Louisiana
Arriving in New Orleans, LA with a rented RV
New Orleans does not let RVs near the French Quarter. Under the 2015 amendment to the city traffic code, vehicles, trucks, or truck-tractors 36 feet or longer are prohibited in the Vieux Carré without a special Department of Public Works permit — first-offense fine is $500, second is $1,000.
Sourced to municipal code, park-service and operator pages · last reviewed 2026-06-04
Arrival briefing · LA
Your New Orleans arrival, on one dashboard
Every figure below is counted straight from this guide's sourced entries — parking rules that bite, where to dump and refill, and the campgrounds that actually take a rig. Nothing invented; a dash means we haven't sourced one yet.
RV campgrounds
5
Dump stations
4
Propane / diesel
3
Parking rules
4
16 field-sourced facts · last reviewed 2026-06-04
That removes the entire historic core from your route map before you even cross the parish line. Layer on top: the citywide zoning rule banning RV, travel trailer, boat, or boat trailer parking on any public thoroughfare in residentially zoned districts, and you are effectively limited to private RV resorts inside Orleans Parish or state parks across the river. Two arrival windows define the city.
Mardi Gras 2026 climaxes Tuesday February 17, with parade-route street closures starting two hours before each roll and a hard rule that campers, box trucks, and trailers cannot park within two blocks of any parade for four hours before or after — Bourbon Street is closed 24/7 from 5pm Feb 9 through 5am Feb 14. Bayou Segnette State Park's 100 hookup sites open 14 months out and Mardi Gras weekend books out the day reservations release.
Hurricane season (June 1 – Nov 30) brings mandatory contraflow on I-10, I-55, and I-59 — every inbound lane reverses outbound, and a 40-foot rig in that traffic is a 12-hour problem.
New Orleans RV basecamp at a glance
Real local logistics for renters
- City population
- 383,997
- RV parks in area
- 9
- Typical nightly rate
- $165–$255
- Best window to visit
- October-April (avoid summer heat + hurricane peak)
U.S. Census Bureau
Flagship: Bayou Segnette State Park
Class C, host-set
Bayou Segnette State Park: 25 min from French Quarter; airboat tours; 50A hookup
Pickup & fuel: Pickup in Metairie (W) avoids hurricane evacuation routes. NOLA below sea level — flood + hurricane planning critical Jun-Nov.
Louisiana scenery
Timing your trip
When should I plan my trip to New Orleans?
Best season to come
Late October through early December — daytime highs 65-78°F, humidity drops below 70%, mosquitoes thin out, hurricane risk fades after Nov 30, and Bayou Segnette weeknight rates drop to $25.
Season to skip
July through early September — 92-95°F daily highs with 85-95% humidity make A/C run nonstop (propane + shore-power load), afternoon thunderstorms flood low-lying campground roads, and Aug-Sep is peak Atlantic hurricane window with contraflow evacuation risk.
Read before you park
Parking ordinances that bite RVs
No vehicle, truck, or truck-tractor 36 feet or longer may operate or park in the Vieux Carré (French Quarter) without a special permit issued by the Department of Public Works.
Citation: New Orleans Code of Ordinances, Ch. 154 (Traffic and Vehicles), French Quarter truck ban ordinance, approved by City Council April 2015
What this means for you: Any Class A motorhome, fifth-wheel combo, or Class C plus toad over 36 ft is banned from the entire French Quarter. First offense $500, second offense $1,000. Stage at Bayou Segnette or Pontchartrain Landing and Uber in.
No recreational vehicle, travel trailer, boat, or boat trailer may park on a public thoroughfare in any district zoned for residential use. On-lot parking limited to 72 hours for loading, cleaning, or trip prep.
Citation: New Orleans Code of Ordinances, Ch. 154, Art. VIII, Div. 5 (Parking Generally), §154-876 vehicle parking in zoning districts
What this means for you: You cannot street-park your RV overnight anywhere in Uptown, Marigny, Bywater, Mid-City, Lakeview, Algiers Point, or any residential block. Plan campground arrival before dark — no curbside Airbnb-driveway workaround.
During Mardi Gras parades, large enclosed vehicles including box trucks, campers, and trailers are prohibited from parking on streets within two blocks of a parade route for four hours before and four hours after the parade rolls.
Citation: City of New Orleans Mardi Gras 2026 parking restrictions, NOLA Ready Mardi Gras transportation rules
What this means for you: From late Jan through Feb 17 2026, the entire St. Charles Ave / Napoleon Ave / Magazine St corridor is an 8-hour daily RV exclusion zone. Tow trucks stage at parade start times. Stay on the West Bank or Slidell side.
