New Orleans from Indianapolis, Dec 11–15: $1,369 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $218 per person, $173 below the typical fare on this route
- Best-value hotel scores 9 from 24 reviews, $206 a night
- Typical December highs of 63–69°F, outside hurricane season
The catch: The $218 fare has one stop and takes 27h 30m, landing 5:08 PM Saturday, Dec 12, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you can travel with carry-ons and handle a long connection for the price; skip it if you want to land the same day.
Worth it if you don't mind a long connection. The trip costs $1,369 for two, all in: Frontier flights at $436, plus 4 nights at The Railyard NOLA - Adult Only, Clothing Optional Pool at $825 and its $108 property fee, with taxes and fees included. It runs Dec 11–15, 2026, on a one-stop Frontier routing that takes 27h 30m going out, and checked bags and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
$1,369 for two · 4 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $436 |
| The Railyard NOLA - Adult Only, Clothing Optional Pool, 4 nights, two guests, taxes in | $825 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $108 |
| The total, before you go | $1,369 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$173 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 for two round trip); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$218 per person, round trip
$436 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 27h 30m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 2:38 PM – Sat, Dec 12, 5:08 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $218 | 1 stop | 27h 30m |
| Frontier | $243 | 2 stops | 29h 51m |
| Frontier | $226 | 1 stop | 6h 13m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 3:20 PM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
The fare is $218 per person, which is $173 below the typical fare on this route. That's 44% under the $391 median of our earlier checks, and it carries a Lowest in 30 days badge. Across 12 offers we saw fares from $218 to $369 per person. December is a quiet month on the city's calendar. Hurricane season ends in November, and Mardi Gras rates don't arrive until February. Typical highs run 63–69°F with lows near 53°F. Expect overcast skies, with rain possible on arrival day and drizzle on Dec 15. That's walking weather for the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street, not pool weather. With 4 nights you get two full days plus your arrival evening if you take the longer routing. You'd be eating gumbo, hearing jazz and riding the streetcar without the festival crowds. These prices were all in when we checked, and they can change.
The kind of trip this is
This is a food-and-music city break for two. You'll spend your days walking: beignets in the morning, a museum or a streetcar ride in the afternoon, and jazz clubs after dark. It suits couples and pairs of friends who like to eat well and stay out a bit late. The pace is unhurried, and mild December weather means long walks feel easy, though it's a jacket-at-night trip rather than a beach one.
Weather in New Orleans, Dec 11–15
Typical highs 63–69°F, lows near 53°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 11 | 64 °F | 52 °F | Rain |
| Sat, Dec 12 | 63 °F | 50 °F | Overcast |
| Sun, Dec 13 | 68 °F | 56 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Dec 14 | 69 °F | 53 °F | Overcast |
| Tue, Dec 15 | 63 °F | 53 °F | Drizzle |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in New Orleans
The Railyard NOLA - Adult Only, Clothing Optional Pool is the best value at $825 for the 4 nights, or $206 a night, plus $108 in property fees. It scores 9 from 24 reviews, and the room is a Double Room with Pool View. The Mansion on Royal is the top rated pick at $892 for the stay, scoring 8.9 from 128 reviews. Its Deluxe Junior Suite sits in Faubourg Marigny, steps from the Frenchmen Street music clubs. Bywater Suite Hotel costs $831 for a One-Bedroom Suite and scores 8.7 from 427 reviews, the most reviews of the three. Marigny / Bywater is good for live music and colorful shotgun houses. The French Quarter suits you if you want balconies and Bourbon Street out the door. None of the three offers free cancellation.
The Railyard NOLA - Adult Only, Clothing Optional Pool
$825 for 4 nights, two guests · $206 a night
See roomsThe Mansion on Royal
$892 for 4 nights, two guests · $223 a night
See roomsBywater Suite Hotel
$831 for 4 nights, two guests · $208 a night
See roomsAll hotels in New Orleans for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in New Orleans
- French Quarter: Historic heart with balconies, jazz clubs and Bourbon Street.
- Central Business District / Warehouse District: Modern hotels, museums and restaurants a short walk from the Quarter.
- Garden District: Grand mansions and oak-lined streets along the streetcar line.
- Marigny / Bywater: Frenchmen Street music clubs and colourful shotgun houses.
What to do in New Orleans
- Hear live jazz on Frenchmen Street or at Preservation Hall
- Eat beignets at Café du Monde and gumbo in the Quarter
- Ride the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District
- Tour the National WWII Museum on the overcast afternoons
- Take a swamp tour to see alligators
- Visit the above-ground tombs of St. Louis Cemetery
Tours and tickets in New Orleans
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Indianapolis | Indianapolis International (IND) |
|---|---|
| Airports in New Orleans | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) |
| Flight time | 27h 30m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 713 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
What 4 nights in New Orleans costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $436 |
| Hotel, 4 nights (The Railyard NOLA - Adult Only, Clothing Optional Pool) | $825 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 4 days for two | $1,040 |
| Total for two | $2,301 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Indianapolis to New Orleans
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $218 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $218 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $391 |
| Price checks | 9 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for New Orleans.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed; you'll pay in US dollars.
- New Orleans is 1 hour behind Indianapolis, and the trip covers 713 miles from IND to MSY.
- The $1,369 total includes the flights, the hotel and its $108 property fee, but not checked bags (about $240 for two) or spending money.
- None of the three hotels offers free cancellation, and all are room only.
- Our rough budget with $130 a day in spending for two comes to $2,301.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, if a long connection doesn't bother you. The fare is $173 per person under the typical fare on this route, and the best-value hotel scores 9. The catch is time: the $218 routing takes 27h 30m and lands Saturday at 5:08 PM.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,369 for two, all in. That's $436 in Frontier flights, $825 for 4 nights at the hotel and its $108 property fee, with taxes and fees included. Checked bags (about $240 for two) and spending money are extra.
Is there a shorter flight?
Yes. We also found a one-stop Frontier option leaving at 11:55 AM that takes 6h 13m and lands at 5:08 PM the same day. It's $226 per person, or $452 for two.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs run 63–69°F with lows near 53°F. Expect overcast days, with rain possible on Dec 11 and drizzle on Dec 15. Pack a light jacket and an umbrella.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Indianapolis to New Orleans, and you'll pay in US dollars. The only time change is 1 hour back.
Can I cancel the hotel?
None of the three hotels we picked lists free cancellation. Plan on your dates being fixed before you book.
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