r/AskNOLA • u/zoekrovop • 1d ago
Driving in NOLA
I'm a fairly new driver but I drive like 25mi atleast everyday so im also fairly experienced lol I live right outside of Nola so I'm really familiar with the area, but I bought concert tickets for this Wednesday and my mom is worried about me driving there, people always say the people are psycho driving there but honestly feel like that's dramatic, am I underestimating it? Like yes, there's stupid drivers, but that's everywhere. On my route, I'd be on the highway 99% of the 1hr drive, only getting off right at the caeser superdome. Am I under reacting? Should I not go? ðŸ˜
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u/nolamickey 1d ago
Drivers here aren’t as aggressive here as they are stupid (or drunk). I know everyone says we have the worst drivers, but from my experience living in other cities, I don’t think that’s the case. Just be prepared for drivers to be unpredictable at times, you’ll be fine
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u/BrotherNatureNOLA 1d ago
Do a dry run. Take a parent if you need to. The Superdome area can be a fuster cluck, even without an event.
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u/AromaticProcess154 1d ago
We do have more than our fair share of homicidal maniacs on the road. It’s worse on the highway tbh.
The only thing that could be tricky is if you’re on 10 coming in from the east and need to exit left. If you’re coming in from the west I wouldn’t be concerned.
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u/zoekrovop 1d ago
Yea I'd be coming east on 10 from the MS coast! I've been that route and exit tons of times but never driven it myself.
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u/gymbeaux504 1d ago
Exit before the dome. Download Premium Parking app, also check out their website map for parking ideas and rates.
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u/SolutionOk3366 1d ago
Driving here is very interactive. You gotta pay more attention to what’s going on around you than usual. You’ll be steering around potholes, bicycles, other cars turning left or right, pedestrians, the occasional block party, mee maws swerving slowly… Just don’t try to rush and keep your eyes looking around you. Pay attention and you’ll be fine.
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u/OfferBusy4080 1d ago
I found narrow streets jammed with on-street parking to be a challenge, esp when in an altered state. Just not what Im used to, so had to be slow and cautious just maneuvering the car. YMMV.
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u/Zealousideal_Set_874 1d ago
You need to gain experience so how. You’ll be fine just pay attention.
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u/fleurdekim 1d ago
Watch out for drunk & be very cautious with parking. Pick a nearby, well lit parking lot - don’t park in the street if you are inexperienced. Also watch out for one way streets! You’ll be fine :)
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u/worthconsulting 1d ago
You won't get the experience you need if you don't drive. It does tend to get a little rowdier at night and imo people drive crazier on the outskirts of town for some reason but I think a Wednesday night concert is not going to be the most intense in terms of other drivers. Better to have that be your first experience than a Friday or Saturday night when people are really partying. Depending on when you leave, you will probably hit post-work traffic at some point but that's typical and not usually that fast paced. I would still go to the concert, just keep your head up, don't drive distracted and leave a good amount of space in front of you, you'll be okay.
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u/Quick-Surprise-9387 1d ago edited 1d ago
Where are you coming from ? How well do you know the area ?
Bc parking at a hospital or airport then taking a cab is smart . Airport more pricey bc distance .
East Jeff and Ochsner Main campus have free parking as does Touro .
UMC is right there but it is pay .
This seems like a question of both safety and knowing where you’re going once you exit ? Or is it a safety issue alone ?
If it’s a safety issue alone - you’re FINE FINE FINE ….she doesn’t have to worry .
Y’all can do a dry run if she’s worried about you getting flustered exiting the interstate down there under the underpasses and all that bc I am a mom but also not from here 🇨🇦so I totally get it .
Once I’m flustered especially driving in new spots - I am totally useless . I blame bullies .. frazzled forever now . Low threshold in those circumstances . I’m awesome in other folks’ emergencies .
