College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 1 day, 1 campus

Tulane University in 1 Day: A Fly-In Visit to New Orleans

A parent-first plan for flying in to see Tulane University in New Orleans: the official sign-up, getting from MSY, why to skip the rental car, two hotels on the St. Charles streetcar line, meals and city time for siblings.

Gibson Hall at Tulane, a long pale stone Romanesque building with arched windows and front stairs, framed by trees along a curving drive
Gibson Hall, Tulane University (Nov 2019). Photo: EEJCC · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. The small [S#] links open the page each fact comes from. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

Check before you go. Tour times, sign-up rules, parking and seasonal closures change often, sometimes weekly. Every campus section below links to that school's official visit page and shows when we last checked it. Confirm there before you book or drive. College Visit Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Names are used only to identify them.

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
Days
1 on campus, plus travel. Arrive the day before; Loyola New Orleans is an optional second school next door.
Fly into
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY). Taxis leave from Door 7 at Baggage Claim: $36 for 1–2 people to the CBD or French Quarter, or $15 per person for 3 or more.
Best base
The Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District, beside the St. Charles streetcar route. Alternate: The Chloe, a 14-room Uptown mansion hotel across from a streetcar stop.
Car or transit
Skip the car. Tulane strongly recommends public transportation or a taxi because Uptown parking is so limited.
Registration
Through Tulane's official visit portal. Groups of 8 or more book separately.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents flying in with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see Tulane, with a streetcar ride and some of the city thrown in.[S1][S3]

Tulane sits on the St. Charles streetcar line across from Audubon Park, about four miles from the French Quarter.[S3]

Why this order

  • Arrive the day before and settle in along St. Charles Avenue, near the streetcar.[S6][S10]
  • Visit day: a 30-minute information session with an admission counselor, then a student-led tour that typically lasts 90 minutes. Ride the streetcar there and back.[S1][S3]
  • Optional second school: Loyola University New Orleans is about a 7-minute walk from Gibson Hall.[S16]
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Dates and times appear only in the portal.[S2]
  • Tulane also lists separate sign-ups for Arts or Architecture tours, Engineering tours and nursing information sessions.[S1]

2. The suggested 1-day plan

  • Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, and walking times use OpenStreetMap foot routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Streetcar times aren't modeled.[S15][S16][S17]

Arrival day: fly into MSY and check in on St. Charles

  1. MSY → The Pontchartrain Hotel

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~24 min, 15.6 mi
    Walking
    Taxi or shuttle[S15][S4][S3]

  2. MSY → The Chloe (alternate)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~27 min, 17.1 mi
    Walking
    Taxi or shuttle[S15][S4][S3]

    Visit day: Tulane information session and tour

    1. The Pontchartrain → Gibson Hall (6823 St. Charles Ave)

      Driving (no traffic)
      ~8 min, 3.2 mi
      Walking
      ~69 min; take the streetcar[S15][S16][S3]

    2. The Chloe → Gibson Hall

      Driving (no traffic)
      ~5 min, 1.8 mi
      Walking
      ~40 min, or the streetcar[S15][S16][S10]

    3. Gibson Hall → Loyola University New Orleans (optional)

      Driving (no traffic)
      Walk instead
      Walking
      ~7 min, 0.3 mi[S16]
    • A 30-minute information session from an admission counselor, then a student-led campus tour that typically lasts 90 minutes.[S1]

    3. Campus by campus

    Gibson Hall at Tulane, a long pale stone Romanesque building with arched windows and front stairs, framed by trees along a curving drive
    Gibson Hall, Tulane University (Nov 2019). Photo: EEJCC · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

    Campus

    Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)

    Where visits start
    • Every tour begins with a 30-minute information session from an admission counselor; the student-led campus tour that follows typically lasts 90 minutes.[S1]
    • Go to the Office of Undergraduate Admission, 210 Gibson Hall, 6823 St. Charles Avenue. Take the center staircase, which leads straight into the office.[S1][S3]
    • Groups of 8 or more people use the group sign-up.[S1][S2]
    Visitor parking
    • Very limited: just two visitor spaces in Cowen Circle outside Gibson Hall; other campus spaces are metered, and street parking is limited. Tulane strongly recommends public transportation or a taxi.[S3]
    Getting there
    • The St. Charles streetcar stops across from campus: $1.25 per ride (cash or the Le Pass app), every 10 minutes from 6 AM to midnight and every 20 minutes overnight. From downtown, board at Common Street & St. Charles.[S3]
    What to know
    • Audubon Park is right across St. Charles Avenue from campus.[S3]
    Contact
    (504) 314-2151; the portal lists 504-865-5731 for booking help.[S1][S2]

    Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

    Official pages: Tulane: Visit · Tulane: Getting Here

    4. Where to stay: on the St. Charles streetcar line

    Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Hotel · Our pick

    The Pontchartrain Hotel

    2031 St Charles Ave, New Orleans

    Why here

    • A circa-1927, 14-story hotel in the Garden District, next to the St. Charles streetcar route. The hotel says it's minutes from the University Area (Tulane and Loyola).[S6][S7][S8]

    Good to know

    • Silver Whistle Cafe serves breakfast 7–11 AM daily; Bayou Bar serves lunch and dinner daily; Jack Rose is open for dinner Wednesday–Sunday; the Hot Tin rooftop bar serves drinks only. Room service is currently unavailable.[S8]
    • Valet parking only, $55 plus tax per night, with 24-hour in/out. Check-in 4 pm, check-out 11 am.[S8]
    • A daily Destination Amenity Fee applies; check the amount when you book. Cribs and Pack 'n Plays on request; no rollaway beds.[S8]
    • Phone: (504) 323-1400.[S7]

