Booking a party bus in New Orleans often goes wrong in two main ways. First, the group may choose a bus that is too small, so everyone is crowded on the night of the event. Second, if they call on a Thursday for a Saturday during the busy festival season, the whole city may already be booked and no buses are available.
Here are the numbers to avoid both.
What a party bus actually costs
These are our listed rates. Tips and fuel fees are billed separately.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Hourly Rate | Minimum | Starts At |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limo Sprinter | 12 passengers | $200/hr | 4 hours | $800 |
| Limo Party Bus | 24 passengers | $275/hr | 4 hours | $1,100 |
| Limo Party Bus XL | 30 passengers | $400/hr | 4 hours | $1,600 |
| Executive Bus | 23 passengers | $200/hr | 4 hours | $800 |
| Executive Bus XL | 32 passengers | $275/hr | 4 hours | $1,100 |
The four-hour minimum is not meant to sell more time. The vehicle and driver are booked for your group for the whole evening. A party bus can't be turned around and used again right away, like a car for the airport.
Choosing the right size
Count your group, then add two. Someone always brings a friend.
The Limo Party Bus holds 24 people and is ideal for bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, and bar crawls. The XL can hold 30 people and is good for bigger events where all guests want to stay together.
If your team has fewer than 12 people, the Limo Sprinter costs less per hour and moves more easily through the French Quarter. Small streets and sharp turns are real limits there, and a smaller vehicle often makes for a better night.
The Executive Bus and Executive Bus XL are good choices when the main goal is to move people easily and comfortably, not to have a fancy inside. They are often used for events like meetings, group trips, and to take wedding guests.
Routes that work
Bourbon Street bar crawl. The bus stages at a legal loading zone rather than on Bourbon itself, which closes to vehicle traffic in the evening. Your chauffeur sets drop and pickup points a short walk from each stop.
Frenchmen Street. Quieter than Bourbon, better live music, easier vehicle access. A common second half of the night for groups that start in the Quarter.
Garden District and Uptown. Good for a slower pace, dinner, and photos. Streetcar tracks on St. Charles limit where a large vehicle can stop, so your chauffeur plans the stops in advance.
Superdome and Smoothie King Center. Game days and concerts. Traffic control changes the approach routes with little notice, so build in extra time.
Baton Rouge for LSU home games. Roughly 80 miles each way. On a game weekend, plan two to three hours of travel in each direction rather than the 80 minutes the map shows.
Booking timeline
For a normal weekend, planning two to three weeks ahead is enough. For big events like Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Fest, French Quarter Fest, Saints or LSU home games, graduation season, or New Year's Eve, it is best to book six to eight weeks in advance.
New Orleans has a set number of party buses. During busy weekends, all the buses are in use. No new buses are available to buy at any price.
What to expect on the night
Your driver arrives before the scheduled pickup and stays with the vehicle at all times. All vehicles do not allow smoking. Passengers who are of legal drinking age may drink on board, but open bottles stay inside the vehicle.
Add time between stops. Groups of 20 or more move slowly, and the usual reason a night runs over is not traffic. It is the fifteen minutes it takes to get everyone back on board at each stop.
If your plans change in the evening, tell your driver instead of guessing. Extra hours after the booked time are charged at the same rate when the vehicle is free.
Book your party bus
Call (504) 320-8448 with your date, start time, headcount, and rough itinerary. We quote on the call.
Jazzy Limousine & Shuttle is a licensed and insured service provider in New Orleans. The rules for canceling bookings that are confirmed can be found at /terms-conditions.
Related
- Party bus rates and fleet for the full vehicle list
- Wedding transportation planning if the party bus is part of a wedding weekend
- LSU game day transportation for Baton Rouge charters
- See the fleet or check rates
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a party bus cost in New Orleans?
Our Limo Party Bus seats 24 and runs $275 per hour with a four hour minimum, so a typical night starts at $1,100. The Limo Party Bus XL seats 30 and runs $400 per hour with the same four hour minimum, starting at $1,600. Gratuity and fuel surcharge are billed separately. Call (504) 320-8448 for a firm quote on your date.
How many people fit on a party bus?
The Limo Party Bus holds 24 passengers and the Limo Party Bus XL holds 30. If your group is smaller, a Limo Sprinter seats 12 at $200 per hour. If it is larger, an Executive Bus XL seats 32 at $275 per hour. Count everyone before you book, because moving up a size on the day of is rarely possible on a weekend.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Yes. Party buses carry a four hour minimum. That is standard across the New Orleans market and it reflects the fact that the vehicle and chauffeur are committed to you for the evening.
Can we drink on the party bus?
Passengers of legal drinking age may consume alcohol on board. All vehicles are nonsmoking. Your chauffeur will decline service to anyone underage, and open containers must stay inside the vehicle.
How far in advance should I book a party bus?
For a normal weekend, two to three weeks. For Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Fest, a Saints or LSU home game weekend, graduation season, or New Year's Eve, book six to eight weeks out. There is a fixed number of party buses in this city and they commit early.
Do you pick up outside New Orleans?
Yes. We serve Metairie, Kenner, Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Hammond, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Coast. Pickups outside Orleans Parish are quoted with travel time included.