cultural · demand 4.5× baseline
Starts Feb 22MARDI GRAS 2028 — NEW ORLEANS
beads flying from floats on narrow streets, brass bands and second lines under oak trees
Mardi Gras 2028 — Fat Tuesday Feb 29 (leap year).
2028-02-22 → 2028-02-29 · New Orleans
Search opens with a one-day buffer on each side — arrive early, leave late.
Hosting near New Orleans? Event weekends book first — owners keep 75%.
List your rig →Start
2028-02-22
End
2028-02-29
Days away
617
Location
New Orleans
What you need to know
Mardi Gras 2028 Fat Tuesday falls on February 29 (leap year). Parade season runs 2 weeks ahead.
Official source: mardigrasneworleans.com
Book ahead
30+ wk
Demand vs baseline
4.5×
Est. attendance
—
Safety + legal
Same NOLA rules. Respect cultural traditions. Designated driver always.
Insider tip — what you won't find elsewhere
Leap-year Mardi Gras is rare — special parades + traditions often added.
Best rigs for Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans
Active discounts for this event
FAQ
When does Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans happen?
Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans runs 2028-02-22 through 2028-02-29 in New Orleans, louisiana.
What kind of rig should I rent for Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans?
Best categories: rv, trucks-vans. Mardi Gras 2028 Fat Tuesday falls on February 29 (leap year). Parade season runs 2 weeks ahead.
How early should I book my RV for Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans?
Recommended lead time: 30 weeks. For demand multiplier 4.5× events, local inventory fills fastest — book early to lock the best rigs and rates.
What safety + legal guidance applies for Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans?
Same NOLA rules. Respect cultural traditions. Designated driver always.
What's an insider tip for Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans?
Leap-year Mardi Gras is rare — special parades + traditions often added.
Deep dive · PickRV editorial
Everything you need to plan Mardi Gras 2028 — New Orleans
Mardi Gras 2028 is the rare one: Fat Tuesday lands on February 29, a leap-day Carnival that has not happened since 1904 and will not happen again until 2056. Krewe parades roll for roughly two weeks ahead of the climax, so the practical visitor window opens mid-February and peaks the long weekend before Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras itself. That rarity will pull heavier-than-normal demand, which is exactly why an RV makes sense here. French Quarter and downtown hotel rates spike and sell out during Carnival, and the Quarter's narrow one-way streets, parade barricades and rolling road closures make it unsuitable for any rig. The smart move is to base a self-contained vehicle at a full-hookup park on the edge of the city, leave it parked, and ride the RTA streetcar, bus and ferry network in on a cheap multi-day Jazzy Pass. New Orleans law allows open containers and public drinking, which makes a designated driver or rideshare absolutely non-negotiable - sobriety enforcement on I-10, the Crescent City Connection and the Causeway is heavy across Carnival weekends. February weather is mild but damp, with average highs near 65F, lows in the low 50s and a real chance of rain on any given day, so pack layers and rain gear. Inventory is limited and listings are demonstration-stage - for a once-in-a-generation leap-day Carnival, lock your park reservation and vehicle early rather than assuming availability.
Best RV parks
French Quarter RV Resort
fullFrench Quarter RV Resort (private) · Walking distance / ~5 min to French Quarter; 500 N. Claiborne Ave, just off I-10
Gated downtown resort with 24-hour monitoring and full-hookup paved sites (30/50-amp, water, sewer). Closest base to the Quarter - books out months ahead for Carnival, so reserve very early.
New Orleans RV Resort & Marina (formerly Pontchartrain Landing)
fullNew Orleans RV Resort & Marina (private) · ~12-15 min to French Quarter via I-10
Lakefront gated park at the Industrial Canal / Lake Pontchartrain; all sites 50-amp full hookups, on-site marina and bar, and a shuttle into the French Quarter so you can leave the rig parked.
Riverboat Travel Park
fullRiverboat Travel Park (private) · ~10 min to French Quarter via Chef Menteur Hwy / I-10
Locally owned, pet-friendly, full-hookup park at 6232 Chef Menteur Hwy sitting directly on the city bus line - ride the RTA in instead of driving and parking near parades.
Bayou Segnette State Park
partialLA State Parks (Westwego) · ~18 min / 13 mi to downtown via Crescent City Connection (US-90)
West Bank state park with 30/50-amp electric and water at sites but no sewer (dump station on-site) - bring full fresh water and budget a dump. Quieter, well-priced family base across the river.
Fontainebleau State Park
partialLA State Parks (Mandeville) · ~50 min / 40 mi to downtown via the 23-mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Scenic North Shore park on Lake Pontchartrain with electric + water sites (no full sewer at all sites). Calm overflow base - best if Carnival noise is not your thing and you do day trips across the Causeway.
