Fair Grounds Race Course has occupied 1751 Gentilly Blvd since 1872 — the oldest continuously operating racetrack in the country — and for about seven months of the year, getting your group there is about as simple as a New Orleans outing gets: Gentilly Blvd leads directly to the front gates, general parking is free, and a party bus or charter bus drops everyone at the main entrance while the infield settles into its rhythm. Then April arrives, and the same venue becomes one of the most logistically demanding destinations in the entire South. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival draws hundreds of thousands of attendees over two consecutive weekends, and the city responds by sealing off the surrounding neighborhood to non-resident parking, pushing rideshare pickups and drop-offs outside a defined perimeter, and formally prohibiting charter buses and RVs from parking or unloading on the festival grounds.
Groups that know this before they show up coordinate a smooth arrival. Groups that don't are the ones splitting 25 people across six separate rideshares — all fighting surge pricing at the same moment, none arriving at the same gate.
This guide covers Fair Grounds Race Course in both modes: the horse racing season that runs Thanksgiving through late March, and Jazz Fest weekends in late April and early May. Where exactly does a New Orleans charter bus drop the group during Jazz Fest? What does the venue actually restrict versus what happens on public streets?
How does the math compare between a private bus and the Jazz Fest Express shuttle? And what does the approach look like on Louisiana Derby Day when Free parking lots and a relaxed atmosphere replace the festival's residential lockdown? Every question is answered below — with verified specifics and the official sources to back them up.
Fill out a quick form or call 504-264-9424 any time to compare vehicles and rates through New Orleans group transportation services.
Race Season vs. Jazz Fest: Two Completely Different Transportation Plans
Understanding which version of Fair Grounds your group is visiting is the most important planning step, because the transportation strategy that works in January completely falls apart in April. The 154th thoroughbred racing season opened November 20, 2025 and runs through March 22, 2026, offering 56 stakes worth $8.65 million across four months of live racing. On a regular winter race day, you walk through free general parking, pay nothing to enter the grandstand, and the whole outing feels easy.
A New Orleans party bus or minibus drops your group at the Gentilly Blvd entrance, everyone walks directly into the venue, and the bus is ready at the curb when you're finished. No restricted zones, no neighborhood lockdown, no surge pricing at exit time.
Jazz Fest changes all of it. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival runs over two four-day weekends — April 23–26 and April 30–May 3, 2026 — across 14 stages with over 5,000 musicians. The 2026 headliners alone include the Eagles, Lorde, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, David Byrne, Tyler Childers, Jon Batiste, Kings of Leon, and The Black Keys.
That scale creates a transportation situation the city manages actively: neighborhood parking immediately surrounding the track is restricted to residential permits, rideshare vehicles are pushed outside the perimeter, and the festival itself explicitly states that charter buses and RVs are not permitted to park or unload on-site, per the official Jazz Fest FAQ. The logistics require a plan before your group leaves the hotel, not after you're already on Gentilly Blvd watching three Uber ETAs stretch to 22 minutes.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds has three public pedestrian entrances during Jazz Fest: the main Gentilly Boulevard gate, the Trafalgar Street gate, and the Sauvage Street gate. During race season, a bus can pull directly up to the Gentilly Blvd entrance for a curbside drop-off — the group walks in while the bus stages nearby or returns to a pre-arranged pickup location. The approach is uncomplicated, and the free parking lots on both sides of the main entrance give the bus room to maneuver on a typical winter afternoon.
During Jazz Fest, the on-site restriction means the bus cannot enter the festival grounds for drop-off or pickup. The workable approach: the bus drops your group on Gentilly Boulevard near Stallings Playground, directly across from the main festival entrance. The festival's own designated taxi stands operate at that exact location during Jazz Fest — which confirms it as a publicly accessible drop-off point closest to the Gentilly Blvd gate.
From the curb, the group walks straight to the entrance. No remote lot transfer, no shuttle wait, no splitting up. The bus then stages off the restricted neighborhood perimeter and returns to the same spot at a pre-arranged time for group pickup.
Because the staging location depends on what's available off the perimeter that day, the specific approach is confirmed when you book — the process doesn't require any guesswork on your end.
The key Jazz Fest drop-off fact: Charter buses cannot park or unload on Fair Grounds property during the festival, per the venue's published rules. The solution is a curbside stop on Gentilly Blvd near Stallings Playground — the same block where festival taxi stands operate — followed by a short walk to the Gentilly gate. Pre-arrange your return pickup time before you go in, and the bus is right there when the last act finishes.
