Payless Car Rental
New Orleans

After you retrieve your luggage from baggage claim at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), you will follow the overhead signs for the Rental Car Center. You'll proceed outside the terminal on the arrivals level to a designated shuttle pickup zone. A complimentary shuttle bus will then take you on a short ride to the consolidated Rental Car Center, where the Payless service counter is located. The walk from the baggage carousels to the shuttle stop is brief and clearly marked for traveler convenience.

The shuttle service from the MSY terminal to the consolidated Rental Car Center is designed to accommodate flight arrivals, including those that are delayed. Shuttles typically run on a continuous loop, ensuring that even late-arriving passengers can get to the facility efficiently. Upon arrival at the Rental Car Center, you can proceed to the Payless counter to complete your rental process. It's always a good practice to have your reservation details handy to ensure a smooth pickup experience, regardless of the time.

During peak travel times, such as weekend afternoons or ahead of major events, it's wise to budget some extra time for your rental car pickup at MSY. Factoring in potential waits for the shuttle to the Rental Car Center and longer lines at the service counter is a good strategy. Planning for an additional 30 to 45 minutes beyond the usual pickup time can provide a comfortable buffer. This helps ensure your arrival in New Orleans is relaxed and you're not rushed as you begin your journey from the airport.

The most direct route from the airport to the French Quarter involves taking I-10 East toward New Orleans. This major interstate allows you to get your bearings before needing to navigate city streets. You will stay on I-10 for several miles until you see signs for the New Orleans Business District. Exits such as Poydras Street or the Superdome exits provide straightforward access toward the French Quarter. Using a GPS is highly recommended, but sticking to the main interstate for the majority of the drive is the key to avoiding immediate, complex maneuvers.

Canal Street is a wide, busy boulevard with a streetcar line down the middle, so planning your approach is smart. Generally, the riverside (downtown) of Canal Street can be slightly less congested for quick stops, especially if you can find a designated hotel loading zone. The opposite side often has more bus stops and retail traffic. Regardless of which side your hotel is on, it's best to pull into the hotel's designated valet or check-in area rather than stopping directly in a travel lane to ensure safety and avoid causing traffic backups.

Navigating a valet drop-off in the French Quarter is best handled with a bit of pre-planning. Before you arrive, use your GPS to understand the one-way street pattern leading to your hotel's entrance. It's helpful to call the hotel ahead of time to confirm the exact location of their valet stand. When you get close, drive slowly and be prepared to pull over decisively into the designated zone. Having your luggage ready to be unloaded quickly helps make the process smooth for both you and other drivers on the narrow streets.

To reach the Garden District from MSY while avoiding the most intense downtown traffic, you can take a route that bypasses the heart of the Central Business District. After taking I-10 East from the airport, you can exit onto US-90 Business West (also known as the Pontchartrain Expressway). From there, you can take the St. Charles Avenue exit, which leads you directly into the scenic Garden District. This route is generally more straightforward and less congested than navigating the grid of one-way streets closer to the French Quarter.

Driving in New Orleans at night presents unique challenges for first-time visitors, particularly in historic areas like the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny. The streets are narrow, often one-way, and can be poorly lit in some spots. You'll also encounter significant pedestrian traffic, especially on weekends. It's advisable to drive slowly, remain highly alert for people crossing the street, and use a GPS with voice commands to help navigate the complex grid. If possible, parking your car in a secure lot and exploring these neighborhoods on foot at night is often the less stressful option.

When driving on streets with streetcar tracks, such as St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, it's important to be mindful of your vehicle's position. Avoid driving directly on top of the tracks for extended periods, as they can be slick, especially when wet. Be extra cautious when making turns across the tracks, ensuring no streetcar is approaching from either direction. Also, remember that streetcars have the right of way, so always yield to them. Pay close attention to signage indicating where vehicles are and are not permitted to drive or park along these routes.

