New Orleans cemeteries at night are pure drama. This 2-hour bus tour mixes 19th-century tombs with paranormal communication tools, plus a stop that spotlights Hurricane Katrina’s human cost. I like how the route turns sightseeing into a story you can actually follow, not just a drive-by photo session.

You’ll start in the French Quarter area near the Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, then roll into City Park’s oak-and-moss mood before the first graves. The Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 stop is a standout because it’s built for the square-and-compass symbolism of the Freemasons, with a layout you can feel even when you’re just walking past the tomb rows.

One heads-up: time on site can feel tight. Depending on the evening, you may get only one main cemetery moment plus shorter stops, so if you want lots of quiet, slow grave-by-grave exploring, this may not satisfy.

Quick hits before you go

• EMF and paranormal communication tools are part of the experience, not an afterthought.
• Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 shows off Freemason burial planning in a very physical way, with a distinctive triangular footprint.
• City Park is the mood-setter, all 1,300-acre slow stroll vibes before darker stops.
• Katrina memorial time is built in, with a guided explanation and time to pay respects.
• Small-group bus format (max 24) keeps walking manageable.
• Guide choice can change everything, with Roy, Kendall, Henry, and Trish repeatedly singled out for a stronger, more fun delivery.

Two hours of night cemeteries, not a full museum day

This is priced and paced like an in-between option: you get enough time outdoors at night to feel the atmosphere, but you also spend a good chunk on the bus to cover multiple stops. At $30 per person, it’s best thought of as a compact New Orleans night sampler—history plus spooky tools, delivered by live commentary.

The big value here is variety. You’re not just circling one cemetery. You’re guided through the city’s cemetery culture from different angles, including Catholic and Masonic spaces, and you also hit the Hurricane Katrina memorial area. That combination gives you more context than the typical grab-bag ghost tour.

The trade-off is pace. Even at the best cemeteries, you’re still on a schedule. When your group moves quickly, you’ll get the highlights and the main stories, not a leisurely, research-style wander.

Meeting at the Voodoo Tavern and riding into the French Quarter night

The tour meets at the Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys on Decatur Street (1140 Decatur St). It’s a convenient launch spot because you can usually reach it by foot, ride-share, or public transportation. Parking is limited nearby, so if you’re driving, plan for that reality.

Pickup and drop-off are handled back at the same meeting point. That matters more than it sounds: you don’t have to figure out how to get between sites after dark. The bus setup also helps if you want the cemetery experience without doing a long on-foot route through multiple neighborhoods.

The group cap is 24 people, so it’s not the kind of giant herd where you can’t hear your guide. Still, audio can be a factor on any bus tour, especially when music is playing. If you’re the type who likes to catch every detail, bring your listening focus—cemetery stories can get drowned out fast when the volume is high.

City Park first: the oak-and-moss warm-up

Before the graves, you go to City Park, a huge 1,300-acre urban oasis that’s been enchanting people since 1854. The point of this stop isn’t to turn you into a park historian. It’s to give you a New Orleans atmosphere check before you step into the cemetery mood.

City Park is known for its historic oaks and moss canopies—those hanging curtains of greenery that make the city feel half fantasy, half reality. The guide will frame it with stories of dances, concerts, and even old-school affairs of honor. That matters because it trains your brain to read the city as a place with layered life, not just a backdrop for spooky tourism.

You’ll likely feel less rushed here than at the cemeteries. And even if you aren’t a “park person,” it’s a smart buffer stop: you’re warming up your senses, not starting with the heaviest themes right away.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: square-and-compass graves you can walk through

The Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 stop is the most clearly defined cemetery experience in the tour materials, and it’s a good reason to be excited. Founded in 1865 by the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, it has a distinct feel compared with the Catholic cemeteries that dominate New Orleans.

