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New Orleans is not a difficult city to drive in, with the exception of the narrow streets of the French Quarter. Problems arise, however, when you decide you want to park your car. Parking laws are strict and justice (in the form of towing) is swift. While you'll want a car to explore outlying areas, your best bet within the city is to walk, take public transportation, or hail a taxi. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway crosses the lake from St. Tammany Parish on the North Shore to Jefferson Parish and New Orleans on the South Shore. At 24 miles, the bridge is the longest over-water highway in the world.
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Sreetcar: New Orleans' historic St. Charles streetcars (never, ever call them "trolleys") run through the Garden District to Riverbend via St. Charles Avenue, then continue on Carrollton Avenue to their terminal at Claiborne Avenue. Fare is one dollar; transfers (which must be obtained upon boarding) cost an additional dime. Exact fare is required. The red streetcars of the Riverfront Line run from Esplanade in the Vieux Carre (French Quarter) along the Mississippi River to Thalia Street in the Warehouse District. Plans call for the line's eventual extension downriver to Bywater and uptown to the Audubon Zoo. The fare is $1.25; transfers cost an additional $0.10. Exact fare is required. For streetcar schedules and other information, call 504-248-3900. One- and three-day VisiTour Passes, which grant unlimited rides on both buses and streetcars, are available from New Orleans' Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Call 504-569-2700 for more information. Bus: The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) (504-569-2700) administers public transit services within New Orleans and nearby Kenner. Fares are $1.00 (exact change required), and transfers cost an additional $0.10. Buses are clean, and scheduled service is frequent and convenient. One- and three-day VisiTour Passes for unlimited rides on most RTA routes are available from the RTA or from selected hotels throughout New Orleans. For more information on passes, schedules, and routes, call the RTA. Taxi: New Orleans' taxi companies charge between $1.70 and $2.10 base fare, then meter at between $1.00 and $1.25 per mile. Additional charges accrue for fares of more than two passengers. During Mardi Gras, JazzFest, or other high-volume times, special basic fares may be in effect. You or the door staff at your hotel can hail a cab in the busier parts of New Orleans, but away from the action it's most convenient to call and have a taxi dispatched to your door. United Cabs (504-522-9771) is the largest taxi firm in town. Other reliable cab companies include Metry Cab (504-835-4242), Yellow-Checker Cabs (504-525-3311), and Liberty Bell Cabs (504-822-5974).
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 New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
New Orleans International Airport is located in Kenner, approximately 15 miles west of New Orleans' Central Business District. Interstate 10 provides direct access to the city, and will whisk you there in about 25 minutes, providing traffic is light. If traffic is heavy, the drive can take an hour or more. Transportation from the airport to downtown New Orleans: Public Transit: A public bus operated by Louisiana Transit (504-737-9611) provides regularly scheduled service to the Central Business District from the ground-floor level near the baggage claim area between 6 AM and 6:30 PM. The ride downtown averages about 45 minutes. Shuttle: The City of New Orleans' official airport transportation is provided by Airport Shuttle, Inc. (504-522-3500). Shuttle vans leave the airport bound for selected downtown hotels every 10 to 15 minutes; information and ticket booths are located near the baggage claim on the ground-floor level. For return to the airport, call to arrange a pick-up at least two hours before your flight time. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Taxi: A flat fee of $21 (add $8 per person after the first two passengers) is in effect for cab rides from the airport into downtown New Orleans. Cab stands are located near the baggage claim on the ground-floor level of the airport.
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New Orleans International Airport