Yes, the dense grid of one-way streets in the French Quarter and the Central Business District (CBD) can be tricky for visitors. Intersections around Canal Street and Poydras Street often have turn-only lanes that can catch drivers by surprise if they aren't paying close attention to overhead signs. Additionally, many smaller streets in the Quarter abruptly become one-way, forcing unexpected turns. Using a reliable GPS and having a co-pilot to help navigate are excellent strategies to avoid getting caught in a confusing loop or making a wrong turn.

The best strategy for a 'park once' day is to select a commercial parking garage or lot along the perimeter of the French Quarter. Areas along Canal Street, Decatur Street, or near the riverfront offer numerous options. Parking in one of these facilities allows you to leave your car for the day and explore the compact neighborhood on foot, which is far more enjoyable than trying to find street parking. This approach eliminates the stress of navigating narrow streets, dealing with parking meters, and worrying about time limits, letting you focus on enjoying the sights.

For convenient access to Jackson Square and Café du Monde, travelers often use the large parking lots and garages located along the riverfront on Decatur Street. There are several options in this area specifically designed to accommodate visitors to the French Quarter's main attractions. Parking here places you just a short walk from the square, the cathedral, and the cafe. Arriving earlier in the day, especially on weekends, increases your chances of finding a spot easily and avoiding the frustration of circling crowded streets.

The National WWII Museum has its own dedicated parking garage, which is the most practical option for visitors. Using this official garage on Magazine Street simplifies your arrival and ensures you have a secure place to park. To avoid exit gridlock, consider planning your departure outside of the peak 5 p.m. rush hour. Leaving mid-afternoon or waiting until after the evening commute has subsided can make for a much smoother exit from the Warehouse District. The museum's location also provides relatively easy access back to the Pontchartrain Expressway (US-90 Business).

Parking directly on Frenchmen Street is extremely limited and not recommended, especially at night when it's crowded with pedestrians. A realistic plan is to park in one of the paid lots in the surrounding Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, a few blocks away from the main strip of clubs. This requires a short walk but is much more reliable. For pickup, it's safest to walk back to your parked car rather than trying to have someone pick you up on crowded Frenchmen Street itself. Always be aware of your surroundings when walking back to your vehicle late at night.

Driving to City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) is generally a pleasant experience with ample parking. The park is large and offers plenty of free parking spaces along its many roads and near major attractions like NOMA and the sculpture garden. While the lots closest to the museum can fill up during special events or on beautiful weekends, you can almost always find a spot with just a short, scenic walk. The drive itself is straightforward, as the park is easily accessible from major thoroughfares like I-610.

Most visitors drive to the Audubon Zoo via St. Charles Avenue or Magazine Street, both of which run parallel to Audubon Park. The main entrance to the zoo's parking lot is located on Magazine Street, which is the most straightforward and least confusing place to enter. The entrance is well-marked, and there are two large, free parking lots available for zoo and park visitors. This approach keeps you off the smaller residential side streets and directs you right to the most convenient access point for a day of exploring.

For events at the Caesars Superdome, many drivers opt to park in commercial garages in the Central Business District (CBD), several blocks away from the venue itself. Parking further away, perhaps closer to Poydras Street or Canal Street, allows for a more manageable exit after the event. This strategy helps you avoid the immediate gridlock around the Superdome. You'll have a bit of a walk, but you'll be able to access main roads like the Pontchartrain Expressway or I-10 more easily once you get back to your car.

Similar to the Superdome strategy, the key to a smooth exit from the Smoothie King Center is to park a comfortable distance away. Consider parking in a garage on the Poydras Street corridor or even closer to the French Quarter and walking 10-15 minutes to the arena. This positions your car for an easier departure, allowing you to get onto I-10 or the Pontchartrain Expressway without navigating the most congested streets immediately surrounding the venue. Pre-booking a spot in a garage online can also save time and guarantee you a space.

When driving to a cruise terminal from downtown New Orleans, it's wise to budget at least 45 minutes to an hour, even though the distance is short. Morning rush hour traffic, ongoing construction, and potential street closures for freight train activity near the port can cause significant delays. The area around the terminals can become very congested on embarkation days. Giving yourself this extra buffer helps ensure a stress-free arrival and check-in for your cruise.

