RTA - Streetcars
RTA - Streetcars
4.5
About
Get wherever you want to go in New Orleans with the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Our extensive network of buses and streetcars winds throughout every neighborhood of the Crescent City. From Uptown to Downtown, from Lakeview to the Lower Nine, from Mid-City across the Mississippi River and to the parish lines, the RTA goes there.As streetcars glide underneath grand live oaks and past stately mansions, they offer up relaxing views of the beauty, charm and history of New Orleans for little cost. When riders board these historic vehicles they are boarding a piece of movable New Orleans history. The RTA operates three streetcar lines: the famous, historic St. Charles line, the Canal Street line, and the Riverfront line. All lines either run along or intersect with Canal Street in the area between the French Quarter and the Central Business District (CBD) connecting Uptown/Garden District, Carrollton, Mid-City, City Park and the Marigny. The RTA is currently adding more Streetcar lines.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Neighborhood: Central Business District
Compared to the more evocative monikers of some other parts of New Orleans, the downtown’s humdrum title might suggest that this area is all about business and little else. But don’t let the bland name keep you away from the Central Business District. The CBD offers a wide range of fun things to do that would be touted as exceptional in less jubilant corners of the world. Bordered by the French Quarter, the Arts District and Tremé, with the river at its eastern extreme, this hub for sports, gaming, shopping, theatre, family-friendly activities, and amazing regional cuisine makes a smart base wherever your interests lie.
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See what travelers are saying
  • Eric
    Denver, Colorado26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great way to see New Orleans!
    Easy to purchase an all day pass which is bargain, Adult- $3.00, Senior Pass- $.80! To avoid parking fees, we parked at the far end of Canal Street up near the cemeteries. The trolley runs down the middle of Canal Street & we took it multiple times every day, all over. The RTA Help phone line can answer all kinds of questions.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 1, 2023
  • colelander
    Chicago, Illinois57 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Convenient way to “sight see” and get an idea of the area.
    Slow moving, easy way to get around. The “le pass” app was a huge help. It will show you step by step directions to the stops, and keep track of how many stops to destination. The app is also convenient for buying tickets, since it’s exact change only onboard. It’s $1.25 a ride for adults .50 for kids. $3 for unlimited rides for a day ($1 for kids) and $8 for 3 days (adult and kids) there is also a 10 day and 30 day option as well. It even shows the time for walking, that can be quicker then car, but in the heat it’s nice to just have time to sit.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 2, 2023
  • Chris_626
    West Palm Beach, Florida159 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic Price, Easy To Access
    The locals had me download the RTA app. It shows you when the trolleys are approaching in real time. If you don't have exact change, you must pay online and use your smart phone. The conductors have mad skills as people driving often cut the trolleys off. Also, the 2 conductors I had were supper pleasant with good advice. Now the trolleys are not only historic, but they go along routes with a lot to see, including some restaurants outside the French Quarter. The trolley's are wooden seats
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 9, 2023
  • victoria g
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Makes me embarrassed for transit at home
    Being from Philadelphia, I was embarrassed at how 1) clean 2) on time 3) cheap 4) historic this streetcar was. they let you bring (with lid) beverages and its super easy to navigate and buy tickets through their app. $3 for a day gets your unlimited rides.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 12, 2023
  • Reisha R
    Nassau, New Providence Island19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Great Way to Get Around
    Stayed a week in New Orleans at the Jung Hotel (excellent) and a streetcar station was directly across the street - a minute walk from the hotel entrance. In addition to walking, we used the streetcar throughout our stay. We got the Jazzy Pass which was $15 for a week. All access to streetcars, buses, and ferries. Drivers were helpful in confirming which streetcar to take and their routes. We also did a tour of the Garden District on the St. Charles streetcar (the green streetcars). It was great.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 13, 2023
  • rockobello
    416 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great way to see places outside the main quarter
    We took a 24 hour pass for $3 U.S. The tram is open 24/7 so the pass is good until same time next day. We took it from the French Quarter to City Park and looked out the window to see the beautiful homes along the way.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 14, 2023
  • Michele M
    21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    RTA Streetcars
    It was a fun way to spend a few hours. This is not a tour, but the routes of the streetcar give you a great view of the city and it's $1.25 each way. You do have to have exact change and they will not give you change so if you put in a $20 bill expecting change, you will discover that your streetcar ride just cost you $20 lol. The streetcars turn around at the end so you can pretty much ride it all one way and then, it turns and goes back the other way. This is the oldest continually used transportation system in the world and they use early 1900 streetcars so just for those facts alone, it's a fun experience.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 19, 2023
  • Tammy Morden
    Pelham, Canada15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent way to get around!
    We got a Jazzy Pass (see the “lePass” app for easy use on your phone!) - 3 days for $8. But you can get 1 day, 15 day etc. Great deal! Used it for trolleys, buses, and ferry. Sooooo easy! The app is awesome. Easy to use and navigate.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 24, 2023
  • Steve P
    Tiger, Georgia8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bargain day passes for seniors on the streetcars and buses!
    If you are a "Senior", check out the RTA Priority day passes. Eight cents gets you 24 hours of unlimited rides. You can install the app on your phone, buy it there, and just show it on your phone as you get on the bus or streetcar/trolley. What a convenient bargain!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 27, 2023
  • dothebrittany
    Walker, Louisiana45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good transportation
    I rode the street car for the first time earlier this month then came back to New orleans and used it as my primary transportation for an entire day. It was great. There were a few times where there was standing room only but its a fun experience.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Wes A
3 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
We were originally attracted to give the streetcars a try based upon their unique look and the feel of stepping back into history. The cost was relatively low at $3/day which pays for itself if you avoid just a single Uber drive.