Bourbon Street and adjacent French Quarter blocks (700-800 blocks of St. Ann, Orleans, St. Peter, Toulouse, St. Louis, Conti, Bienville, Iberville) closed 24/7 from 5pm Feb 9 through 5am Feb 14, 2026, during Mardi Gras's two biggest weekends.
Citation: City of New Orleans Mardi Gras 2026 street closure schedule (nola.com Mardi Gras coverage, Feb 2026)
What this means for you: Anything you have to retrieve from inside the Quarter during Carnival's second weekend has to be carried on foot or via bike. No exception for RV class. Plan ride-in/walk-out only.
Tanks + water
Where can I dump tanks in New Orleans?
Bayou Segnette State Park Dump Station
7777 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA 70094
Pontchartrain Landing (New Orleans RV Resort & Marina) Dump Station
6001 France Road, New Orleans, LA 70126
St. Bernard State Park Dump Station
501 St. Bernard Parkway, Braithwaite, LA 70040
New Orleans East Kampground (KOA-style) Dump Station
56009 Highway 433, Slidell, LA 70461
Fuel + propane
Where do I top up propane and diesel?
U-Haul Moving & Storage at Tulane
2801 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
Offers: Propane refill by the gallon, 7 days a week
RV access: Mid-City corner of Tulane and Broad — tight quarters, suitable for Class B / Class C / truck-camper rigs under 28 ft. Class A over 30 ft should use Michoud location.
U-Haul Moving & Storage at Michoud Blvd
4449 Michoud Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70129
Offers: Propane refill by the gallon, 7 days a week
RV access: South of Chef Hwy just over the railroad tracks near NASA Michoud — open lot, accommodates 40+ ft Class A pull-through approach. Best East-NO propane stop.
U-Haul Moving & Storage at St Claude Ave
2936 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
Offers: Propane refill by the gallon, 7 days a week
RV access: One block east of St Claude and Franklin by the railroad tracks — tight urban yard, under 25 ft rigs only. Avoid with toad or trailer.
Where to sleep
Which campgrounds actually take RVs?
Bayou Segnette State Park
Louisiana State Parks (LASP)
100 sites with 30/50-amp electric, water, dump station on site, free laundry, Wi-Fi. 14-night max consecutive stay.
Operator siteSt. Bernard State Park
Louisiana State Parks (LASP)
51 sites with water + electric hookups, picnic table, grill, bathhouse with hot showers and laundry
Operator sitePontchartrain Landing / New Orleans RV Resort & Marina
Private (Lake Pontchartrain Properties)
Full hookup 20/30/50-amp sites, pool, marina, bar/restaurant, gated. ~12 min to French Quarter.
Operator siteFrench Quarter RV Resort
Private
52 full-hookup back-in sites, 20/30/50-amp, water, sewer, cable, Wi-Fi. Gated. Walking distance to Treme; rideshare to FQ.
Operator siteNew Orleans East Kampground
Private (KOA-affiliated, Slidell)
Full hookups, pull-through pads, dump station, potable + rinse water. Easy I-10 access, no urban-route obstacles.
Operator sitePublic-land hubs near this city
State parks, National Forests, and NPS units around the city are the anchors for an RV or boat trip — check each unit's official site for current access, fees, and seasonal rules before you go.
On the road in Louisiana
Plan around the crowds
Which local events will move New Orleans RV supply?
Mardi Gras 2026 (Carnival climax)
Bayou Segnette + French Quarter RV Resort book 12+ months out. Rates surge 2-3x. Campers banned within 2 blocks of any parade route for 4 hrs before/after. Bourbon St + 8 adjacent FQ streets closed 24/7 Feb 9 5pm – Feb 14 5am. Book before Sept 2025 or stay in Slidell (28+ mi).
Event sourceNew Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2026
Fair Grounds (1751 Gentilly Blvd) has zero general RV/auto parking. Surrounding Mid-City and Gentilly residential streets become RV-hostile with $30/day pop-up backyard lots for cars only. All 4 RV resorts within 30 mi sell out 8-12 weeks ahead, rates rise 1.5-2x.
Event sourceAtlantic Hurricane Season + Contraflow Risk
Mandatory evacuation triggers contraflow on I-10, I-55, I-59 — all inbound lanes reverse outbound. 12-24 hr egress for 40-ft rigs. Watch NOAA from 72 hr out; pre-position diesel and propane. Many campgrounds close on official evacuation order.