    Check rates on Expedia → Hotel's official page ↗

    Expedia link is an affiliate link

    Hotel · Alternate

    The Chloe

    4125 St Charles Ave, New Orleans

    Why here

    • A 14-room hotel in a restored 19th-century Uptown mansion. Its front entrance is across the street from the Milan and St. Charles streetcar stop.[S9][S10]

    Good to know

    • An on-site restaurant and bar, a saltwater pool and a patio.[S9]
    • Free on-street parking. Check-in 3 pm, check-out noon. One dog per room, $50 per night.[S10]
    • Phone: (504) 541-5500.[S9]

    Book on The Chloe's official site →

    Flying in? MSY taxis leave from Door 7 at Baggage Claim and take credit cards. Tulane also lists an airport shuttle (866.596.2699).[S4][S3]

    5. Meals between tours

    Hours change, so check before you go.

    At The Pontchartrain

    Eat

    Silver Whistle Cafe

    The Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St Charles Ave

    Breakfast 7–11 AM daily, before you catch the streetcar.[S8]

    Details →

    Eat

    Bayou Bar

    The Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St Charles Ave

    Lunch and dinner daily.[S8]

    Details →

    From Tulane's own list

    Tulane's restaurant list includes po-boys at Domilise's Po Boys, Parkway Bakery & Tavern or Guy's Po Boys; Maple St. Cafe; and classics such as Commander's Palace, Mother's, Cochon and Acme Oyster House. Check locations and hours before you go.[S11]

    Beignets

    Eat

    Café du Monde

    Decatur Street, French Quarter

    On Tulane admission's list of favorite places.[S12]

    Details →

    6. Things for siblings along the route

    Viator tour links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    With siblings

    The St. Charles streetcar

    St. Charles Avenue

    The ride itself: $1.25 per ride (cash or the Le Pass app), every 10 minutes from 6 AM to midnight.[S3]

    Official page →

    With siblings

    Audubon Park

    Across St. Charles Avenue from Tulane

    Right across St. Charles from campus.[S3]

    Official page →

    With siblings

    Magazine Street

    French Quarter to near Audubon Zoo

    Six miles of shops and restaurants, per Tulane's list of favorite places.[S12]

    Official page →

    With siblings

    New Orleans Museum of Art and the National WWII Museum

    New Orleans

    Both on Tulane's list of favorite places, along with NOMA's Sculpture Garden. Check hours and admission before you go.[S12]

    Official page →

    With siblings

    Steamboat Natchez jazz cruise

    New Orleans riverfront

    A river cruise, bookable through Viator. Check the listing for times and prices.[S14]

    New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise on Viator → affiliate

    With siblings

    New Orleans city tour

    New Orleans

    A city overview tour, bookable through Viator. Check the listing for pickup, times and prices.[S14]

    New Orleans City Tour: French Quarter, Garden District & Cemetery on Viator → affiliate

    7. Practical tips

    Driving and parking

    • Don't plan on parking at Tulane: two visitor spaces, metered spaces and limited street parking.[S3]
    • The Pontchartrain's valet is $55 plus tax a night; The Chloe offers free on-street parking.[S8][S10]

    Without a car

    • At MSY, taxis leave from Door 7 at Baggage Claim: $36 for 1–2 people to the CBD or French Quarter, $15 per person for 3 or more, credit cards accepted. Tulane lists the same fares and an airport shuttle (866.596.2699).[S4][S3]
    • The RTA Airport Express (202), $1.25, leaves from outside Door 2, Zones B4 and B5 at Baggage Claim, for downtown stops. From downtown, catch the St. Charles streetcar at Common Street & St. Charles.[S5][S3]
    • City taxis: $3.50 plus $2.00 per mile.[S3]

    Optional second school

    • Loyola University New Orleans is about a 7-minute walk from Gibson Hall. Check Loyola's official visit page for sessions and sign-up.[S16][S13]

    Loyola University New Orleans: Visit ↗

    Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals, New Orleans airport)

    • Spring: April averages a high of 79°F and a low of 62°F.[S18]
    • Summer: July averages 91°F/77°F. Bring water, hats and sunscreen.[S18]
    • Fall: October averages 81°F/64°F; November is 71°F/54°F.[S18]
    • Winter: January averages 63°F/46°F, with no measurable normal snowfall.[S18]

    Parent checklist

    • Register in Tulane's portal before you book flights or a hotel.[S2]
    • Plan the streetcar or a taxi rather than driving.[S3]
    • Gibson Hall is on St. Charles Avenue; take the center staircase to the office.[S1][S3]
    • After the visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

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    Sources

    All checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

    1. S1 Tulane Undergraduate Admission: Visit
    2. S2 Tulane campus tours portal (official sign-up)
    3. S3 Tulane Admission: Getting Here
    4. S4 MSY Airport: Taxis
    5. S5 MSY Airport: Public Transportation
    6. S6 The Pontchartrain Hotel
    7. S7 The Pontchartrain Hotel: Contact
    8. S8 The Pontchartrain Hotel: FAQ
    9. S9 The Chloe
    10. S10 The Chloe: FAQ
    11. S11 Tulane Admission: Restaurants
    12. S12 Tulane Admission: Favorite Places
    13. S13 Loyola University New Orleans: Visit
    14. S14 Viator Partner API (product search and lookups, Oct 2026)
    15. S15 OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
    16. S16 OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
    17. S17 OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
    18. S18 NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, New Orleans Intl AP, LA (USW00012916)