Claiborne: Line will be rerouted to Duncan Plaza. No service from Loyola Avenue to Convention Center Boulevard.
27-Louisiana: Service will terminate at Loyola and Louisiana avenues. No service between Loyola Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street.
28-MLK: Service will terminate at Baronne Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. No service between Barone and Tchoupitoulas streets.
91-Jackson/Esplanade: Service will terminate at Simon Bolivar and Jackson avenues. No service between Simon Bolivar Avenue and the Tchoupitoulas Street Walmart location.
Algiers Point/Audubon (Canal Street) Ferry
The Algiers Point/Audubon (Canal Street) Ferry operates extended hours during Mardi Gras and will operate on demand during peak traffic hours. Check norta.com/mardigras for the most up-to-date ferry information.
West Bank (Algiers) parade route transit changes
Krewe of NOMTOC - Saturday, Feb. 26, 10:45 a.m.
101-Algiers Point: No service to Eliza and Hendee streets.
102-General Meyer: No service between Kabel Drive and Whitney Avenue.
108-Algiers Local: Service between L.B. Landry Avenue at Semmes Street and Cut-Off only.
French Quarter and Marigny parade route transit changes
Krewe of Cork - Friday, Feb. 18 at 3:00 p.m.
Expect delays during the parade on Line 5-Marigny-Bywater and 55-Elysian Fields.
Krewe of Barkus - Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Expect delays during the parade on the 49-Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar, 57-Franklin, 88-St. Claude and 91-Jackson-Esplanade.
Endymion detours outside of downtown New Orleans
Streetcar route changes
47/48-Canal Streetcars: On Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26, all Canal Streetcar Service will be replaced with buses. During the parade, Canal Street buses will provide service from Basin and Canal streets to the Cemeteries Transit Center along a detoured route. Route information will be available on norta.com. Regular streetcar service will return Sunday, Feb. 28.
49-Union Passenger Terminal/Riverfront Streetcar: Service from the French Market to Harrah’s Casino.
Bus route changes
12-St. Charles Shuttle Bus: Shuttle bus services will stop at Union Passenger Terminal during the parade.
15-Freret: Buses will stop at Union Passenger Terminal. There will be no service to Canal Street.
16-S. Claiborne: Stops from Loyola Avenue to Canal Street will not be serviced.
27-Louisiana: No service between Delgado Community College and the Cemeteries Transit Center.
28-MLK: Buses will stop at the Union Passenger Terminal. There will be no service to Canal Street.
32-Leonidas: Route will be split on the Uptown and downtown side of the parade with service from Audubon Park to Banks Street and from Basin and Canal streets to Moss Street.
51/52-St. Bernard: Buses will service to Iberville Street.
84-Galvez: Buses from Lower 9th Ward will end at North Galvez and Bienville streets.
90-Carrollton: Route will split on the Uptown and downtown side of the parade with service from Elysian Fields Avenue to Beauregard Circle and South Claiborne Avenue to Banks Street.
91-Jackson/Esplanade: Service will operate from the Tchoupitoulas Street Walmart location to the Union Passenger Terminal, and from Basin and Iberville streets to Moss Street and Esplanade Avenue.
94-Broad: Shuttle service will operate from Broad Street and Washington Avenue to Cleveland Street. Broad Street bus service on the downtown side of Canal Street will operate from the outer terminal to Bienville Street until the parade clears Broad and Canal streets.
101/102/114/115: Buses will use the Claiborne Avenue exit to access Tulane and Loyola avenues, completing the route at the Union Passenger Terminal.
