French Quarter to the Lakefront Loop
You will find much to see along this ride through a unique area of New Orleans, but you must use caution in the city traffic.
Esplanade Avenue is part of the oldest subdivision in the country, and you’ll enjoy the beautiful houses along this route. The ride takes you up Wisner Boulevard and along scenic Bayou St. John and City Park, and then along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
On the return route you can take Canal Boulevard through the lovely Lakeview area, then stop at the juncture with Canal Street and visit several of the famous, historic New Orleans cemeteries, which are clustered at the northern end of the streetcar line. Canal Street leads all the way down to the Mississippi River and back to the French Quarter.
Traffic could be heavy along portions of this route, but you will have an easier, quieter ride if you go on a Saturday or Sunday. Use extra caution along Esplanade Avenue as the street is narrow, and cars pack the parking lanes – be alert to car doors swinging open and cars pulling onto the street.
Start: Jackson Square across from St. Louis Cathedral & General Jackson statue on Decatur. Take Decatur to Esplanade.
0.4 Left on Esplanade.
3.0 Right on Wisner
5.5 Robert E. Lee. Stay in right lane and continue straight on Beauregard Avenue.
5.9 Left at T. Circle around and take a left on Lakeshore Drive. NOTE: The next two miles along Lakeshore Drive may be closed to traffic, or may be one-way traffic only. Obey road signs.
7.2 West End seafood restaurants.
8.2 Intersection of Robert E Lee and Lakeshore Drive
FRENCH QUARTER TO LAKEFRONT LOOP RETURN:
Start: Intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Robert E Lee. Go left on Robert E. Lee.
0.4 Right on Canal Blvd.
3.0 Right on City Park. Stay left and take an immediate left on Canal Street. Cypress Grove Cemetery is at the corner. Use extreme caution at this turn. Go 1 block past Rampart Street. Stay in left lane. Make U-Turn back to Rampart. Go right on Rampart.
6.5 Right on Ann Street.
6.8 Jackson Square.