Carnival Season
Carnival season begins on Twelfth Night in January and builds to Mardi Gras day, with the heaviest parade schedule in the final two weekends. During that stretch New Orleans operates under different rules: major streets close for hours, neighborhoods are cut in two by parade routes, and a trip that takes ten minutes in March can be impossible in February. MSY Limo Service plans around all of it.
We provide airport transfers for visitors, transportation to and from Carnival balls, hotel pickups timed around closures, and hourly service for groups who want a vehicle on call. We do not drive in parades, and no vehicle can cross an active route, but a chauffeur who knows the schedule can almost always get you where you need to be.
Demand during Carnival is far above normal. Reserve as early as you can.
Arrive before the street closes and leave after it reopens.
Pickups planned around the downtown end of the parade route.
Formal arrivals at downtown hotels and event halls, with the car waiting.
Family-friendly parades in Jefferson Parish along Veterans Boulevard.
Drop-offs at the edge of the Quarter, where vehicle access is limited.
Arrival and departure transfers on the heaviest travel days of winter.
Most of the large Uptown parades roll along St. Charles Avenue and turn onto Canal Street, and those streets close to traffic well before the first float and reopen only after the cleanup crews pass. With several parades back to back, that can mean most of an afternoon and evening. Anyone staying between the route and the river, or inside the loop formed by the route, may be temporarily unreachable by car. Other parades use different routes, including one through Mid-City and others in Metairie and on the Northshore.
When you book, we check your address and time against the schedule. If the door is not reachable, we name the nearest open corner and tell you how far the walk is. It is better to know that in advance than to discover it with luggage.
Flights are full and arrival times cluster. We track each flight and include 45 minutes of complimentary wait on domestic arrivals and 60 on international. For departures on parade days, we set pickup times conservatively and route around the closures using I-10, Claiborne Avenue and other streets that stay open. If your hotel is on Canal Street or St. Charles Avenue, ask us about the best time of day to travel.
Carnival balls are formal, often floor-length-gown and white-tie formal, and many are held at downtown hotels, the convention center and other large venues on nights when parades are also rolling. Krewe members and guests book sedans, SUVs and stretch limousines for the evening, usually on an hourly basis so the vehicle is waiting at the end. Groups watching parades from a hotel or a grandstand can use a Sprinter van to arrive before the closure and leave after it lifts.
Business sedan
Up to 3 · solo executives and couples
First-class sedan
Up to 3 · VIP and executive travel
Premium SUV
Up to 6 · families and small groups with luggage
Luxury SUV
Up to 6 · airport runs with beach or golf luggage
Executive van
Up to 14 · wedding parties, corporate teams and groups
Limousine
Up to 8 · proms, weddings and celebrations
Often yes, but not while the street is closed. We compare your pickup time with the parade schedule and, if needed, arrange an earlier time or a nearby open corner.
No vehicle may cross while a parade is passing, and police hold crossings for long periods. Your chauffeur plans a route that goes around the closed section instead.
As far as possible, particularly for the final two weekends, Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras day. Call (877) 609-1919 once your travel dates are set.
Your rate is quoted for your date and confirmed before you book, so there are no surprises. Parade-day trips are frequently booked hourly because travel times are unpredictable.
Carnival bookings are treated as special events: free cancellation up to 12 hours before pickup. That also applies to Sprinter vans and limousines.
Flat rates, flight tracking and a professional chauffeur — available 24/7. Call (877) 609-1919.