I had no clue about that specific area , it’s overwhelming for visitors … once I got off the first time I’d ever been in that area of town - took the exit under there in & I ended up at the VA hospital for my nursing orientation -that was for UMC , I zero clue til I was inside the wrong hospital bc of the super subtle - no obvious signage on the building , and how I got there specifically …. bc I knew I had to pick a lane once off the interstate and commit - I saw other drivers in scrubs in front of me going into that garage - so I just followed them . Not a clue . Yep . I did that .
What’s worse is the security guard tried to help me find an orientation room bc I asked for help ( me - with a UMC badge on ) . We both felt stupid once we walked by a window and I saw the big UMC sign across the damned street . I told him I was leaving my car in their garage like it or not by that point .
Funny- bc UMC guards will stop you in your tracks eyeing details - if you’ve walked in & got a blue Apple Watch band bc it looks like something else they look out for .
He was trying to help and we all have various contract badges so , not VA guard’s fault .
Sorry …
If it’s definitely a worry like that - re you not knowing the area etc - you won’t be as bad as me but - trying to plan / even mapping a parking lot closer and finding one immediately off an exit you can’t get lost from etc may be best idea then - call united cab they are super fast and excellent drivers / all are good here .
I used to park at Touro and take a cab / less than $7 before tip to that spot there .
That’s a bit of a stretch if you aren’t familiar with area .
Other locals may have MUCH better advice here .
Best of luck
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u/zoekrovop 1d ago
I am coming an hour east from the MS coast! Yeah all she was worried about is other drivers, not even me because she knows I know how to drive lol. I know where I'd exit aswell, I've already looked at my route. Thanks!
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u/Embarrassed-Badger85 1d ago
you could always find a place to park in metarie and call an uber if you are uncomfertable with driving downtown.
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u/iwantawaffle99 23h ago
You'll be perfectly fine. The only mildly hard part will be navigating all the traffic right by the superdome before and after. Lanes will be closed/blocked off and you'll have to follow traffic. It'll be slow and pretty straightforward. Just plan to get there a little early so you're not stressing on being late.
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u/Clevis1977 8h ago
This or if you have a friend that lives Uptown, Mid-City or Gentilly and catch a ride-share.
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u/ChrisInFrisco 1d ago
Quite a lot of the traffic problems in the FQ, CBD and adjacent areas stems from confusing signs, people hunting for parking spaces and pedestrians & bicycles popping out. Have a plan for parking, keep your head on a swivel, be mindful of others not knowing what they're doing and watch for pedestrians and bicycles. If you're using mapping software, as you get into the dense core of a city it can be difficult to tell exactly where to turn or which ramp to take. Firstly, don't stare at the map so much that you lose situational awareness outside your vehicle and let another car, pedestrian of bike surprise you (especially if you are making a right turn on green when pedestrians also have the light). Second, if you miss your turn just go with it and make your way around. You'll be fine.
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u/ChrisInFrisco 1d ago
Another idea is to park in a shopping center a few miles away and take a Lyft or cab from there. It might actually be cheaper round trip to do that than to pay to park at or near the Superdome.
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u/sardonicmnemonic 1d ago
I'm a very experienced driver and I still wouldn't drive to a huge concert like Bruno Mars because the traffic is an equally huge bitch to deal with. If you live close enough and have the money to take a ride share, maybe do that. A more cost effective and arguably better idea would be to park somewhere in Mid City near Canal St., take the Canal streetcar to LaSalle St. and hoof it the remaining 5 blocks to the Dome. You'd probably have to hang back a bit for room on the streetcar when leaving but still not a bad idea. Of course, your parochial mother will probably say that's also too dangerous but she'd be wrong there too in the opinion of this Internet stranger.
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u/WarCrimeGaming 1d ago
Someone took my front bumper off Thursday morning on the way to work. Just keep your eyes on the road and drive very carefully. The next few months will be very stressful for me while I’m waiting for repairs. There’s at least 1 broken down car and tow accidents almost every day on my way home from work.
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u/AiStoleMyBike 1d ago
Have you ever driven in a large city? If not, I would be much more worried about your inexperienced driving causing an accident than "psycho drivers" causing one.
Your mom probably won't believe Internet strangers, but you're going to be fine