For the Sauvage Street gate — the eastern pedestrian entrance — pickup groups coming from the Esplanade Avenue corridor (where the Walter "Wolfman" Washington Memorial Park taxi stand operates, at Esplanade Ave and Mystery St) have a slightly shorter walk. If your group is coming from a hotel on Esplanade Avenue or near City Park, the Sauvage Street approach is worth considering. The gate is slightly less crowded than the Gentilly main entrance on peak festival Saturdays, which means a faster walk-in and potentially a faster exit.
Check the current gate and transportation policies on the Jazz Fest FAQ page before each weekend, as specifics can shift year to year.
The Jazz Fest Transportation Situation Around Fair Grounds Race Course
The city's Jazz Fest transportation restrictions are more layered than most first-timers expect, and understanding each piece changes your group's planning. Parking in the residential blocks immediately surrounding the track is restricted to neighborhood permit holders — the private lot hunting strategy that works for other New Orleans events simply doesn't apply here. Rideshare vehicles face a designated drop-off and pickup perimeter established by the city to limit neighborhood traffic impact; the exact boundary streets are published annually on the festival's official channels and can rotate, so it's worth checking the in-app directions on your festival day rather than assuming last year's zone still applies.
Taxi service is available at two fixed stands: Stallings Playground on Gentilly Blvd (across from the main entrance) and Walter "Wolfman" Washington Memorial Park at Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street. The RTA Route 91 Jackson-Esplanade bus is also an option, stopping on Esplanade Avenue near the Sauvage Street gate for a $2 fare — useful for individuals, harder to coordinate for a group of 20.
The one shuttle that actually goes inside the gates is the Jazz Fest Express, operated by Gray Line New Orleans. It runs continuously on all eight festival days from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from four pickup locations: the Steamboat Natchez Dock (400 Toulouse St) in the French Quarter, the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel (500 Canal St), the Hyatt Regency (601 Loyola Ave), and the Wisner Lot at City Park (5700 Wisner Blvd, with free car parking). A single-day pass is $29; a four-day weekend pass covering one round trip per day runs $96.
Gray Line handles group questions at (504) 569-1401 — see the Jazz Fest Express page for current tickets and availability.
| Transportation option | Cost per person | Group stays together? | Drop-off point | Return flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private charter bus or party bus | Flat rate split across group | Yes — one vehicle, one arrival and departure | Gentilly Blvd near Stallings Playground (short walk to gate) | You set the pickup time; bus returns to same spot |
| Jazz Fest Express shuttle | $29/day or $96/4-day pass | Only if everyone boards the same run | Inside the festival gates — the only option that reaches here | Runs until 7:30 p.m.; shared capacity |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Per car + event surge pricing | No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs | Outside the neighborhood perimeter, then a walk | Surge pricing at the exit hour; no guaranteed timing |
| Taxi | Per car, metered | No — multiple cars needed for larger groups | Stallings Playground or Walter Wolfman Washington Memorial Park | Post-festival queues run long; first-come, first-served |
| RTA Route 91 bus | $2/person | Depends on available capacity | Esplanade Ave near Sauvage Street gate | No control over schedule or return timing |
The honest comparison: if your group is four or five people staying at the Sheraton or the Hyatt, the Jazz Fest Express is clean and cost-effective at $29 per head — you board at your hotel's curb and get dropped inside the gates. But the moment your group passes 12–15 people, the coordination cost of a shared shuttle tips in a different direction. Securing the right number of individual passes, making sure everyone reaches the pickup location at the same time, and getting back together at the same shuttle stop when the headliner finishes — for a group of 30, that is a lot of variables.
A charter bus rental at roughly $200–$350 per hour covers your entire group in one vehicle: one departure from the hotel, one drop-off at the curb, one pre-arranged pickup window. At $250/hour for six hours across 40 people, the total is $1,500 — $37.50 per person — with everyone together and the return ride already handled.
Getting to Fair Grounds Race Course: Routes and Drive Times
Fair Grounds Race Course sits in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood, roughly 3 miles from the French Quarter and Central Business District — about 10 minutes on a normal afternoon. The most direct approach comes in along Gentilly Boulevard from the east or via I-610 East from the west, which exits onto Elysian Fields Avenue before connecting to Gentilly. On regular race days, this is a straightforward run from anywhere in the city.
