Safe jogging in New Orleans?
 

Dang it, I should have taken some time to research this but I forgot. I leave for NOLA on Friday....where can I jog safely there? I am looking at 5-6 mile runs.

Where in town are you staying?

If you are staying in the quarter, the run along the Moonwalk is safe during daylight. Some of the homeless and lost children live and hang out in the area, but are not dangerous during the day. This part of a run is pretty short. Taking the trolley car out toward the Garden District is likewise safe and beautiful in the daytime. Not sure I would be concerned about this route pre-dawn or early evening.

OOPS! I knew I forgot something before posting. I am staying at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on Poydras street.

Ask in your hotel. They are very good about keeping visitors out of the worst parts of town - which is some cases are close to downtown.

Run down the neutral ground (median) on St. Charles Ave between Poydras and Audubon Park. Then run around the course there. That will be around 5 miles. If you are tired, take the St. Charles bus back to the CBD (the streetcar line is still under reconstruction from Katrina's damages).
Or, you can continue back for a nice 10 mile total jog. I do this all the time and never have had problems. I even remember running this at 4 AM one Mardi Gras night when I lost the party I was with and was out of change for a cab. I had no problems whatsoever, even at that time.

For convenience, jog St Charles Ave from Lee Circle. The grass is soft and easy on the body. I see joggers in the morning and the high school students in the afternoon.
For jogging with plenty of people, Audubon Park has a 1.7 mile track around the park. It is beautiful there. You can go by Magazine St Bus or St Charles bus.

Yay! I just found out today that my Sunday (this week) has opened up so I can actually do 16 miles.

Thanks so much for your suggestions!

I ran about 15 miles today, I think. The Audubon park is so beautiful and vibrant, I wanted to jog there forever!! I had a hard time getting up St. Charles, though....is it built on a slight incline?

Thanks again, that was great!

St. Charles is about as flat as a pancake but 15 miles will tend to make things a bit tougher ;)

I too agree that Audubon Park is a *very* nice place to jog.