United States, North America

New Orleans in April

French Quarter Festival and the first weekend of Jazz Fest. Arguably the single best month for music. Book early.

BestWarm, highs near 78F (26C), low humidity for now

French Quarter New Orleans, United States — New OrleansPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

April is one of the best months of the year to visit New Orleans. French Quarter Festival and the first weekend of Jazz Fest. Arguably the single best month for music. Book early.

Weather: Warm, highs near 78F (26C), low humidity for now
Crowds: 5 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What April is like in New Orleans

April is arguably the best month of the year for music in New Orleans. Highs are near 78F (26C) and the humidity has not moved in yet, so long days outdoors are a pleasure. French Quarter Festival fills the Quarter with free stages, and Jazz Fest opens on the last weekend of the month. Crowds and prices are at a peak, and hotels book up early.

Go if music and food are why you travel, and book well ahead. Families will enjoy the free French Quarter Festival and the easy weather. If you want this climate without the crowds, look at November, which is calmer and cheaper.

Make the most of April

What is especially good about New Orleans this month.

French Quarter Festival

Free, local-focused stages spread across the Quarter over a long weekend. It is one of the best-value festivals anywhere.

Jazz Fest, first weekend

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival opens the last weekend of April with jazz, gospel, blues and zydeco at the Fair Grounds.

Peak crawfish

Spring is prime time for crawfish boils, and April is when they are at their best.

What to pack for April

Sunscreen and a hat for long festival days
A refillable water bottle
Comfortable shoes for standing and walking
A light rain poncho for festival showers
A light layer for cooler evenings

Our timing tip

Book your Jazz Fest hotel as early as you can, since rooms for festival weekends often go close to a year out.

Book New Orleans for April.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in New Orleans
Opens a hotel search for New Orleans in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for April
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in New Orleans
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in New Orleans
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in New Orleans for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in April

French Quarter Festival

A long weekend in April

Free, local-focused, and spread across stages throughout the Quarter. One of the best-value festivals anywhere.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

The last weekend of April and first weekend of May

Jazz, gospel, blues, and zydeco on a dozen stages at the Fair Grounds. Hotels book a year out.

Things to do in New Orleans

Full guide

The National WWII Museum

Plan a full day; it is one of the best museums in the country. Weekday mornings are calmest.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The French Quarter and Jackson Square

Walk it early before the day-trippers arrive. Royal Street by day, Frenchmen Street by night, and Bourbon Street only if you want to.

Tickets and tours →

St. Charles streetcar and the Garden District

Ride the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world past the mansions to Audubon Park. Cheap, slow, perfect.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Frenchmen Street music

The locals' answer to Bourbon Street: three blocks of clubs with live bands from early evening on.

Tickets and tours →

City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art

Giant live oaks, the free sculpture garden, and beignets under the trees. Bigger than Central Park.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

The French Quarter visitor center runs ranger talks, and the Barataria Preserve boardwalk puts you in a real swamp a short drive away.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

For Mardi Gras, the two weekends before the final weekend offer full parades at lower rates and thinner crowds.
Stay in the Marigny, Bywater, or Garden District instead of the Quarter. You get quieter nights and are still a streetcar or short ride from the action.
Do the Quarter, Cafe du Monde, and Jackson Square before 9am. By late morning, cruise-ship and day-trip crowds arrive.
November and early December deliver spring-quality weather at off-season prices. It is the smart-money window.

Know before you go

Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk from late August through September. A named storm can trigger closures or evacuations; buy refundable rates and insurance for late summer trips.
During the final days of Mardi Gras, parade routes close streets for hours and traffic across Uptown and downtown can gridlock. Many businesses close on Fat Tuesday itself.
Many old-line restaurants and some small museums close one or two days a week, often Monday or Tuesday. Check before you plan a special dinner.
Crawfish season runs roughly January through June, peaking in spring. Come in fall and the boils are mostly off the menu.

New Orleans in April, quick answers

Is April a good time to visit New Orleans?

April is one of the best months of the year to visit New Orleans. French Quarter Festival and the first weekend of Jazz Fest. Arguably the single best month for music. Book early.

What is the weather like in New Orleans in April?

Warm, highs near 78F (26C), low humidity for now.

Is New Orleans crowded in April?

April is peak crowd season in New Orleans; expect lines at the headline sights.

What is happening in New Orleans in April?

French Quarter Festival (a long weekend in april); New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (the last weekend of april and first weekend of may).