On Jazz Fest weekends, Esplanade Avenue and Gentilly Blvd begin backing up well before the 11:00 a.m. gate opening, and I-610 sees noticeable slowdowns as cars pull toward park-and-ride areas on the perimeter. The bus that departs from the French Quarter at 9:30 a.m. beats the wave. The one that leaves at 10:30 a.m. does not.
| Starting point | Distance | Off-peak drive time | Jazz Fest weekend note |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Quarter | ~3 miles | 10–15 min | Add 20–30 min on peak Saturday/Sunday; Esplanade backs up early |
| Central Business District / Superdome area | ~3.5 miles | 12–18 min | Add 20–30 min; same Gentilly/Esplanade corridor |
| Garden District | ~5 miles | 15–20 min | Add 20–25 min depending on routing |
| Metairie | ~7 miles | 15–20 min via I-610 East | I-610 slows; add 25–35 min on festival days |
| Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY) | ~15 miles | 20–25 min via I-10 East | Build in 45 min minimum; consider hotel stop first |
The exit timing matters just as much as the arrival. Jazz Fest closes around 7:00 p.m., and when 40,000-plus attendees all head for the gates in the same 20-minute window, rideshare surge kicks in hard. Groups relying on individual Uber pickups at that hour routinely wait 20–30 minutes and pay 2–3x the normal rate.
A pre-arranged pickup — the bus is already staged, the time is already set, the whole group loads at once — bypasses all of that. The bus heads back toward the French Quarter or the hotel before the worst of the post-festival traffic forms on Gentilly Blvd.
What Size New Orleans Party Bus or Charter Bus Does Your Group Need?
The right vehicle for a Fair Grounds trip depends on the size of your group and how you want the day to feel. For a small group of 10–14 heading to a weekday race card or a private party for Louisiana Derby Preview Day, a Sprinter van keeps the logistics tight — premium leather, USB charging at every seat, and enough room to move without paying for 40 seats you don't need. Mid-size groups of 15–35 heading to a race day outing or a Jazz Fest Thursday find a minibus rental to be the right fit: reclining seats, powerful climate control for a late-April afternoon, and enough maneuverability to navigate Mid-City's streets without the clearance issues a full-size coach brings.
For larger corporate groups heading to Louisiana Derby Day — clients, staff, and the kind of occasion that warrants showing up in one coordinated vehicle — a charter bus handles deep undercarriage storage for any presentation materials or gear, plus an onboard restroom for the return leg. And for Jazz Fest groups that want the energy going from the first pickup, a 25-passenger party bus or a 50-passenger party bus brings LED lighting and premium sound from the moment you pull away from the hotel.
| Vehicle | Seats | Storage | Best suited for at Fair Grounds | Key amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van | Up to ~14 | Modest | Small race day groups, VIP race day, executive outing | Premium leather, USB charging, tinted privacy windows |
| 15–35 passenger minibus | 15–35 | Overhead + underfloor | Mid-size race day or Jazz Fest group, corporate outing | Powerful A/C, plush reclining seats, greater maneuverability in Mid-City |
| Party bus (15–50 passengers) | 15–50 | Onboard storage | Birthday, bachelorette, and celebration trips to Jazz Fest | Built-in bar, color-changing LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs |
| 40–56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Deep undercarriage bays | Large corporate group, multi-pickup Jazz Fest run, race day client event | Climate control, WiFi, power outlets, reclining seats, onboard restrooms, luggage bays |
ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network — just note the need in your quote request. At Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest, ADA parking is available at the Horseman's Gate on Gentilly Blvd on a first-come, first-served basis, priced at $65 on Thursdays and Fridays and $75 on Saturdays and Sundays. Browse the full vehicle lineup or call 504-264-9424 to match the right bus to your headcount and event date.
New Orleans Charter Bus & Party Bus Rental Prices for Fair Grounds Race Course
Pricing for a Fair Grounds trip moves with the vehicle, the total hours, and the date — a Louisiana Derby Day booking prices differently than a Jazz Fest Saturday, and a 56-seat charter bus is a different rate than a 15-passenger minibus. To give you an idea of the planning ranges: a minibus rental for a weekday race day outing runs roughly $200–$250 per hour; on a weekend or stakes day, expect $200–$275 per hour. A charter bus covering a Jazz Fest Saturday — morning pickup at the hotel, drop at Gentilly Blvd, return pickup at close — runs approximately $200–$350 per hour depending on specific hours and vehicle.