Event sourceArrival playbook
Your first hour in New Orleans
Before you leave the lot
- Reserve Bayou Segnette State Park 12+ months ahead for any Feb-May arrival via reservations.gooutdoorslouisiana.com (facID=37) — Mardi Gras weekend books out the day it opens
- If you arrive on a Sunday and need propane, drive to U-Haul Michoud Blvd (4449 Michoud Blvd) — open 7 days and the only NO location with pull-through clearance for 40+ ft rigs
Within the first hour
- Do NOT route any rig over 36 ft into the French Quarter — $500 ticket and tow. Park at Pontchartrain Landing (6001 France Rd) and rideshare to Decatur St
- Dump tanks at Bayou Segnette or St. Bernard State Park before any city-center day trip — there is no public-utility dump station inside Orleans Parish
Before bed
- From Jun 1 onward, sign up for NOLA Ready alerts (ready.nola.gov) and pre-stage 100+ gal diesel — contraflow can trigger with 48-72 hrs notice
- Avoid I-10 Claiborne/Vieux Carré exits in any rig — narrow overpass clearances and the 36-ft FQ ban combine into a tow risk. Use I-10 → US-90 Crescent City Connection to West Bank
Before departure
- Book any Jazz Fest stay (Apr 23 – May 3 2026) before Feb 1 2026 at French Quarter RV Resort or Pontchartrain Landing — both sell out by mid-Feb
The mistake renters make
Avoid this trap
Trying to drive a 40-ft motorhome into the French Quarter to drop off a passenger at a hotel on Bourbon, Royal, or Decatur Street. The 2015 ordinance bans any vehicle 36 ft or longer from the Vieux Carré without a DPW special permit, and the narrow streets are actively patrolled by NOPD because oversized trucks routinely clip wrought-iron balconies and street lamps.
First-offense fine is $500; second offense is $1,000. Add a $200-$400 NOPD-authorized tow plus daily storage fees if you block traffic. Worse: damaging a French Quarter balcony triggers historic-property restitution under Vieux Carré Commission rules, which can run into five figures.
Read the sourceWeekend escapes from New Orleans
No flight needed. These trips are all within a few hours of downtown New Orleans — rent a rig Friday, be back by Sunday. Real routes locals run for a weekend away or a quick day trip.
Day trip
NOLA → Honey Island Swamp → Slidell → back
Bayou day trip
Rent a rig for this trip →Weekend escape
NOLA → Lafayette (Fri) → Cajun country (Sat) → back
Cajun country weekend
Rent a rig for this trip →Full week
NOLA → Avery Island → Memphis → Nashville → Atlanta → back
Deep South 7-day
Rent a rig for this trip →
Ready to roll
See what's available in New Orleans
Make it a trip
Rent an RV or boat in Louisiana
The rigs here are owned by local hosts. Browse what fits your New Orleans trip, or reach Louisiana owners directly.
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Pair this with a road trip
Natchez Trace Parkway
5-7 days · 444 mi · starts in Nashville
Natchez Trace Parkway terminates 165 mi north — natural northbound exit from New Orleans toward Natchez MS, Tupelo, and Nashville on a no-commercial-traffic scenic federal route ideal for RVs.
Open itineraryFlorida Keys Overseas Highway
3-4 days · 127 mi · starts in Miami
I-10 East to I-75 South puts you on a 14-hr drive to Key Largo — pair Cajun country exit with the Keys' Overseas Highway as a 10-14 day Gulf Coast circuit.
Open itineraryEditorial sourcing
How we know — the sources we checked
- New Orleans Code of Ordinances §154-876 — vehicle parking in zoning districts (residential RV/trailer rules)(opens in new tab)
- The Advocate — City Council bans trucks over 36 feet from French Quarter (April 2015 ordinance)(opens in new tab)
- NOLA Ready — Official City Mardi Gras Parking & Transportation Rules(opens in new tab)
- NOLA.com — Mardi Gras 2026 Parking Rules and Street Closures(opens in new tab)
- Louisiana State Parks — Bayou Segnette reservation portal (official)(opens in new tab)
- Louisiana State Parks — St. Bernard State Park (official)(opens in new tab)
- Sanidumps — RV dump points within 20 mi of New Orleans(opens in new tab)
- U-Haul — propane refill locations in New Orleans(opens in new tab)
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — official 2026 FAQ(opens in new tab)
- NOLA Ready — Hurricane preparation + contraflow guidance(opens in new tab)
Last reviewed 2026-06-04
For RV owners in New Orleans
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Before you arrive
Louisiana state guide
OpenWhat's happening
Louisiana events calendar
OpenStay legal
Louisiana RV laws
OpenLouisiana rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
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