Here’s what makes it special beyond the fear-factor: it reflects Masonic planning in its layout. The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks, with Conti Street bisecting it. The walking paths inside are designed in a way that echoes the Masonic emblem of the square and compass. When you’re standing among the rows and fences, that geometric thinking becomes more than a symbol on a sign.

You also see how communal planning shaped the tombs. The cemetery’s group nature comes from members pooling resources to purchase larger group tombs. That’s a practical detail with emotional weight: it tells you how people organized community and identity, even in death.

A quick picture in your mind helps. Think cast-iron picket fences enclosing sections, oak allées lining edges, and a wider paved promenade slicing through the middle for access to smaller pathways. Even on a timed visit, that structure makes it easier to follow what the guide is pointing to.

Other cemetery stops: what to expect from the Catholic and Masonic mix

The route is described as visiting multiple cemetery sites, and at minimum you should expect a mix that includes the Masonic Temple Cemetery #2. Depending on the exact departure pattern, the tour may also include places like Charity Hospital pauper’s field, St. Louis Cemetery #3, the Holt Cemetery, and other stops.

Since these are different spaces, the value for you is contrast. You’re seeing how burial traditions, tomb styles, and cemetery purposes can differ even within the same city. The tour framing highlights 19th-century tombs across both Catholic and Masonic settings, which is a strong way to understand New Orleans as a place where religion, secrecy, and community all left their marks on the same streets.

Keep your expectations realistic: some nights can feel like you get more time at one main cemetery, with shorter moments at others. That’s not a deal-breaker if you’re here for atmosphere and guided stories. But if your dream is a long grave-by-grave walk, plan for the fact that bus tours trade time on site for coverage.

Katrina memorial and Odd Fellows Rest: when the mood gets serious

One of the most important parts of the itinerary is the Hurricane Katrina memorial stop. The guide explains the lasting effects of the storm, and you can pay respects at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery. This isn’t presented as a jump-scare moment. It’s included for context and for remembrance.

That’s where the tour earns its emotional credibility. New Orleans ghost tours can sometimes feel like they’re selling fear. Here, the Katrina section ties the darker side of the city to real history—loss, displacement, and community impact. If you come hoping for pure comedy, you might feel the tone shift.

There’s also an additional stop described as Odd Fellows Rest, reserved for members of a little-known group. It’s another example of how the city’s “secret society” stories aren’t just legends; they show up in actual sacred spaces and resting places.

If you’re sensitive to heavy topics, it helps to mentally prepare. You’ll still be in a tour format, but Katrina is the part you should treat with extra quiet attention.

Ghost-hunting tools: EMF readers, apps, and the art of waiting

This tour includes tools to communicate with the paranormal, and the EMF reader is specifically mentioned. You may also be directed to use an app as part of the investigation experience.

Here’s the practical way to think about this: the tools are more about participation and story momentum than about turning you into a scientist. When your guide runs the session well, it feels like you’re joining a ritual—turning lights down, staying still, and trying to catch something. When it’s less well explained, you can end up fumbling with tech while the group waits.

Some guides lean into eerie music and playful suspense. Others emphasize the rules and history first, then do the paranormal work later. Either approach can be fun, but you’ll get more out of it if you arrive ready to follow instructions quickly and keep expectations flexible.

A key note if you’re camera-inclined: night cemetery atmospheres can produce unsettling images even without supernatural claims. If you capture something, it becomes part of the group story. If you capture nothing, you still get the live guided experience and the sites.

Guides make it: Roy, Kendall, Henry, Trish, and what to ask for

This is one of those tours where the guide can turn the whole thing from fine to memorable. Multiple guides come up repeatedly, and each seems to lean into a different balance of history, humor, and paranormal interaction.

Roy is repeatedly praised for making things light while still delivering real city stories. Kendall stands out for clear history and a strong, interactive vibe—especially around the idea of investigating after dark. Henry is noted for connecting history, culture, and everyday New Orleans life, and for sharing personal Katrina impact stories that land emotionally. Trish is praised for being funny, direct about rules, and solid at answering questions.

