This year, we'll be attending our fourth Jazz Fest and we are considering purchasing shuttle bus tickets. We usually depend on our long-time taxi driver (and now friend) to take us there in the morning. As those of you who have been know, the taxi line at the end of the day can take an hour or more (we don't like to leave before it's over). If we decide to take the bus in the morning, what time should we arrive at the departure location to make it on the first wave of buses? If we stay until the end, how long will we wait to board a bus? Any advice would be appreciated.

I have never been, so can't give you any insight, but here is a link that gives a little bit of information on the shuttle.

When we went in 2010 I thought we should take the shuttle, but the friends we were with rented a car, so we drove, and it was really easy to get in and out. (so not really an answer to your question, just another alternative).

Thanks, but there is ample public transportation so we never rent a car in NOLA. Still seeking some solid advice from shuttle riders.

We tried taking the shuttle bus from City Park last year on the second Saturday for the Elton John concert. It was so crowded the system was overwhelmed and we ended up walking to the Jazz Fest from the Pan Am Stadium parking lot. That was a day when attendance records were broken. We have taken the shuttle bus on many other occasions and never had a problem. This year Stevie Wonder has that time slot and it will be crowded again. Other days will not be as crowded. If you can arrange to have someone drive you and pick you up, I would do that.

So, letsgeaux, if we are leaving in the morning from the Sheraton, how early do you recommend that we arrive to make the first bus out? At the end of the day, did you have a long wait for a bus back?

I was at Jazzfest in 2014 and stayed til the end on Sat. And we then did the shuttle bus to the Sheraton. It took about 1.5 hrs in line to get on the bus. The line part was ok, we met some people in the line. But it did seem to take forever.

The shuttle busses start at 8:00 am. If you go that early you will not have a problem with the lines, but that would make for a long day. How long the wait is going back depends on whether you are leaving when everyone else is leaving, such as when a popular concert is ending.