Many swamp tours are located west of the city, and reaching them from MSY is often easier than from downtown. Areas like Lafitte or the west bank of the Mississippi River are typically accessed via US-90 West, which is a straightforward drive from the airport area. This route generally avoids the complexities of downtown New Orleans traffic. Following the tour company's specific directions from the airport will usually lead you on major highways and roads that are easy for visitors to navigate.

The drive along River Road to the historic plantations is a unique experience. The road itself is mostly a two-lane, scenic route that follows the curves of the Mississippi River. Expect a slower, more leisurely pace compared to the interstate. Traffic is usually light, but you will be sharing the road with local vehicles and large trucks servicing the industrial plants in the area. The drive offers beautiful views of the levee and old oak trees, but it requires more attentive driving than a straight highway trip.

The most direct way to head west to Lafayette from New Orleans is to get on I-10 West. To avoid the worst downtown bottlenecks, try to get on the interstate via an entrance that is west of the main business district, if possible. An alternative is to take US-90 Business (Pontchartrain Expressway) over the Crescent City Connection bridge to the West Bank, where you can connect with US-90 West. This route bypasses downtown entirely and offers a scenic, though slightly longer, drive through southern Louisiana.

A day trip from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is very realistic, as the drive is typically about 90 minutes each way via I-10 West. To make the drive easiest, plan to leave New Orleans after the morning rush hour, around 9:30 a.m. For your return trip, try to leave Baton Rouge by 3:00 p.m. to avoid the heavy afternoon commuter traffic that builds up heading back into the New Orleans area. This timing helps ensure you spend more of your day exploring and less of it sitting in traffic.

The drive to the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a simple and scenic trip, primarily on I-10 East. The journey takes about 90 minutes. You will cross several long bridges and causeways, most notably the Twin Span Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain. These bridges are modern and safe, but drivers should be mindful of higher winds, especially in a larger vehicle. Once you get to the coast, Highway 90 runs along the beach, offering beautiful views and easy access to towns like Gulfport and Biloxi.

Both Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs are charming coastal towns with visitor-friendly downtown areas. Parking is generally much easier than in New Orleans. You can typically find free on-street parking throughout their town centers, especially if you arrive earlier in the day. Both towns also have public parking lots near the main shopping and dining streets. The plan is simple: drive to the historic downtown area, find a convenient spot, and then enjoy exploring the shops, galleries, and waterfront on foot.

Getting to the Honey Island Swamp area, near Slidell, is a very straightforward drive for visitors. The primary route is I-10 East from New Orleans, followed by I-59 North. The exits for the swamp tours are well-marked and lead you onto paved, state-maintained roads. Tour operators provide excellent, clear directions that keep you on primary roads right up to their facilities. You won't need to worry about navigating remote, unpaved, or confusing backroads to enjoy this popular nature excursion.

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is one of the world's longest bridges over water, which can be intimidating for some drivers. To handle it comfortably, it's best to drive in the right lane, maintain a steady speed, and focus on the car ahead of you rather than the vastness of the water. The bridge is straight and flat, making the drive predictable. If you are particularly nervous, consider having a passenger drive or choosing an alternative route around the lake, though this will add significant time to your trip.

Driving during Mardi Gras requires significant planning, as major parade routes like St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street are closed for hours. The area inside the parade route 'box' becomes nearly inaccessible by car. The best plan is to park your car outside the parade box and walk or use ride-sharing services to get closer. Check the daily parade schedule and maps, which are widely available online, to understand street closures. Essentially, once you park, expect to leave your car there until the parades for the day are completely finished.

Driving to the Fair Grounds for Jazz Fest is challenging due to heavy traffic and extremely limited parking in the surrounding residential neighborhood. Many streets are closed or restricted to residents only. The most practical plan is to drive to a designated festival shuttle lot located in a less congested area, like downtown or City Park, and take the shuttle bus to the entrance. This eliminates the immense frustration of searching for a non-existent parking spot and navigating the crowded streets near the venue.