What should you do with that information? When booking, if you see an option for a specific guide, it’s worth choosing one of these names. If no guide choice is offered, you can still tip your own odds by arriving early, staying focused, and asking a short question when the guide opens it up—guides often respond best when you show you’re paying attention.

Price and logistics: $30 that can feel fair or short

At $30 per person, this tour is a good deal for a two-hour block—especially because it includes live commentary, pickup and drop-off from the meeting point, and admission/ticket inclusion at the cemetery stop where included access applies.

So where can value slip? Time. If the evening route includes only one main cemetery and a quick detour, the tour can feel short for the cost, especially compared with longer cemetery-focused tours. If you’re sensitive to how much time is spent driving, know that bus time is part of the structure.

Also, the schedule includes at least one break. Some departures can make that break feel like it eats into cemetery time. That doesn’t ruin the tour, but it can change how you judge value. If you’re the kind of person who hates leaving a cemetery too soon, plan to do additional cemetery time on your own earlier in the day.

The best use of this tour: do it as your night layer. Let it set the mood, show you key cemetery types, and give you stories you can connect to later.

What to wear and how much walking is really involved

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour does involve walking, but it’s described as mostly flat surfaces and not strenuous. Still, it includes some steps to board and exit the bus.

The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and you’ll need to be able to navigate those steps. Service animals are allowed.

Because this is a night tour, dress for weather with layered clothing. Even in warm months, evening air can feel different once you’re outside and standing still for investigation moments.

Who should book this cemetery ghost bus tour

This tour fits best if you want a guided, social night activity that mixes cemetery culture with paranormal play. It’s also a strong option if you’re traveling with people who can handle a bit of dark storytelling but still want it light enough to keep the mood moving.

It’s listed as appropriate for ages 6 and above, but it does cover morbid tales that can be scary for younger kids. If you’re bringing teens, it can be a solid “New Orleans at night” experience—especially because you’re not just sitting in a restaurant waiting for something spooky to happen.

If you hate bus tours, or you need lots of slow, unscheduled time at one cemetery, you might be happier with a daytime cemetery walk or a tour that spends more time per stop.

Should you book NOLA GhostRiders tonight?

I’d book if you want a two-hour night experience that balances cemetery sightseeing, Masonic vs Catholic contrasts, and a meaningful Katrina moment, with tools that make you feel involved. I’d also book if you like guided stories and want a small-group bus format that keeps walking manageable.

I’d think twice if your main goal is long, quiet cemetery exploration or if you’re extremely detail-sensitive and need every historical name and fact to be delivered at a high volume. In that case, this route can feel rushed.

If you can, pick your timing wisely. Good weather matters for an experience like this, and you’ll enjoy it more when the night stays comfortable for standing still and walking short stretches. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, so you can keep flexibility if the forecast looks rough.

FAQ

Which cemetery do we visit during the New Orleans Cemetery and Paranormal Investigation Bus Tour?

This tour typically visits the Charity Hospital pauper’s field as well as the Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, plus other cemetery stops such as St. Louis Cemetery #3 and the Holt Cemetery.

Does the tour visit the tomb of Marie Laveau?

No. Marie Laveau’s tomb is in St. Louis Cemetery 1, which is not included on this tour.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina Memorial?

Yes. Your guide explains the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina and you can pay respects at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery. The tour also includes a visit to Odd Fellows Rest.

Is parking available near the meeting point?

There is limited parking near the meeting point in the French Quarter area. It’s recommended to walk or use public transportation, or use a ride-share like Uber or Lyft.

Can I use public transportation to get to the meeting location?

Yes. Public transportation stops are available near the departure location.

Is the tour family friendly and what ages are appropriate?

Yes, it is appropriate for ages 6 and above. It does include morbid tales that can be scary for younger children.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

The bus used for this tour is not wheelchair accessible, and you must be able to walk and navigate a few steps to board and exit.