New Orleans from Washington, DC, Oct 16–18: round trip from $521
When we checked, a round trip from Washington, DC to New Orleans was $521 per person, all-in, for Oct 16–18, 2026. That's 2 nights on a nonstop Southwest flight from DCA. The forecast is overcast with little rain and highs of 73–90°F, and the best-value hotel comes to $494 for the stay.
The flight
$521 per person, round trip
$1,042 for two, taxes and fees included · Southwest · nonstop · 2h 50m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 8:30 PM – Fri, Oct 16, 10:20 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $521 | nonstop | 2h 50m |
| Frontier | $575 | 2 stops | 24h 32m |
| F9 + MX | $576 | 2 stops | 26h 31m |
Prices checked Oct 11, 2026, 9:06 PM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Your trip for two
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,042 |
| Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome by IHG, 2 nights | $494 |
| Trip total for two | $1,536 |
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Why go now
At $521 per person, or $1,042 for two, this fare is $11 (2%) above the $510 median of our earlier checks on this route. The lowest of our 6 checks was $489. So it isn't a markdown. You're paying for the schedule: it's the only nonstop we found, at 2h 50m, while the other options we saw had 2 stops and took far longer. That matters on a 2-night trip. You leave Friday at 8:30 PM and land at 10:20 PM local time, so you don't need to take the day off. The weekend forecast looks easy too. Friday hits 90°F, then Saturday cools to 75°F and Sunday to 73°F, with rain chances between 2% and 11%. Mid-October is still hurricane season, so keep an eye on the forecast before you go.
The kind of trip this is
This is a food-and-music city weekend: beignets in the morning, a museum or a streetcar ride in the afternoon and live jazz at night. It suits couples and small groups of friends who like to eat well and walk a lot. The pace is relaxed but full. Since you land Friday night, Saturday is your one full day, and Sunday leaves time for a late breakfast.
Weather in New Orleans, Oct 16–18
Highs 73–90°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 90 °F | 74 °F | 6% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 75 °F | 61 °F | 2% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 73 °F | 64 °F | 11% |
Where to stay in New Orleans
All three hotels are 4-star properties in Downtown New Orleans, and all are room only. Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome by IHG is the best value: $494 for 2 nights ($247 a night) for a Premium King Room on a high floor, rated 8.5 from 2,275 reviews, with free cancellation. Hyatt Regency New Orleans is the top rated at 9 from 990 reviews. It costs $548 for the stay ($274 a night) for a room with two queen beds, also with free cancellation. The budget pick is The Louie Hotel New Orleans, Belvilla District 6 Formerly Sonder at $379 ($190 a night). It's rated 6.4, the bathroom is shared and the rate can't be canceled for free. Downtown is close to the Central Business District / Warehouse District, where you'll find museums and restaurants a short walk from the French Quarter.
Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome by IHG
$494 for 2 nights, two guests · $247 a night
See roomsHyatt Regency New Orleans
$548 for 2 nights, two guests · $274 a night
See roomsThe Louie Hotel New Orleans, Belvilla District 6 Formerly Sonder
$379 for 2 nights, two guests · $190 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 in Marigny / Bywater, or at Preservation Hall
- Eat beignets at Café du Monde, then have gumbo in the French Quarter
- Ride the St. Charles streetcar past the Garden District's mansions and oak-lined streets
- Spend Saturday afternoon 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
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Washington, DC | Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) |
|---|---|
| Airports in New Orleans | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) |
| Flight time | 2h 50m nonstop |
| Distance | 965 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
What 2 nights in New Orleans costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,042 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome by IHG) | $494 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $2,056 |
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: Washington, DC to New Orleans
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $521 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $489 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $510 |
| Price checks | 6 |
Good to know
- Passport: not needed for US citizens; a government ID is enough.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Hurricane season
- No passport needed for this domestic trip, and you'll pay in US dollars.
- New Orleans is 1 hour behind Washington, DC, so your 8:30 PM departure lands at 10:20 PM local time.
- You fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), 965 miles.
- Hurricane season runs through October and November, so check the forecast before you leave.
- The Holiday Inn and Hyatt rates include free cancellation. The Louie Hotel rate doesn't.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $521 per person round trip, or $1,042 for two, with taxes and fees included. Prices change, so the live fare may be different.
Is it nonstop?
Yes. It's Southwest from DCA to MSY, leaving Friday, Oct 16 at 8:30 PM and landing at 10:20 PM local time, 2h 50m in the air.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, and you'll pay in US dollars.
What's the weather like?
The forecast is overcast all weekend. Friday reaches 90°F, Saturday 75°F and Sunday 73°F, with lows of 61–74°F and rain chances from 2% to 11%.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a first taste, yes. You arrive Friday night, so Saturday is your full day for jazz, beignets, the streetcar or the National WWII Museum, and Sunday gives you a slower morning.
What does the whole weekend cost for two?
Our estimate for two is $2,056: $1,042 for flights, $494 for the Holiday Inn and $520 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
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Image credits
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Dominik Gryzbon / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License