New Orleans from Louisville, Dec 3–7: $1,573 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $120 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
- California Building, rated 8.5 by 343 guests
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 5h 40m in all.
Worth it if you want to walk, eat and see things; skip it if you want to switch off.
When we checked, round-trip flights from Louisville to New Orleans were $284 per person ($568 for two) for Dec 3–7, 2026, a 4-night trip. That fare is on Southwest with one stop, so it isn't nonstop, and early December usually brings highs of 64–67°F. California Building, our best-value hotel pick, is $1,005 for the whole stay.
The total, before you go
$1,573 for two · 4 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $568 |
| California Building, 4 nights, two guests, taxes in | $1,005 |
| The total, before you go | $1,573 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $140 |
$120 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $35 each way per bag on Southwest, $140 for two round trip); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$284 per person, round trip
$568 for two, taxes and fees included · Southwest · 1 stop · 5h 40m
Out Thu, Dec 3, 12:55 PM – Thu, Dec 3, 5:35 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $284 | 1 stop | 5h 40m |
| United. Operated by Mesa Airlines DBA United Express | $284 | 1 stop | 7h 18m |
| American | $284 | 1 stop | 6h 42m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 7:27 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
Tweak this trip
Why now
At $284 per person round trip, or $568 for two, this fare is $120 below the typical fare on this route. That's 30% under the $404 median of our earlier checks. It's also the lowest fare we've seen in 30 days across 13 checks, and the 12 offers we found ran from $284 to $381. Southwest, United and American were all at $284 with one stop. Early December comes after hurricane season, which here runs June through November, and well before Mardi Gras pricing starts. Typical highs are 64–67°F with lows near 55°F, mostly overcast, and drizzle is possible on Saturday, Dec 5. That's comfortable weather for walking between jazz clubs, gumbo spots and the streetcar. Prices include taxes and fees as found and can change at any time.
The kind of trip this is
This is a food-and-music city trip. You'll spend your days eating beignets and gumbo, wandering old streets and museums, and your nights on live jazz. It suits a couple or a pair of friends who like to walk a lot and stay out late. The pace is easy: slow mornings, long lunches and evenings on Frenchmen Street. Four nights is enough to cover the Quarter, the Garden District and one swamp tour without rushing.
Weather in New Orleans, Dec 3–7
Typical highs 64–67°F, lows near 55°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 3 | 64 °F | 54 °F | Overcast |
| Fri, Dec 4 | 67 °F | 56 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Dec 5 | 66 °F | 55 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun, Dec 6 | 64 °F | 54 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Dec 7 | 66 °F | 54 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in New Orleans
California Building is the best-value pick at $1,005 for the 4 nights ($251 a night). It has a review score of 8.5 from 343 reviews, and the room is a 1 Bedroom Residence that sleeps 4 (room only), in Downtown New Orleans. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is the top-rated option at 8.8 from 221 reviews: a 5-star Club Level King Room in the French Quarter (Vieux Carré) area for $6,987 ($1,747 a night). La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham New Orleans Downtown is the budget choice at $828 ($207 a night), rated 7.4 from 2,911 reviews, with breakfast included. All three showed free cancellation when we checked. The French Quarter is the historic heart, with balconies and jazz clubs. The Central Business District / Warehouse District has museums and restaurants a short walk from the Quarter.
California Building
$1,005 for 4 nights, two guests · $251 a night
See roomsThe Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
$6,987 for 4 nights, two guests · $1,747 a night
See roomsLa Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham New Orleans Downtown
$828 for 4 nights, two guests · $207 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, then gumbo in the Quarter
- Ride the St. Charles streetcar past the mansions and oak-lined streets of the Garden District
- Spend a few hours touring the National WWII Museum
- Take a swamp tour to see alligators
- Visit the above-ground tombs of St. Louis Cemetery
Also worth it
- Tour the National WWII Museum
Tours and tickets in New Orleans
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
Getting there and around
| Airports in Louisville | Louisville Muhammad Ali International (SDF) |
|---|---|
| Airports in New Orleans | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) |
| Flight time | 5h 40m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 624 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
What 4 nights in New Orleans costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $568 |
| Hotel, 4 nights (California Building) | $1,005 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 4 days for two | $1,040 |
| Total for two | $2,613 |
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: Louisville to New Orleans
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $284 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $284 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $404 |
| Price checks | 13 |
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, and you'll pay in US dollars.