The cars were all clean and well maintained. I noticed that the windows were all fixed completely shut with screws, which was unfortunate. It would have been nice to ride with the window open to feel the breeze from the River.

We used the app to book and would recommend others follow suit. It's easy to navigate, reload your ticket, and is fast when boarding versus feeding cash in holding up the line. There's no discount for buying tickets for an extended period, so I would recommend just buying 1 day pass at a time.

In the French Quarter where we stayed and used the streetcars the most, they run every 30 minutes which requires some pre-planning if you have somewhere you need to be at a certain time.
Written April 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

California_momofsix
Fairfield1,085 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Must do if you are visiting New Orleans!
We greatly enjoyed our ride on the street cars as they noisily rumbled along. Also, with traffic and expensive parking, this is definitely the way to get around and get a cheap sightseeing tour and experience some of local culture.
Riding is easy, even if you aren't used to taking public transit. There are maps on the RTA website and also a very detailed map on Wikipedia. The map on the RTA website shows the cars moving around in real time, it's kind of cool to watch. I would recommend looking at the map before you ride to figure out where you need to get off and on. There are five lines, color coded on the map with street cars in a matching color. Stops are close together, basically on every street corner of Canal and St Charles streets and along the riverfront. Just look for the colored street car stop signs. Once the car approaches you can also see the endpoint of the line on a sign in the window.
No need to buy tickets ahead of time, just hand exact change to the driver. Make sure to have your money ready, since the streetcars don't have time to stop and wait for you to find your money. An unlimited pass costs 3 dollars. Hold on to the pass and show it for subsequent rides. Cars run literally every few minutes, although they may operate on a weekend schedule during covid and you may experience a few minutes longer wait, but there are still lots of cars operating around the clock.
Cars looked clean, masks are required even when windows are open. Cars were not crowded. We felt very safe.
We did get confused once and got off too early, but since we had a day pass we just waited for the next one. On the St Charles line coming from the garden district, the French quarter stop is Canal at Condolet not Condolet at Gravier. We know that now!
The only problem we had was that on our first ride, my daughter sat in front of a clearly intoxicated man who was yelling loudly and made them uncomfortable. If the driver had enforced "civil" behavior on the car, it would have been perfect. I realize that is hard while also trying to drive. We eventually just got off and took the next car. If I had realized how close cars follow each other, I would have got off sooner. We would definitely ride again though, don't let me scare you off. We had no further issues the rest of our trip.
Written October 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

solotraveller
Glasgow, UK133 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
The streetcars themselves are charming but the services unreliable. There is no schedule maintained and the app is useless. We waited for upto 45 mins for a team even when the app showed due, due, due. In many parts of the city, buses run instead of the trolley because of construction. Most drivers are soooo cool and friendly...one even gave me a ride for free till I could reach Wallgreens to buy the Metro pass. There is a lady driver in the riverfront tram who is rude as hell, won't answer queries and even stopped the trolley at Harrah's to put something in her car. Unfortunately, we had her 3 times out of the 4 we took that route. Be ready for chaos, no schedules, buses passing you by without stopping if they're slightly full but once you're on the tram it's the best way to see the city

