6+ Hours at New Orleans International Airport - Header image

6+ Hours at New Orleans International Airport

Maeve Power
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Head downtown

If you have a 6+ hour layover at MSY, take advantage of your downtime and head into the city. Downtown New Orleans is located 14.5 miles from the airport and is well connect via direct public transport links. New Orleans is best known for its music and food culture. Spend your day exploring the French Quarter, the historic heart of the city and soaking up the vibrant and unique atmosphere of the city. For more details on what to do during your layover in New Orleans, visit the Lonely Planet Guide to New Orleans.

Avoid downtown

If you don’t feel like spending your layover downtown there are some great wildlife refuges in the surrounding area for you to explore. The Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area is close to the airport, located 17.2 miles away. This vast, scenic wetland forest grows along Lake Maurepas and offers hiking trails, bird-watching, fishing and boating.If you are leaving the airport during your layover, always make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to the airport and through security before your next flight.

Transport Options

Bus: The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) provides the Airport Express (202) Bus with service to and from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport into New Orleans. The fare costs $1.50.

Overnight Layover?

If you have an overnight layover at MSY and want to get a good night's sleep there are many options available to you near the airport. The Hilton New Orleans Airport and the Days Inn New Orleans Airport are both located just a five-minute walk from the airport terminal, with free shuttle buses available to both hotels. Both hotels have an outdoor pool so you can get in a workout before heading to bed.

Luggage Storage

As with most airports in the US, there are no luggage storage facilities available at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. If you have a layover at MSY and want to store your luggage try these options: Ask at the airport information desk for recommendations on nearby luggage storage facilities.  If you are heading downtown, check for luggage storage lockers at bus and train terminalsUse Google to find a luggage storage service. There are lots of apps and websites that offer luggage storage options in large cities across the US.
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