Heavy rain in New Orleans can cause rapid, localized street flooding, a serious concern for drivers. Low-lying neighborhoods and interstate underpasses are particularly vulnerable. It is critical to avoid driving through standing water, as it is often much deeper than it appears and can stall your vehicle. If you encounter a flooded street, do not attempt to cross it. The safest and most recommended action is to turn around and find an alternative route, even if it means a significant detour.

During hurricane season (June through November), always monitor local weather forecasts on your travel days. If a tropical storm or hurricane is predicted to make landfall near the Louisiana coast, you should be prepared to change your plans immediately. Signs to watch for include official evacuation orders, contraflow traffic patterns being activated on interstates, and widespread closures of businesses and services. Your safety is the top priority, so heeding the advice of local authorities is essential.

The best practice for securing your belongings is to never leave them visible inside your parked car. Always place luggage, shopping bags, electronics, and other valuables in the trunk before you arrive at your destination. Doing this in the parking lot can signal to potential thieves what you are storing. If your vehicle is an SUV without a covered cargo area, it's best to take your valuables with you. Always lock your car doors and park in well-lit, reputable lots or garages whenever possible.

The Warehouse District has wider streets than the French Quarter, but it's still busy with traffic and designated bike lanes. The easiest way to unload is to use your hotel's designated check-in or valet area. Pull in completely off the street if possible. If your hotel lacks a dedicated zone, pull over as close to the curb as you can, put on your hazard lights, and unload as quickly and efficiently as possible. Having one person stay with the car while the other brings luggage inside is a good strategy.

For a morning flight, it's wise to leave your French Quarter hotel at least three hours before your departure time. This accounts for the 30-40 minute drive to the airport in typical morning traffic, the time needed to return the rental car at the consolidated facility, and the shuttle ride back to the terminal. It also provides a buffer for unexpected traffic delays on the interstate. This schedule allows you to get through security and to your gate without feeling rushed.

The primary route back to MSY is I-10 West. When traffic is heavy, there are few effective alternate routes, so allowing extra time is your best strategy. The most common mistake drivers make is missing the dedicated airport exit (Exit 221). The signs for Louis Armstrong International Airport appear well in advance, but the exit ramp can come up quickly after a curve in the interstate. Pay close attention to the overhead signs as you get within a few miles of Kenner to ensure you are in the correct lane.

After a trip to the coast, many travelers stop at a self-service car wash to vacuum sand and rinse the exterior before returning their rental. You can easily find these facilities in the suburban areas along the I-10 corridor as you re-enter the New Orleans metro area, such as in Metairie or Kenner. A quick search on a map application for 'car wash' when you are about 20 minutes from the airport will show several convenient options just off the interstate, making for an easy and quick stop.

Yes, driving a larger vehicle like a full-size SUV or minivan can be challenging in New Orleans. The streets within the French Quarter are famously narrow, and making turns can be very tight. Older residential neighborhoods like the Garden District and the Marigny also feature narrow streets, often with cars parked on both sides, leaving little room to maneuver. If you are renting a larger vehicle, it's best to stick to major thoroughfares as much as possible and to be extra cautious when navigating these historic areas.

The route from MSY to downtown is fairly short, but if you need a stop, the suburban area of Metairie offers the most practical options. Just off I-10, you'll find numerous familiar fast-food restaurants and gas stations with clean restrooms and convenience stores. Exits like Clearview Parkway or Causeway Boulevard have a high concentration of these services. Stopping here allows your family to regroup in a less congested environment before you navigate the final leg of the drive into the heart of New Orleans.

A successful multi-stop day involves strategic grouping of attractions. You could start your day by driving to City Park, where parking is free and plentiful, and explore the museum and sculpture garden. From there, drive to the Garden District and find a spot on a side street to walk around or take the streetcar. Finally, drive to a garage on the edge of the French Quarter for the evening, leaving the car there while you explore on foot. This 'hub and spoke' approach minimizes time spent parking and maximizes your time enjoying the city.