Per-vehicle-type recommendations
rv
A Class C in the 22-26ft range is the sweet spot for Carnival: it fits the full-hookup sites at French Quarter RV Resort, New Orleans RV Resort and Riverboat Travel Park, handles I-10 traffic, and is self-contained for the state parks where sewer is dump-station-only. Skip a 35ft+ Class A - Quarter and Uptown streets, parade barricades and rolling closures make a big rig a liability. Park it and ride the streetcar.
trucks vans
A Class B campervan is the New Orleans flex play. It threads narrow Uptown and Mid-City streets, parks far easier near streetcar and bus stops along the parade routes, and crosses the Crescent City Connection or Causeway without sweat. Best choice if you want to base at Bayou Segnette or Fontainebleau yet still nip into town on parade mornings before barricades drop and roads close.
Safety + legal — sourced
NOPD
New Orleans allows open containers and public drinking, but DUI enforcement and sobriety checkpoints on I-10, the Crescent City Connection and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway are heavy across Carnival weekends. Use a designated driver, the RTA, or rideshare - never drive after drinking, no matter the open-container law.
City of New Orleans / Mardi Gras parade authorities
Stay behind parade barricades and respect the route. Krewe traditions and indigenous Black Mardi Gras Indian processions are living cultural and spiritual practices - observe quietly and avoid aggressive or intrusive photography.
NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge (LIX)
Late February averages a high near 65F and a low in the low 50s with high humidity (~77%) and a real chance of rain on any given day. Pack layered clothing and rain gear, and verify rig heat and propane for cool, damp nights.
New Orleans EMS / LSU Health
Alcohol-related and dehydration ER visits peak during Carnival. Hydrate aggressively, pace alcohol, and know the nearest medical tent and hospital before you head into the crowds.
RTA New Orleans
Buy a multi-day Jazzy Pass for unlimited streetcar, bus and ferry rides, and plan around parade-day route detours and service changes posted by the RTA. Leave the rig at your hookup park and ride in.
Transit from RV base to event
RTA streetcar (Jazzy Pass)
St. Charles, Canal and Riverfront streetcar lines into and around downtown and the Quarter edge; one Jazzy Pass covers unlimited rides.
RTA bus + park shuttle
From Riverboat Travel Park (on the bus line) or the New Orleans RV Resort shuttle, ride into the French Quarter / downtown.
Algiers Ferry
RTA ferry across the Mississippi between Algiers Point and Canal Street for a car-free Quarter approach from the West Bank.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
Surge-priced to designated drop-off zones outside the parade barricade perimeter; heaviest surge on Lundi Gras and Fat Tuesday.
Booking timeline
- 1. 30 weeks before
Reserve a full-hookup park near downtown (French Quarter RV Resort, New Orleans RV Resort, Riverboat Travel Park) - a leap-day Carnival sells out very early.
- 2. 24 weeks before
Book a self-contained PickRV rig sized for narrow streets (Class C 22-26ft or a Class B van), not a 35ft+ coach.
- 3. 12 weeks before
Plan your transit - buy or earmark a multi-day RTA Jazzy Pass and map parade routes and rolling closures.
- 4. 4 weeks before
Confirm rig heat/propane and pack layers and rain gear for mild, damp ~65F days with rain potential.
- 5. Event week
Park the rig at your hookup base, ride the streetcar/bus/ferry in, and use a designated driver or rideshare despite the open-container law.
Ready to roll?
Louisiana is waiting.
Owners keep 75% · optional coverage at checkout · 48h free cancel. Owners + companies + tour operators all welcome.
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Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Per-state legal callout · LA
Before you rent in Louisiana — key local rules
Standard license covers personal motorhomes under 26,001 lbs
Louisiana does not require CDL for personal-use motorhomes under 26,001 lbs GVWR. Out-of-state visitors honored with valid home-state license.
LA OMV · verified 2026-05-24
Boating Education required for operators born after 1984
Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries requires boater education for anyone born after January 1, 1984 operating a motorized vessel.
LDWF — Boating Education · verified 2026-05-24
Kisatchie NF MVUM; limited state OHV land
Louisiana has limited public OHV land. Kisatchie NF (USFS) governs federal-land OHV via MVUM. Most riding occurs on private land.
USFS — Kisatchie NF · verified 2026-05-24
Louisiana BAC 0.08%; open container in passenger area prohibited
Louisiana enforces 0.08% BAC for non-commercial drivers. Open alcoholic containers prohibited in passenger areas of motor vehicles on public highways.
Louisiana RS §14:98 · verified 2026-05-24
Louisiana rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- · Tax: 8.50%
- · Min driver age: 21+ standard, 25+ Class A
- · Gravel roads: Allowed — disclosure required
- · Generator quiet: 22:00-07:00