- New Orleans is 1 hour behind Louisville.
- The Southwest flight leaves SDF at 12:55 PM on Thursday, Dec 3, and lands at MSY at 5:35 PM local time, taking 5h 40m with one stop. The route covers 624 miles.
- Our rough budget for two comes to $2,613: $568 in flights, $1,005 for California Building and $1,040 for spending, which is $130 per person per day.
- December falls outside hurricane season, which runs June through November, and before the Mardi Gras months of February and March.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $284 per person round trip, or $568 for two, including taxes and fees. That's $120 below the typical fare on this route of $404. Southwest, United and American all had one-stop options at that price.
Is it a nonstop flight?
No. Every offer we found had one stop. The Southwest flight leaves Louisville at 12:55 PM on Dec 3 and arrives in New Orleans at 5:35 PM local time, 5h 40m in total.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Louisville Muhammad Ali International (SDF) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), and you'll pay in US dollars.
What's the weather like?
Highs this time of year are usually 64–67°F, with lows near 55°F. Expect mostly overcast days, and drizzle is possible on Saturday, Dec 5.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
Our rough estimate is $2,613: $568 in flights, $1,005 for four nights at California Building and $1,040 for spending money, which is $130 per person per day.
Which hotel should I pick?
California Building, at $251 a night with an 8.5 score, is the best value. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham New Orleans Downtown is $207 a night with breakfast. The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is top rated at 8.8.
Also found for you
The newest finds from Louisville.
Just found · from Louisville37% below typicalNot worth it this week
Great Smoky Mountains
Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026 · 2 nights
- $333 per person, $204 below the typical fare on this route
- The Wander Hotel by Wyndham: 7.5 from 1,703 reviews, breakfast included
- Free cancellation at all three Gatlinburg hotels we priced
$1,127 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $666 + hotel $414 + resort fee $47, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
Allegiant · with a stop · 33h 24m
The catch: The outbound flight has one stop and takes 33h 24m, so you land Saturday at 5:28 PM and fly out Sunday at 10:34 AM.
Worth it if one evening in Gatlinburg at a low fare is enough for you; skip it if you want a real weekend in the park.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from Louisville27% below typicalWorth it, if
Great Smoky Mountains
Oct 23–25, 2026 · 2 nights
- Fare $537 per person, $200 below the typical fare on this route
- Highs 73–75°F with 4% to 5% rain on Friday and Saturday
- Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg: 8.1 from 3,295 reviews, balcony room
$1,577 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $1,074 + hotel $452 + resort fee $51, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
Allegiant · with a stop · 33h 44m
The catch: The G4 routing takes 33h 44m with an overnight connection, landing Saturday at 4:48 PM, and the return leaves Sunday at 10:34 AM.
Worth it if you can sleep through an overnight connection for a short foliage weekend; skip it if you want two full days in the park.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from Louisville42% below typicalWorth it, if
New Orleans
Nov 27–Dec 1, 2026 · 4 nights
- $234 per person, $170 below the typical fare on this route
- Roami at Bourbon Place: 8.1 from 189 reviews, free cancellation
- Highs of 63–65°F for walking the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street
$1,180 for two · 4 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $467 + hotel $713, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
Breeze · with a stop · 32h 5m
The catch: The $234 fare on MX has 2 stops and 32h 5m of total travel time, and the flight home lands Wednesday, Dec 2 at 4:32 PM.
