Major city · United States
JeffersonOld Jefferson
Skip Jefferson as a base unless you have a car and a reason (Ochsner, a cheap room): New Orleans is 15–20 min away by car.
Jefferson is an unincorporated East Bank suburb of New Orleans, upriver along the Mississippi, separated from Metairie by rail tracks, a drainage canal and the Earhart Expressway. It has almost no visitor sights — a Civil War earthwork usually behind locked gates, a flea market, a handful of po-boy and diner counters, and the main Ochsner Medical Center campus. Its value is a cheaper bed and a car-short hop into the city.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Feb–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jun–Sep (heat, humidity, storms); hurricane season runs Jun–Nov
- Airport
- MSY
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Jefferson911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (non-emergency)504-227-1400
- Poison Control (US, 24 h)1-800-222-1222
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Jefferson, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetySuburban and generally calm, but car-dependent: the real risks are heat, street flooding after storms, hurricane-season evacuations…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 504-227-1400 Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (non-emergency) · 1-800-222-1222 Poison Control (US, 24 h)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckMSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (About 20–25 min by car via I-10 and Causeway Boulevard; rideshare or taxi, no rail link (check)).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical default: Jefferson is low-density and spread along Jefferson Highway and River Road…
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–5
- BeerDraught beer in a tavern$5–8
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Rideshare, 5 km (3.1 mi)Rideshare, 3.1 mi (5 km)Surge pricing at hospital shift changes and on weekend nights.$12–20
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Budget bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$70
- Mid-range bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$130
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$120 · High US$220
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (About 20–25 min by car via I-10 and Causeway Boulevard; rideshare or taxi, no rail link (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Feb
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
May
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Care
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Care
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Dec
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Best: Feb–May. Mixed: Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C) low), wettest Jul (14 rain days), driest Apr (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Jefferson: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Feb
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
8 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Apr
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7 rd
Nov
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Dec
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical default: Jefferson is low-density and spread along Jefferson Highway and River Road, with few crossings over the canal and rail line to Metairie. Rideshares work but surge at hospital shift changes. Regional buses run along Jefferson Highway toward New Orleans, but service is slow and infrequent — check current routes and times.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 15–30 min
Car via Earhart Expressway or Claiborne Avenue/Jefferson Highway; rideshare
The reason most people stay here: French Quarter, Carrollton and Oak Street are a short drive.
Door to door: 10–15 min
Causeway Boulevard or Clearview Parkway south from Jefferson
Parish's largest city: malls, restaurants, more hotel choice.
Kenner
cautionDoor to door: 20–25 min
I-10 west, about 15 km (9.3 mi)I-10 west, about 9.3 mi (15 km)
Mostly useful for the airport and aviation museum; not a sight in itself.
Jean Lafitte
goDoor to door: 40–50 min
Car via Barataria Boulevard, about 35 km (22 mi)Car via Barataria Boulevard, about 22 mi (35 km)
Wetlands, boat tours and swamp access; book a tour slot ahead.
Grand Isle
overnightDoor to door: 2–2.5 h
Car via LA-1 south, about 150 km (93 mi)Car via LA-1 south, about 93 mi (150 km)
Beach and fishing; too far for a comfortable same-day return.
Avondale
skipDoor to door: 20–25 min
US-90 west along the river
Industrial riverfront; no visitor draw unless you have a specific errand.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Jefferson Highway corridor
Strip hotels and motels between Ochsner and the parish line; car needed for everything.
Near Ochsner Medical Center
Hospital-adjacent rooms; quiet at night, useful for appointments or early shifts.
River Road / Old Jefferson
Residential streets toward the levee; few beds, short drive to Carrollton and Oak Street in New Orleans.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–180 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid chain hotel room1 × 2 nights × US$150 | US$300 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$120 | US$480 |
| Rideshare MSY → Jefferson, one way1 × US$35 · check | US$35 |
| Rental car, one day, compact1 × US$55 · check | US$55 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$90 |
| Trip total≈ US$248 per person per day, bed included | US$990 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Po-boy | $9–15 |
| Plate lunch or diner main | $12–20 |
| Draught beer in a tavern | $5–8 |
| Rideshare, 5 kmSurge pricing at hospital shift changes and on weekend nights. | $12–20 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat and humidity from June to September; plan indoor blocks midday.
- Hurricane season Jun–Nov: watch the National Hurricane Center and local evacuation zones before you commit to a non-refundable stay.
- Camp Parapet is normally fenced and locked; it opens free on Camp Parapet Day in November only.
- Street flooding after heavy rain is common in low-lying parts of the parish.
- Prices in the US are shown before sales tax; tipping 18–22% at sit-down restaurants is expected.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (non-emergency)
- 504-227-1400
- Poison Control (US, 24 h)
- 1-800-222-1222
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
JeffersonOld Jefferson
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Can you take me to this address?To this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (non-emergency)504-227-1400
- Poison Control (24 h)1-800-222-1222
Embassy
No embassies in Jefferson; consulates sit in New Orleans and embassies in Washington, DC. Check your own country's list.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Rideshare MSY → Jefferson: about $30–45, 20–25 min (check)
- Rideshare Jefferson → French Quarter: about $20–30, 15–25 min (check)
- Rental car, one day: from about $45 plus fuel and parking (check)
Say or show
- Where's the restroom? — Where is the bathroom?
- Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
- Can we get the check? — The check, please
- No ice, please — No ice, please
- How far is that? — How far is it?
- Thanks, have a good one — Thanks, have a good one
English is the working language; Louisiana French and Spanish appear in places but are not needed here.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Jefferson. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Sep (heat, humidity, storms); hurricane season runs Jun–Nov · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MSY: rideshare and taxi bands field-checked, late-arrival fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Jefferson Highway food strip, River Road and the levee, Ochsner campus edge.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Camp Parapet, River Road Flea Market) and eat pages with last orders.
- Hurricane-season fixture so the page can flip to a caution state when a storm enters the Gulf.
Sources
Ask about Jefferson
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