New Orleans by RV from Atlanta: Jazz, Food, and the French Quarter
Distance from Atlanta: 470 miles. Drive time: approximately 7 hours via I-20 W.
New Orleans is unlike anywhere else in America. It has the food culture of a European city, the music scene of a capital, the architecture of the Caribbean, and a history that doesn't fit neatly into any category. For international visitors flying into Atlanta, it's one of the most rewarding road trips you can make — and it's a straight shot west on the interstate.
The Drive
The route from Atlanta to New Orleans is almost entirely on I-20 West through Alabama and Mississippi, then I-59 South into Louisiana. It's a long day of driving — plan to leave early and arrive in the afternoon. If you want to break it up, Meridian, Mississippi is roughly the halfway point and has a few decent campgrounds.
The landscape changes noticeably as you cross into Louisiana. The terrain flattens, the vegetation gets lusher, and by the time you're approaching New Orleans you'll start seeing the bayous and wetlands that define the region.
Fuel tip: Fill up before you cross into Louisiana — fuel prices in New Orleans itself tend to be higher than the interstate stops.
Where to Camp
New Orleans is a city, and camping in the middle of it isn't really an option. The best campgrounds are in the suburbs and surrounding parishes, with easy access to the city by car or rideshare.
Pontchartrain Landing in New Orleans East is the closest full-hookup RV park to the French Quarter — about 15 minutes by car. It's on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain and has a marina, pool, and good facilities. Book well in advance for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego, across the river from New Orleans, is a Louisiana state park with full hookups, a wave pool, and a quieter atmosphere. About 20 minutes from the French Quarter via the Crescent City Connection bridge.
Jude Travel Park in Metairie is a smaller, no-frills park about 10 minutes from the French Quarter. Good for a short stay if the larger parks are full.
What to Do
The French Quarter is the obvious starting point. Bourbon Street gets all the attention, but the real French Quarter is the quieter streets around it — Royal Street for antique shops and galleries, Frenchmen Street for live jazz (far better than Bourbon), Café Du Monde for beignets and café au lait at any hour of the day or night.
The food is the main event. New Orleans has a culinary tradition unlike anywhere else in the country — a blend of French, African, Spanish, and Native American influences that produced dishes you can't get anywhere else. Eat a muffuletta from Central Grocery. Have a bowl of gumbo. Try a po'boy. Find a plate of red beans and rice on a Monday (it's a New Orleans tradition). Commander's Palace is worth the splurge for a special dinner.
The Garden District is a 15-minute streetcar ride from the French Quarter and worth an afternoon. The antebellum mansions are extraordinary, and Magazine Street has some of the best independent shops and restaurants in the city.
The National WWII Museum is one of the best museums in the United States — genuinely world-class, and particularly meaningful for British, Australian, and Canadian visitors. Plan at least half a day. It's on Magazine Street in the Warehouse District.
Frenchmen Street at night is the best live music scene in the city. Multiple clubs, multiple genres, all within a few hundred metres of each other. The Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, and the Frenchmen Art Market are all worth a visit.
Swamp tours are a quintessentially Louisiana experience. Several operators run half-day airboat tours from the city into the surrounding bayous — you'll see alligators, herons, cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, and landscapes that look like nothing in Europe or Australia.
Suggested 4-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Atlanta. Arrive at campground, settle in, walk Frenchmen Street in the evening for live music.
Day 2: French Quarter in the morning — Café Du Monde, Jackson Square, the Cabildo. Garden District in the afternoon by streetcar. Commander's Palace or a Magazine Street restaurant for dinner.
Day 3: National WWII Museum (half day). Swamp tour in the afternoon. Bourbon Street at night if you want to see it — once is enough for most people.
Day 4: Magazine Street shopping and brunch. Drive back toward Atlanta, or continue west to explore more of Louisiana.
Practical Notes
Parking: New Orleans has limited RV parking in the city itself. Drive to a parking garage or surface lot near the French Quarter and use rideshare or the streetcar to get around. The St. Charles Avenue streetcar is a New Orleans institution and costs $1.25 per ride.
Weather: New Orleans is hot and humid from May through September. October through April is much more comfortable. Hurricane season runs June through November — check forecasts before you travel.
Mardi Gras: If you want to experience Mardi Gras (the week before Ash Wednesday, usually February), book your campground 6–12 months in advance. The city fills up completely.
Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival runs the last weekend of April and first weekend of May. One of the best music festivals in the world. Same advice on campground booking.
Booking Your RV
Pick up from our Cumming location (5410 Chattahoochee Ind Park, Cumming, GA 30041) or McDonough location (324 Industrial Blvd, McDonough, GA 30253). Book at scamperrv.com/rentals [blocked] or call 833-SCAMPER (833-722-6737). 3-night minimum applies.
New Orleans rewards slow travel. Give it at least 3–4 days — you'll barely scratch the surface, and you'll want to come back.