Explore the Streetcar Ride from French Quarter to Garden District

If you’re in New Orleans and looking to travel from the bustling, touristy French Quarter to the elegant Garden District and laid-back Carrollton, hop on the historic St. Charles Streetcar. It’s just about the best thing $1.25 can buy you in this day and age. The St. Charles Streetcar is one of five trolley lines in New Orleans and the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world, having opened in 1835.

Where to Catch the Streetcar in the French Quarter

To catch the streetcar, head to the corner of Canal Street and Carondelet Street (Carondelet is the same street as Bourbon; all streets change names at Canal). The stop is on Carondelet, directly in front of the side windows of the Lady Foot Locker store located at the corner. You’ll notice a small yellow street sign marking it, and there’s often a group of people waiting there.

You can also catch the streetcar at St. Charles Street and Common Street (Royal on the other side of Canal), which is the next stop on the line. This stop is in front of the PJ’s Coffee on the ground floor of the Royal St. Charles Hotel. Sometimes, this stop can be slightly less chaotic since there are fewer people exiting the streetcar here. However, occasionally the streetcar can already be full, so it’s a trade-off.

Things to Know Before You Ride

Keep these important tips in mind when planning your journey on the St. Charles Streetcar:

• Download the GoMobile app, which allows you to purchase tickets, view schedules and routes, and track the location of trolleys in real time.
• Single rides cost $1.25, but if you plan to hop on and off the trolleys several times, consider purchasing a Jazzy Pass for unlimited rides: A single-day pass costs $3, a three-day pass is $9, a five-day pass costs $15, and a 31-day pass is $55. Jazzy Passes can be utilized on any trolley line and city buses, too.
• Single-ride tickets and single-day passes can be purchased from trolley drivers with exact change. Nonetheless, other multi-day passes must be acquired online, at Ticket Vending Machines located along Canal Street (cash only), select city stores including all Walgreens, or through the GoMobile app.
• The entire trip takes roughly 45 minutes each way, offering a grand view of some of New Orleans’ most beautiful and interesting homes, the Central Business District, Audubon Park, as well as Tulane and Loyola Universities.
• The St. Charles Streetcar operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Keep in mind that there’s no air conditioning in the trolleys, but the windows do open for a refreshing breeze.

Interesting Stops

If you’d like to hop off a few times during your travel from the French Quarter to the Garden District, here are some great places to stop. To get off the trolley, pull the cord that runs above the windows as you approach your desired stop.

1. St. Charles at Julia: This stop is in the Warehouse/Arts district, home to several excellent small galleries on Julia. Notable destinations such as the Contemporary Arts Center, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and WWII Museum are just a block away.
2. St. Charles at Josephine: Spot the distinctive building that resembles a piece of the Eiffel Tower? This structure used to be a restaurant near the top of the Tower, but it was disassembled and transported to the U.S. in the 1980s. Nearby, you’ll find the House of Broel, one of the few St. Charles Avenue mansions open for tours, which also has an extensive doll collection.
3. St. Charles at Washington: This area is favored by most visitors wanting to explore the Garden District. Commander’s Palace and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 are just a few blocks away, and the grandest mansions of the Garden District are all within easy reach.
4. St. Charles at Robert: This stop is merely a block from a lovely stretch of Prytania Street that features several excellent lunch and snack options, including Upperline, La Crepe Nanou, St. James Cheese Company, and the Creole Creamery.
5. St. Charles at Tulane: Take a leisurely walk through the Tulane campus or enjoy Audubon Park from this stop or the neighboring stops in either direction.
6. St. Charles at Hillary: Disembark here for a pleasant stroll to a nice stretch of Maple Street, which offers the renowned Maple Street Book Shop along with various cafes and shops.
7. South Carrollton at Jeannette/Birch: Transit enthusiasts can hop off here to explore the side tracks and observe the large sheds where the streetcars are stored. This stop also features the highly praised Boucherie restaurant.