If you're buying a day pass in the tram make sure you have exact change. No change is given and no cards accepted. Most trolley drivers don't check the validity of cards so many people just show them an old card... they tell them to get on without asking them to screen it through the machine nor check the date.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

agt33
Winnipeg, Canada474 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Loved riding this trolley from the base of Bourbon St. through the Garden District and back. These old trolleys amble along past stately mansions, Loyola University, Audubon House, etc. for only $1.65 (exact change). Or you can buy an RTA Jazzie ticket for $6.00 to travel on all the city bus transport for the day. A must do!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PaulMaryRC
Eastbourne, UK208 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Quite a time consuming effort to actually get in, lots of people and having to feed in 1 dollar note at a time into the machines added to the delay. Very cheap way of travelling, if a little slow but when on holiday this wasn’t important. The drivers were excellent and so hslpful.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael S
Toronto, Canada310 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
For an unbelievable $0.40 per trip (transfers are free and good for up to 2 hours from time of issue) the seniors rate for riding the RTA is the best bargain for tourists visiting New Orleans. I rode the streetcars and buses all over the city and in two weeks here I was only asked to show proof of age once, so have it ready. A passport is suggested on the RTA website but not required: Anything with D.O.B. on it is good. The streetcars are CLEAN and move slowly, so an excellent way to see the sights.
The streetcars seem to be more dependable and prompt than the buses, and hopefully break down less frequently, but it must be known that the R in RTA does NOT stand for RAPID.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LewMonika
New York City, NY56 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Without doubt, one of the best, not necessarily the quickest, ways to get around, and especially, when you are on a tight schedule. It allows you to get a preview of diffrent neighborhoods so you could plan the rest of your New Orleans’ experience. There are several lines with the most popular being Canal and St. Charles but they are often overcrowded during rush hours.

It’s a piece of history still on the tracks and it costs only $1.25 per ride or $3.00 for the entire day so even if you don’t need to get anywhere in particular, pop on one up and enjoy.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sam_I_Am_11
Broomfield, CO5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Took the St Charles street car a few times on our visit to New Orleans. The cars are vintage with windows that passengers are allowed to open for themselves! Imagine that in 2020! The interiors are beautifully finished in ungraffitied wood and comfortable enough for a trip of 30 minutes or less. At only $1.50 to ride (or $3.00 for 24 hours) it's a bargain. The fact that it will actually get you somewhere in a very reasonable amount of time while saving you from the cost and hassle of parking is a very big bonus and worth the time you will have to spend to figure out where to board and to exit.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel H
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
If you have ever used mass transit in a large city before then this is a piece of cake. The streetcars have screens that tell you were you are going and are easy to read. Their app is what really sold me. You can purchase Jazzy Passes on their app. I bought the 1 day pass for $3 and was good to go for the whole day.Just scan your phone when you get on and have a seat.
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dominic V
North East, PA99 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
If you are staying in the Quarter you really don’t need a car. Truth is getting around the quarter in a car is a pain & parking expensive. If you can get to the quarter (Lyft or Uber), I would recommend that you utilize the RTA street cars (I call them trolleys).

When you get on the Streetcar the driver will ask you for a pass. If you don’t have one he “/she can sell you one, but you need exact change - no debit or credit accepted.

A 24 hour pass is $3 per person . There maybe an APP for it but because I don’t live here, using cash is easy enough. The pass for the day is good for any & all Street cars for the day so you only need 1 pass to ride any of them.

Google the routes to figure out where you want to go, the routes are color coded to match the street car (green street car is the St. Charles route).

These are not subways, these are clean & we took our kids on them & had no problems. Just a request from me to you. If you are a man or teenage boy, please stand & let the ladies & elderly take your seat!
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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RTA - Streetcars - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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