This cycling map of New Orleans presents routes in the greater New Orleans area developed by me over several decades as well as newer routes made possible recently thanks to road improvements. My routes are suitable for any style of bicycle and best for cyclists actually trying to get somewhere. Sure, a cyclist could use this map as a recreational tool to some extent but my focus is to help people who are new to the area or just new to cycling. The routes pass near (or through) most of our universities, the city center, as well as all major parks. I actually use these routes myself every day for utilitarian purposes as well as pleasure rides. Most of the routes direct you to calm city streets or busy streets with some breathing room for cycling. A few of my routes put the rider on bike lanes or paths, but generally the cyclist will be mixing it up with light to moderate auto traffic.

This fat tire ride covers a lot of ground in New Orleans, traverses many neighborhoods, connects City Park and Audubon Park, the CBD, Warehouse District, French Quarter, Uptown, and Mid-City. I keep the rider off the streets and in the dirt more than ten miles. Other times I utilize back alleys, parking lots, and bike paths.

NOTE: You may ride a "skinny-tired" bike along the highlighted route - just use the nearest parallel paved street instead of the OFFROAD lines.

This route evolved from my original Road Bike City Loop. In 2006 as the city was recovering from Hurricane Katrina and the Great Army Corps of Engineers Flood I added a "Fatbike" to my collection of rides. It took the city several years to get our electric "street cars" or trolleys up and running again so the tracks were left without good use and became part of my daily commute to and from work. Riding the tracks was fairly dangerous back then because local motorists knew the street cars were dead and drove across the medians without casting a glance down the tracks. Thankfully my Fatbike has disk brakes.

Once the street car infrastructure was repaired and the trolleys went back to regular duty motorists quickly learned to look both ways before proceeding across the double set of tracks. Getting clobbered by a trolley can't improve one's day I imagine. So now, motorists are very aware of the tracks and almost never straddle a track in front of me. Joggers and runners - both of whom contribute to the maintenance of the "goat trails" between the tracks by continually stomping the vegetation into dust - are accustomed to yielding to the trolleys as they approach. Foot traffic just makes room for me same as they do for the trolleys.

To avoid being run over from behind by approaching trolleys I use a helmet mounted rear view mirror and my ears even though not even one trolley has ever overtaken me. I usually pass one trolley each trip, so I must be averaging close to the same speed. The trolleys are faster but must stop for fares and traffic signals and often get delayed by autos "stuck" in the median across the tracks during heavy traffic hours. I just ride around the stuck cars. Check out my PHOTO GALLERY for the route.

This is a route I developed to get an off-road fix with fat tires in the city near my house. Five minutes and I am in the dirt. The route incorporates several back alleys (you will see real live alley cats guaranteed), the dead golf course (Bayou Oaks) in City Park, and some other surprises. Obviously you can combine the two smaller loops into one huge loop anyway you like.

In the upper Lakeview neighborhood (shaded area on map) every second street is a service alley (with some exceptions). The alleys run north/south only. Surfaces are mostly made up of small gravel and packed dirt but also sand, oyster shells, brick pieces, roof shingles, or whatever local homeowners have on hand to fill holes in these unmaintained (by the city) service alleys.

Besides the multiple surface materials, there are craters, dents, humps, ponds, puddles, muck, tree debris, and some rough transitions at the cross streets. Also of note, many of the paved streets in this neighborhood are in even WORSE condition than the service alleys, so if you need to detour onto a "paved" street, you won't be bored.

A weekday between 9 and 5 (when most residents are away at work) is the best time to bomb through the alleys. Watch for cross street traffic and cars backing out of driveways into the alleys - usually very slowly and tentatively. Very early AM on weekends are OK for riding too but you will get every dog in the vicinity barking at you. The City Park golf course portion of these routes are fine any day, any time - even after dark once you learn your way around! Check out some PHOTOS of the Lakeview Mostly Offroad Routes.