A 25-passenger party bus falls in the $275–$375 per hour range on festival weekends. These are example figures so you can plan — the real quote is built around your specific group size, date, and itinerary.
The per-head comparison is worth running. A charter bus for 40 people at $250/hour over 6 hours totals $1,500 — that is $37.50 per person for coordinated round-trip transportation where everyone loads at the same time and nobody waits in a post-festival surge queue. For groups splitting into 8 separate rideshares at $18–$25 each way — before Jazz Fest surge pricing runs 2x or higher — the math often lands in similar territory per head, without the coordination or the guaranteed return pickup.
For the New Orleans party bus prices page and a deeper look at what shapes the quote, the online tool gives you a number for your specific trip in under 30 seconds. No account needed. Or call 504-264-9424 any time.
Flying In for Jazz Fest? The Airport-to-Fair Grounds Race Course Run
Jazz Fest draws visitors from across the country, and the most common out-of-town sequence is a landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), a check-in at a French Quarter or CBD hotel, and a morning run to Fair Grounds on the first festival day. MSY sits about 15 miles west of the track — roughly 20–25 minutes via I-10 East under normal conditions, stretching to 45 minutes or more in Jazz Fest weekend traffic. For out-of-town groups, the cleaner approach is always arriving at the hotel first and heading to Fair Grounds the next morning before the Gentilly Blvd backup forms, rather than routing directly from baggage claim to the festival on a Saturday.
A New Orleans charter bus from MSY collects your entire group at baggage claim in a single coordinated stop — no sorting a party of 20 into four separate rideshares with luggage and instrument cases, no waiting for the fourth car to confirm its ETA. One bus, one pickup, one hotel arrival. The MSY airport shuttle guide covers the full pickup logistics and baggage claim coordination for group airport runs.
For a group that wants the bus to pick up at the hotel the next morning for Jazz Fest, that timing gets built into the booking at the same time as the airport run.
Key Events at Fair Grounds Race Course Worth Planning Around
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — April 23–26 and April 30–May 3, 2026. The 2026 lineup includes the Eagles, Lorde, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, David Byrne, Tyler Childers, Jon Batiste, Kings of Leon, and The Black Keys, spread across 14 stages. Festival gates open at 11:00 a.m. with last admission at 6:30 p.m. on each festival day.
This is the highest-demand party bus and charter bus rental period in New Orleans each year — Jazz Fest Saturdays and Sundays book out months in advance. A New Orleans concert bus rental for a Jazz Fest weekend booked in February looks very different from one booked the week before the festival. For all current ticket policies and transportation guidelines, the official Jazz Fest website is the primary source.
Louisiana Derby Day — March 21, 2026. The biggest day on the Fair Grounds racing calendar: eight stakes totaling $2.65 million, headlined by the 113th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby (Grade II) at 1 3/16 miles, plus the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (Grade II). This is a serious racing crowd — out-of-town owners, trainers, and enthusiasts who know what they're watching — and the grandstand fills accordingly.
Corporate groups and client outings who want to make a day of Louisiana Derby without managing separate cars find a minibus or charter bus handles the logistics cleanly, with general admission free and the clubhouse priced at $25 on this event day.
Louisiana Derby Preview Day — February 14, 2026. The $500,000 Risen Star Stakes (Grade II) and the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (Grade II) share the card on Valentine's Day weekend. The Risen Star is a legitimate Kentucky Derby prep — it carries 50-25-15-10-5 Derby qualification points — which means genuine contenders are on the dirt at Gentilly Blvd on a February afternoon.
One of the better arguments for a February race day charter bus rental in New Orleans.
Thanksgiving Classic Stakes — November 27, 2025. The 101st running of this six-furlong sprint headlines opening day of the 154th racing season. For groups gathered in New Orleans for Thanksgiving, a charter bus from the French Quarter to Fair Grounds and back is a legitimate afternoon plan — free general admission, a November race card worth watching, and a trip that takes about 20 minutes each way.
Louisiana Champions Day — December 13, 2025. One of the most festive race days on the Fair Grounds schedule, celebrating Louisiana-bred and -owned horses across a full stakes card. This is a local racing community highlight and typically sees one of the stronger seasonal crowds before the holiday break — worth booking early if your group is in town in mid-December.
