Drive or fly to New Orleans?
 

Hello there,
I am an Australian heading over to Texas for a few weeks to visit my partner who is currently working in Houston. We are keen to spend a couple of days in New Orleans in May and wondering if it is better to fly or drive?

I had thought drive initially as we can go via Baton Rouge and for some scenery. Now though I am thinking maybe all we'll see is the freeway(or is that highway in the US)?
OR should we just jump on a plane and get there quickly for more time to explore NO?

Look forward to your thoughts!

Texas is enormous -- where in Texas will you be?

We will be leaving from pretty much downtown Houston.

If you just want to visit New Orleans - then I would suggest flying. It's just a quick (and usually pretty cheap) 1 hour flight. If you're going to spend most of your time in the city, a car will be more hassle than help. Between walking, streetcars, and taxis - you can pretty much get where ever you want.

If you are there the 1st weekend in May - you can hit the Jazz & Heritage Festival! What great fun - wonderful food, music, and atmosphere!

Now, if you're interested in seeing some of Cajun Country (Lafayette area), visiting the Tabasco plant at Avery Island, or popping into some plantations - then drive. It's literally a "straight shot" on I-10 to New Orleans - but depending on what construction is being done, the time can vary. I've done it in 5 hours and I've done it in 8! And there isn't much to see unless you get off the highway - lots and lots of swamps!

I agree that it makes more sense to fly. You can usually get some pretty cheap fares on both SW (out of Hobby [HOU]) and CO (out of Intercontinental [IAH]}. Flights takes about 50 min. Then rent a car in New Orleans.

Yes the drive is all on freeway (IH 10) but isn't interesting except for a stretch between Lafayette and Baton Rouge which is a causway over swamps of the Atachafalaya River Basin (and it's not that interesting if you've seen swamps before).

Clearly the best choice is to fly. Houston is a hub city for flights to New Orleans and they are fairly frequent.
Louis Armstrong Airport in NO is low key and easy to use. Just take a cab in to town , you just won't need or want a car.
I have driven the route as well and there is not much to see. Have fun, I love that town!

As a rule I would say fly...more to save time than anything. But, take a look at the train as well. I live in Atlanta and we take it everytime we visit New Orleans...a lot more fun than driving. Just sit back, nap, relax, eat a real sit-down meal, no bathroom stops, read, hit the club car for a snack or play cards. Just take a look at AMTRAK's schedule and see how it fits into yours'!

Definitely not the train. By the time the train arrives at Houston from LA, it may be half a day late. It'll be total waste of time to wait for it.