Mapping Suburbia presents a unique set of challenges as compared to mapping the city. Therefore, I chose to map out Northern Jefferson Parish for cycling using Google Maps for several reasons:

1. Circuitous routes: Too many street names are involved in getting a cyclist across Jefferson. I would recommend, if you do not have a fancy portable device with Internet access, is to zoom in on any sections of my map and print out the pieces you need. Some intersection problems that I have solved will require you zoom all the way for best detail.

2. Verbal Descriptions: There are so many little nuances to getting around poorly planned neighborhood streets that you will be greatly helped along by reading the notes for each highlighted route line and each route marker. I can not fit all of the information on a paper map.

3. Does anyone even care? I know there is a good demand for a printable New Orleans map. Jefferson....not so sure. If I get any sort of feedback i.e., BEGGING - perhaps I would be willing to put together something similar to my NOLA .pdf map.

4. Easy to update: Google Maps are a snap to update as road conditions change. Five minutes in front of my PC and it is done.

I suggest you go out and buy a good foldable paper map of the Greater New Orleans Area by Rand McNally or other reputable map maker, and with a dark pencil, mark my routes on that map. Just the ones you need. Do not use highlighter pens as the colors fade rapidly under sunlight outdoors. A nice black fine-point ink pen is the best. Lake Pontchartrain makes a great empty space for writing notes.

Finally, the lines on this map do not represent sanctioned bike routes or lanes of any sort. My routes are mostly on neighborhood streets and roads. I try to keep you away from major intersections and highways. I bike all of these roads. The routes work for me. I hope you find them useful, but I make no claims regarding the safety of any of the routes.

Bike Routes to Get Out Of Town

The Belle Chasse 2-Ferry Ride is a nice weekend ride to the country for training or pleasure. Your choice of 20 or 40 miles. Two ferry rides across the Mississippi River breaks up the effort and affords riders a couple of nice rest breaks while the boats do all the work.

There are a few sketchy train track crossings along the way. I have marked them on the map with waypoint symbols. Many experienced riders have hit the pavement because of these tracks, so be very cautious to cross them properly.

View Belle Chasse 2-Ferry Ride in a larger map

Algiers Ferry to Jean Lafitte National Park
The destination is as fun as the ride!

This ride, as with most routes near working waterways in the area, is best done on the weekends. But I have had fun on weekday rides so long as I avoid the typical 9 and 5 rush hours. I like to get an early start and actually beat the rush hour past Gretna, then take my time to Jean Lafitte National Park. I always take a couple of hours in the park to hike, bird-watch, or just enjoy this sanctuary for palmetto palms and southern deciduous trees. The boardwalk trails keep your shoes clean regardless of conditions, while the dirt trails assure you some quiet and solitude away from casual visitors and their ever-howling children.

View Algiers Ferry to Jean Lafitte National Park in a larger map

Ride Around Lake Pontchartrain and Other Routes to the North.

This map not only illustrates how to bicycle around the lake, but also a few routes just to get you out of town for a weekend bike tour or month-long expedition. The main blue line circumnavigates the lake on the most bike friendly roads as they exist. I have cycled all of these routes a hundred times and had little trouble. However, most of these roads boast very little provisions for cyclists. Once in rural Louisiana motorists view cyclists as an anomaly and the unexpected. Many of the roads are too narrow for a bicycle and a car to fit in the lane together. You will probably get passed closely by motor vehicles on these routes. The new 3-foot passing law won't help you much. See Video

View Around The Lake Bike Ride in a larger map

New Orleans to Baton Rouge - Two Choices

This is a route I started cycling back in 1979 before Interstate 10 was complete and Highway 61 had few shoulders and narrow bridges. Compared to those days, this route is a breeze. If you dream of spotted cows belly deep in yellow wildflowers on lonely back roads, this is NOT THE ROUTE FOR YOU!

But for those cyclists not so picky, get ready for the long, straight road. Try to start early morning, especially during hot months. REAL early. And try to pick a day with winds out of the southeast or east.


View New Orleans to Baton Rouge Bicycle Map in a larger map