Worth it if you have a flexible Wednesday and want jazz and food for less; skip it if travel time matters, since Breeze showed a nonstop at $254 per person.
Tweak this trip
More trips
Next weekend · from LouisvilleWorth it, if
Destin & the Emerald Coast
Oct 16–18, 2026 · 2 nights
- Allegiant nonstop in 1h 41m, landing at 5:22 PM Friday
- Highs of 77–89°F with a 1–2% rain chance all weekend
- Free cancellation at Comfort Inn, rated 7.5 from 677 reviews
$844 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $616 + hotel $228, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
$558 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
Allegiant · nonstop · 1h 41m
The catch: A checked bag is about $200 for two and isn't in the total, and mid-October still falls in Gulf hurricane season.
Worth it if a carry-on beach weekend sounds right to you; skip it if you need checked bags or want zero storm-season risk.
The weekend after · from Louisville24% below typicalWorth it, if
Sedona
Oct 23–25, 2026 · 2 nights
- $525 per person, $174 below the typical fare on this route
- Clear forecast all weekend, highs 66–72°F, rain chance 6% or less
- Hilton Vacation Club Ridge on Sedona: 8.8 from 867 reviews, free cancellation
$1,612 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $1,050 + hotel $562, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
American · with a stop · 6h 41m
The catch: One stop and 6h 41m to Phoenix, landing at 11:59 PM Friday, then Sedona is two hours north; checked bags run about $160 for two.
Worth it if you can sleep in Saturday and want clear-weather red-rock hikes; skip it if a midnight landing on a two-night trip sounds rough.
A week away · from LouisvilleWorth it, if
Los Angeles
Nov 14–21, 2026 · 7 nights
- Southwest with one stop, 7h 10m, landing at LAX at 12:50 PM
- Typical highs of 67–76°F and lows near 50°F for these dates
- Free cancellation at The Olympic Suites LA, $85 a night, rated 7.7
$1,285 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $688 + hotel $597, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $140
$31 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
Southwest · with a stop · 7h 10m
The catch: The best-value room has a shared bathroom, the flight has one stop, and a checked bag is about $140 for two, not in the total.
Worth it if you two are fine with a shared bathroom and a one-stop flight; skip it if you want a private bath all week.
Just found · from Louisville37% below typicalNot worth it this week
Great Smoky Mountains
Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026 · 2 nights
- $333 per person, $204 below the typical fare on this route
- The Wander Hotel by Wyndham: 7.5 from 1,703 reviews, breakfast included
- Free cancellation at all three Gatlinburg hotels we priced
$1,127 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $666 + hotel $414 + resort fee $47, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
Allegiant · with a stop · 33h 24m
The catch: The outbound flight has one stop and takes 33h 24m, so you land Saturday at 5:28 PM and fly out Sunday at 10:34 AM.
Worth it if one evening in Gatlinburg at a low fare is enough for you; skip it if you want a real weekend in the park.
Just found · from Louisville27% below typicalWorth it, if
Great Smoky Mountains
Oct 23–25, 2026 · 2 nights
- Fare $537 per person, $200 below the typical fare on this route
- Highs 73–75°F with 4% to 5% rain on Friday and Saturday
- Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg: 8.1 from 3,295 reviews, balcony room
$1,577 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $1,074 + hotel $452 + resort fee $51, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
Allegiant · with a stop · 33h 44m
The catch: The G4 routing takes 33h 44m with an overnight connection, landing Saturday at 4:48 PM, and the return leaves Sunday at 10:34 AM.
Worth it if you can sleep through an overnight connection for a short foliage weekend; skip it if you want two full days in the park.
All trips from Louisville · New Orleans from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in December 2026 · Home
New Orleans in pictures
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. We use AI tools to draft the text of each page from the data on it; code checks every number in the draft against that data and rejects what does not match, and the team reviews pages and fixes or removes what readers report. How we pick · Report a mistake.
Image credits
- Photo: Dominik Gryzbon / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License