Anyone know good place to park for Mardi Gras?

[DenverDMax]

Hello everyone,

After the RTR I plan to head east and make my way into New Orleans for my birthday (5 days before Mardi Gras). I was looking around at maps of zoning in the area and was somewhat confused. I know that in New Orleans residential zoned districts it is illegal to park oversized vehicles on the street, but what about industrial zoned areas?

If anyone has had any experience with parking for free somewhere in New Orleans it would helpful. Or if you know if it is legal to park a trailer on the street for a period of time.

I have found many truck stops and open parking lots providing parking for a fee ($10 is the lowest I've found) per night. I don't need any hookups so I would prefer to just pull up on the side of the street and stay for free.

Any insight is appreciated

P.S. -- If anyone is planning to head that way after the RTR we should caravan together!

Thank you,
JJ

 

[Van-Tramp]

There is an RV park only two blocks off the French Quarter (French Quarter RV Resort). Easy walk into the party, but over $100 per night and I doubt you could get a reservation without a few years advance notice. I've stayed here. It is fine (nice showers and hot tub) but once you step foot outside their fence it is scary as all heck. There is a parking lot at an old abandoned grocery store right next door to this RV park. It has meters for overnight parking (1205 St Louis St, New Orleans) and I do not recall any prohibition to staying in your vehicle overnight. If I remember correctly the rate is 30-ish per might (give or take a few dollars) but again I doubt there will be a space available for weeks surrounding the big party. I wouldn't stay a night on the street or in that lot if my life depended on it. It is unsafe to all high hell. So far off the unsafe scale I can't express just how bad an idea it is.

My advice is to stay at the state park across the river (Bayou Segnette State Park) and ferry into the city each day. It will be tons cheaper, and tons safer. Again, it is extremely doubtful you will find availability leading up too and during Marti Gras without some serious advance reservations.

Good luck!

 

[Van-Tramp]

I know you were asking about free parking, but I made the above post to speak about *reality*. Any free place you might find in New Orleans is going to have to be under the radar, and the chances of either a LEO or criminal knocking on your door each night is basically 100%. No way could I ever recommend a location in New Orleans for overnight parking unless I wanted to hurt the person I was making the recommendation too.

 

[WanderingRose]

That was my thought, having been to the French Quarter many times.

I have stayed at Bayou Segnette, and taken the ferry in. The campground is inexpensive and nice, and the parking at the ferry secure, tho it is a very small lot and I don’t think could accommodate a trailer.

The FQRV Resort is on the perimeter of the French Quarter, and was built after Katrina on a lot that became empty. It is very nice, and very secure, tho expensive.

It is not in a great neighborhood, but I have walked down into the Quarter from there and never felt afraid, tho I am in by the time the night life really gets up and moving.

The authorities are death on parking violations down there, and will tow you, ticket you, and track your ass down if you don’t pay a ticket promptly.

I can’t think of anyplace where you could safely or legally park overnight, tho if you were ultra stealth in a van in a metered spot you could maybe get away with it. A trailer might get stripped overnight, if you could find a place to park, which I don’t think you could.

 

[Doubleone]

New Orleans is a very poor area with lots of ghetto surrounding the French Quarter.  All the streets are super narrow and I didn't see any good places to boondock.  We stayed at the FQRV Resort this past August and it was very expensive, but super clean, had 24hr walking guard, and a short two blocks walk to the quarter.  I'd stay there again because it was still cheaper than a hotel, but I doubt you could get in during the season.  However, it was way sketch outside of the resort.  Lots of people loitering, trippin', and acting out.  All the locals warned not to be walking outside of the quarter at night.  The resort folks even suggested we should Uber to the quarter, even though it was two blocks away.  Inside the quarter you literally have to step over all the transients and beggars laying on the sidewalks... several were obviously nodding out.  Bourbon Street was totally off the hook with people shoulder to shoulder in the streets during August.  You couldn't walk down the street without people bumping into you. It was an eclectic mix of sewer stink, vomit, alcohol, and urine.  The best time we had was in the adjacent streets, just off of Bourbon Street.  Bourbon Street was way too tourist oriented, higher prices, and more run down than the adjacent streets.  Overall experience... good food, decent prices on alcohol, and all kinds of entertainment.  Bars will give you a to-go cup for your drinks.  Tip: some of the liquor stores serve extra strong mixed drinks for take-out super cheap.  Frenchman's street was a little more tame.  All in all, we had a good time and we will go back, but definitely not during Mardi Gras; I can only imagine what that would be like, and it's not for me.

 

[Reducto]

When I was there I stayed at the casino, where they give you 24 hour parking free for playing anything for 30 minutes. I was going to play poker anyway so it was perfect for me and my tiny van. They have limited oversized spaces that would fit a full size van, but I'm not aware of anything that would fit an RV or trailer.

One tip I got from a local was to buy a pass for the hop on/hop off tourist bus. You get free parking in their lot and transportation between the attractions. You might call some of them to see if they have a spot for you.

I wouldn't worry that much about long term spots, you'll probably find you got as much of the Mardi Gras experience as you can handle in a day or two.

 

[rvwandering]

We've never stayed in New Orleans during Mardi Gras but, at other times, we've stayed at Bayou Segnette and Boomtown Casino.
Both are fine places to stay but a little far from the center of the action. Boomtown is about 10 miles south of the city so you'd still need a parking spot near the city to go to Mardi Gras.

To get into the city we usually park in a private lot on the south side of the Mississippi in Algiers Point - https://www.google.com/search?q=29.95387,+-90.05466&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1
and take the ferry across - http://www.norta.com/Maps-Schedules/New-Orleans-Ferry

 It's $10.00 to stay in the lot and it's okay to stay overnight even during Mardi Gras.

 If you want an experience without all of the rowdiness and vomit go to Mobile. https://www.cityofmobile.org/mardigras.php
 The parades are great and you can park on the street in many areas. We usually park across from the Big Zion A.M.E. Zion Church, 112 S Bayou St, Mobile, AL 36602.

 

[lenny flank]

I liked Mobile, though I wasn't there for Mardi Gras. If you like historical stuff, there are several Civil War and Revolutionary War forts there, as well as the USS Alabama.

 

[RowanFae]

There's a reason the locals, many of them, take off during Mardi Gras and stay away.

You can park for free and walk the quarter, but I would suggest finding a place outside of New Orleans to sleep. It isn't just the noise and chaotic revelry, there's the stench of urine and stale booze in the streets.

Don't get me wrong, Mardi Gras is a hoot and I love New Orleans, but I wouldn't want to sleep there during Mardi Gras.

Also, there's a small place just outside the touristy areas the locals eat at called Coops. At least there was when I was last there before Katrina. The food is amazing and at a good price.

Laissez Le bon temp rouler!

 

[camping bum]

i live in New Orleans at Madison & Decatur back in 99
right in the french quarters my apt was across from cafe Du Monde

crazy city but really is amazing , the music, food, street artist & vibe
something to see, living 1 year i feel in love with it

when the job was over i went back home to Clermont Fl on a 2600 acre orange grove & cattle ranch
2 totally different lifestyles

RV parking , no way

 

[RVTravel]

On google bayou signette sp looks not close to french quarter

 

[WanderingRose]

It isn’t close, it’s across the river, but you can drive about 10 minutes to a ferry with a parking lot, which drops you off in the French Quarter.

There isn’t anything really close except the FQRV Resort, which is expensive and also probably booked up for 2019 festivities.

 

[RVTravel]

I finally realized that lol sorry for my confusion.

 

[RVTravel]

I used the ferry last weekend and thought it was cool.