Tips for Visiting Fair Grounds Race Course
Book Jazz Fest weekend buses as early as your dates are confirmed. Jazz Fest Saturdays and Sundays are the most competitive charter bus and party bus rental dates in New Orleans each year — the right-size vehicles commit months in advance, and what's available in late April is the inventory nobody else wanted. Groups that book in January and February have full selection.
For Jazz Fest: book by February. For Louisiana Derby Day and the Risen Star weekend, 4–6 weeks of lead time is workable, but earlier always gives you better options.
On Jazz Fest days, arrive before the peak. Festival gates open at 11:00 a.m. Groups that arrive in the 10:00–10:30 a.m. window walk straight to the gate.
Groups arriving between 11:00 a.m. and noon encounter the peak entry queue on Gentilly Blvd, and the surrounding streets are already slowing. A bus departing the French Quarter at 9:30 a.m. is on Gentilly before the wave — the group is inside before the Stallings Playground taxi stand has a line.
On race days outside Jazz Fest, parking is free and admission is free. General admission is free every regular race day; the clubhouse runs $10–$15 Wednesday through Thursday and $15–$25 on Fridays and weekends, with specialty events like Louisiana Derby Day at $25 for general and higher for clubhouse. Valet is available on race days for $10–$20.
None of this changes for a bus group — the advantage is everyone arrives together without anyone navigating the parking lot independently.
The Trafalgar Street gate sees lighter queues on busy Jazz Fest days. Most first-timers head to the main Gentilly Blvd gate, which means that entrance carries the bulk of the entry volume on Saturdays. The Trafalgar Street gate is a short walk in either direction from the Gentilly curbside drop-off area and typically moves faster.
Worth asking about when you set up your group's arrival plan.
ADA parking at Jazz Fest sells first-come, first-served. Accessible parking is at the Horseman's Gate on Gentilly Blvd — $65 Thursdays and Fridays, $75 Saturdays and Sundays — and it does not accept advance reservations. If any member of your group needs accessible access, the bus drop-off at the Gentilly Blvd curb is actually closer to the gate than the ADA parking lot is, making the bus a practical option for mixed-accessibility groups.
Check the official Fair Grounds Race Course website for current racing schedules and policies, and the official Jazz Fest FAQ before each festival weekend — both parking rules and gate configurations can be updated from year to year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a charter bus drop off at Fair Grounds Race Course during Jazz Fest?
Charter buses and RVs are not permitted to park or unload on-site at Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest, per the festival's official rules. The practical approach is a curbside drop-off on Gentilly Boulevard near Stallings Playground, directly across from the main festival entrance — this is where the designated taxi stands operate during the festival, confirming it as the closest publicly accessible drop point to the Gentilly Blvd gate. The group walks straight to the entrance from there.
The bus then stages off the restricted neighborhood perimeter and returns to the same spot at a pre-arranged pickup time. The exact staging location and pickup window are confirmed when you book.
Can a charter bus drop off at Fair Grounds Race Course for horse racing events?
Yes. On regular thoroughbred racing days, Fair Grounds does not impose the Jazz Fest restrictions. The main Gentilly Blvd entrance is accessible, free general parking fills the adjacent lots, and the bus can drop your group at the entrance for a curbside stop.
Return pickup at the same location is easy to arrange. For high-attendance stakes days like Louisiana Derby Day, confirming the specific approach and staging arrangement at booking time is always the right move.
What are the three public entry gates at Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest?
The three public pedestrian entrances are the Gentilly Boulevard gate (main entrance, most direct from the Gentilly Blvd curbside drop-off), the Trafalgar Street gate, and the Sauvage Street gate. The Sauvage Street gate is the most practical entry point for groups approaching from the Esplanade Avenue corridor. Free bike parking is available near both the Gentilly Blvd and Sauvage Street gates.
Is the Jazz Fest Express shuttle worth it for a large group?
For small groups of 4–8 people staying at one of the four official pickup locations (Sheraton, Hyatt, Steamboat Natchez Dock, or the Wisner Lot), the Jazz Fest Express at $29/day is a clean and straightforward option — it's the only shuttle that actually drops you inside the gates. But for groups of 15 or more, coordinating everyone onto the same shuttle run, arriving at the pickup location at the same time, and reconnecting at the stop at close-out time adds real friction. A private charter bus typically becomes the more practical and often cost-competitive option past that threshold.
Gray Line can be reached at (504) 569-1401.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Fair Grounds Race Course?
