Parking on Fat Tuesday (New Orleans, Poydras: hotel, casino, closing)

[JcBobcat]

I will be driving to New Orleans on Fat Tuesday. I am staying at the Astor Crowne Plaza on Canal. The hotel staff told me it would be impossible to get to there due to roads being barricaded. Get anyone give me some idea where I might be able to park my van?

[darylwi]

What time are you driving in? Drive in early and you should be able to navigate pretty easily around downtown. I'm talking 5-8, early. If I drive down on Fat Tuesday, I'm usually downtown by 9am. Last year they weren't closing down all the cross streets to Canal until after 8am.
Now, after that, I can't help you. Once they're closed, the streets downtown are pretty much closed the rest of the day. I park usually in open lots north of Carondelet and west of Canal, that way it's fairly easy for me to leave downtown whenever I want that afternoon or evening. Last year I was just off of Poydras near O'Keefe. No problems.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

There are some big lots in that area but as darylwi said, get there early! Even if your room isn't ready, you should be able to use the lobby restrooms, drop your luggage at the bell desk, and eat breakfast.

[Doogie]

Originally Posted by darylwi

...I park usually in open lots north of Carondelet and west of Canal, that way it's fairly easy for me to leave downtown whenever I want that afternoon or evening...

In this case, that hotel is on the East side of Canal and parades will be rolling right in front of it. I would think in that case it would be best to park south of St. Charles or you may not be able to cross Canal street to get to your hotel. You can see the parade routes here.

[Stitches]

I parked in the Hilton garage last year on Lundi Gras and it cost $35 just for the night. Street parking is possible south of St. Charles in the Warehouse District area, but you need to get really lucky.

[Gabbee]

Some folks on another N.O. forum said that you can park at the Harrah's casino for free, as long as you gamble for 30 minutes for every 24 hr period. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, my only question is, will the Harrah's casino even be accessible with all the roads blocked off? Also, I'm staying at the Historic French Market Inn on Decatur. That street should be fine, right?
I'm driving from TX so there's no way I can make it there early. I'll be arriving around 4pm on Sunday Feb 22.
TIA!

[domino]

Originally Posted by Gabbee

Some folks on another N.O. forum said that you can park at the Harrah's casino for free, as long as you gamble for 30 minutes for every 24 hr period. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, my only question is, will the Harrah's casino even be accessible with all the roads blocked off? Also, I'm staying at the Historic French Market Inn on Decatur. That street should be fine, right?
I'm driving from TX so there's no way I can make it there early. I'll be arriving around 4pm on Sunday Feb 22.
TIA!

Decatur is indeed a fine street, but not fine for driving or parking during Mardi Gras. Even if the street is open when you arrive, you will need to circumnavigate any ongoing parade if you are arriving from Texas. At 4 pm Sunday the afternoon parades should be well underway downtown soon to be followed by Bacchus. I would call the hotel and ask for a recommended route that would bypass the parades. Otherwise you could get stuck in traffic with nowhere to park which can be frustrating.