New Orleans from Raleigh-Durham, Dec 11–14: $1,058 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $123 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
- Bywater Suite Hotel, rated 8.8 by 425 guests
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 4h 56m in all.
Worth it if you want to walk, eat and see things; skip it if you want to switch off.
Round-trip flights from Raleigh-Durham to New Orleans are $217 per person ($434 for two) for Dec 11–14, 2026, 3 nights, on American with one stop. Typical highs run 63–69°F this time of year, and the best-value hotel, Bywater Suite Hotel, comes to $624 for the stay.
The total, before you go
$1,058 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $434 |
| Bywater Suite Hotel, 3 nights, two guests, taxes in | $624 |
| The total, before you go | $1,058 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$123 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $40 each way per bag on American, $160 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
$217 per person, round trip
$434 for two, taxes and fees included · American · 1 stop · 4h 56m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 8:03 PM – Fri, Dec 11, 11:59 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | $217 | 1 stop | 4h 56m |
| Southwest | $217 | 1 stop | 4h 10m |
| Southwest | $217 | 1 stop | 6h 35m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 8:43 AM 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
At $217 per person, this fare is $123 below the typical fare on this route, which sits at $340. That's a 36% drop, and it carries the Lowest in 30 days badge. We checked 12 offers, and fares ranged from $217 to $264. Southwest also matched American at $217. Prices include taxes and fees as found when we checked, and they can change. Mid-December is outside the February and March Mardi Gras stretch, when hotel rates triple, so the city moves at a calmer pace. Typical highs are 63–69°F with lows near 53°F, which is jacket-at-night weather that works for walking the Quarter, long dinners and live music. Add flights, the Bywater Suite Hotel and $130 per person a day in spending, and our sample budget comes to $1,838 for two.
The kind of trip this is
This is a city and food long weekend: jazz clubs, Creole and Cajun cooking, old architecture and a few museums. It suits a couple or a small group of friends who'd rather eat and listen than tick off sights. You can take it slow, with late breakfasts, an afternoon on the streetcar and evenings out for music. Mild December weather keeps the walking easy.
Weather in New Orleans, Dec 11–14
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 |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in New Orleans
Bywater Suite Hotel is the best value at $624 for 3 nights ($208 a night) for a Deluxe Suite. It scores 8.8 from 425 reviews. The Mansion on Royal is the top-rated pick at 8.9 from 128 reviews and costs $708 for the stay ($236 a night) for the #4 King Suite. It's in Faubourg Marigny, close to the Frenchmen Street music clubs that make Marigny / Bywater good for nights out. Comfort Suites New Orleans East is the budget pick at $647 ($216 a night). It's a 4-star King Suite scoring 8.3 from 425-plus reviews, and it's the only one of the three that includes breakfast and free cancellation. For walking to balconies, jazz clubs and Bourbon Street, the French Quarter is the historic heart of the city.
Bywater Suite Hotel
$624 for 3 nights, two guests · $208 a night
See roomsThe Mansion on Royal
$708 for 3 nights, two guests · $236 a night
See roomsComfort Suites New Orleans East
$647 for 3 nights, two guests · $216 a night
See roomsAll hotels in New Orleans for these dates
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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 Garden District's mansions and oak-lined streets
- Tour the National WWII Museum near the Central Business District / Warehouse District
- 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 Raleigh-Durham | Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) |
|---|---|
| Airports in New Orleans | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) |
| Flight time | 4h 56m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 775 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
What 3 nights in New Orleans costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $434 |
| Hotel, 3 nights (Bywater Suite Hotel) | $624 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 3 days for two | $780 |
| Total for two | $1,838 |
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: Raleigh-Durham to New Orleans
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $217 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $217 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $340 |
| Price checks | 10 |
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 pay in US dollars.
- New Orleans is 1 hour behind Raleigh-Durham.
- The American flight takes 4h 56m with one stop. It leaves RDU at 8:03 PM on Friday, Dec 11 and lands at MSY at 11:59 PM local time.
- Bywater Suite Hotel and The Mansion on Royal are room only with no free cancellation. Comfort Suites New Orleans East includes breakfast and free cancellation.
- Mardi Gras falls in February and March, when rates triple, so December avoids that spike.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $217 per person round trip, or $434 for two, on American with one stop. That's $123 below the typical fare on this route of $340. Southwest had the same $217 fare too. The price includes taxes and fees but can change.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from RDU to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), and you pay in US dollars.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 63–69°F, with lows near 53°F this time of year. The normals point to rain on Dec 11 and overcast skies for the rest of the trip, so pack a layer and an umbrella.
Is 3 nights enough?
For a food and music long weekend, yes. You'll have time for Frenchmen Street, beignets, the St. Charles streetcar and the National WWII Museum. Our sample budget for two comes to $1,838, including flights, the $624 hotel and $130 per person a day in spending.
When does the flight land?
The American flight leaves RDU at 8:03 PM on Friday, Dec 11 and lands at MSY at 11:59 PM local time, so plan for a late check-in.
Which hotel should I pick?
Bywater Suite Hotel is the best value at $624 for the stay, scoring 8.8. The Mansion on Royal has the top score, 8.9, at $708. Comfort Suites New Orleans East costs $647 and is the only one that includes breakfast and free cancellation.
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