Planning ranges vary by vehicle and date. A minibus for a weekday race day runs roughly $200–$250/hour; on weekends or stakes days, $200–$275/hour. A charter bus for a Jazz Fest Saturday runs approximately $200–$350/hour.
A 25-passenger party bus falls in the range of $275–$375/hour on festival weekends. These are example planning figures — the real quote is built from your specific headcount, vehicle, hours, and date. Use the online tool or call 504-264-9424 for a number in under 30 seconds.
When should I book a bus for Jazz Fest?
As early as your dates are confirmed. Jazz Fest Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest single-day charter bus and party bus rental dates in the New Orleans market every year. Vehicle inventory for those weekends begins committing in December and January.
Book by February for a Jazz Fest weekend if you want your preferred vehicle type. For weekday festival days and for race season events, 3–6 weeks of lead time is usually workable — but earlier always gives you more options and better rates.
Where do rideshares drop off for Jazz Fest at Fair Grounds?
Uber and Lyft are restricted to designated pickup and drop-off zones outside the neighborhood perimeter during Jazz Fest — the city limits rideshare access to reduce residential street traffic. The exact perimeter boundary can vary year to year; follow the in-app guidance on your festival day rather than assuming the same streets apply from prior years. The festival FAQ at nojazzfest.com/faq publishes current transportation guidance before each event.
Is there parking at Fair Grounds Race Course on race days?
Yes — general parking is free every race day, per the venue's FAQ. Valet parking is available on race days for $10–$20. General admission to the grandstand is free on most race days; the clubhouse ranges from $10–$25 depending on the day and event.
Jazz Fest is an entirely different situation: on-site parking during the festival is limited to premium VIP passholders and ADA guests, with accessible parking at the Horseman's Gate priced at $65 Thursday/Friday and $75 Saturday/Sunday on a first-come, first-served basis.
How far is Fair Grounds Race Course from the French Quarter?
About 3 miles — roughly 10–15 minutes under normal conditions. On Jazz Fest Saturday and Sunday mornings, plan for 30–40 minutes as Esplanade Avenue and Gentilly Blvd back up ahead of the 11:00 a.m. gate opening. A bus departing the French Quarter at 9:30 a.m. clears the pre-wave traffic and reaches Gentilly Blvd by 10:15, giving your group time to be at the gate before the main entrance queue builds.
What are the major horse races at Fair Grounds in the 2025-26 season?
The 154th thoroughbred racing season (November 20, 2025 – March 22, 2026) features 56 stakes worth $8.65 million total. Marquee dates: the Thanksgiving Classic Stakes on November 27, 2025; Louisiana Champions Day on December 13, 2025; Louisiana Derby Preview Day on February 14, 2026, headlined by the $500,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) and $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2); and Louisiana Derby Day on March 21, 2026, featuring eight stakes totaling $2.65 million, led by the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2). The venue address is 1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70119; the main number is (504) 944-5515.
Are ADA-accessible buses available for Fair Grounds trips?
Yes — ADA-accessible vehicles are available through the network. Note the need when you request your quote, and the right vehicle can be arranged. At Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest, accessible parking at the Horseman's Gate runs $65–$75 per day depending on the day of the week.
A curbside drop-off on Gentilly Blvd is actually closer to the Gentilly gate than the ADA parking lot, which makes the bus a practical choice for groups with mixed accessibility needs. Mention the requirement at least 48 hours before your departure when you book.
Book Your New Orleans Party Bus or Charter Bus to Fair Grounds Race Course Today
Whether your group is heading to Fair Grounds Race Course for a Jazz Fest Saturday, Louisiana Derby Day, a Thanksgiving race card, or the Risen Star Stakes in February, Partybusneworleans.net makes it fast and easy to compare vehicles and rates from a large network of bus companies serving New Orleans. One quick form or one call to 504-264-9424 — pricing in under 30 seconds, no account required, no obligation. For Jazz Fest weekends, the earlier the better: the right-size buses for those eight days commit months out, and what's available in late April is what nobody else wanted in January.
The New Orleans private event transportation page covers other festival and celebration outings across the city. If your trip to New Orleans also includes a Saints game or a concert at the Superdome, the Caesars Superdome transportation guide covers that drop-off and parking situation in the same detail. And for groups flying in, the New Orleans airport transportation page has the full picture for MSY pickups and hotel connections before the festival.
Call 504-264-9424 now to lock in your Fair Grounds date.
