What Airports to Use for New Orleans Jazz Fest

It shouldn’t surprise you that the closest airport to the New Orleans Jazz Fest is the main airport in New Orleans – but if you’re scouring the web for potential savings on airfare to New Orleans for the big music festival, then one thing you shouldn’t overlook is the option of flying into a different airport (and a different city) altogether.

Often, flying right into New Orleans’ main airport will be the cheapest option – but, depending on where you’re flying from, that’s not always going to be the case. The airports listed below are, after the primary New Orleans airport, between 70-120 miles from the Crescent City. In other words, it doesn’t hurt to check on flights into those airports in case you find a spectacular deal – especially if you don’t mind a little bit of a road trip after your flight.

>> New Orleans Jazz Fest is from April 29-May 8 in 2011.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

When it comes to convenience, it’s hard to beat flying into New Orleans International Airport for a trip to see Jazz Fest. The airport is about 11 miles from downtown and the festival grounds, and it’s a large airport.

The list of airlines serving New Orleans isn’t as long as you might think, although it does include budget carriers AirTran, Frontier, jetBlue, Southwest, and WestJet. There are other (larger) airlines serving New Orleans as well.

>> Find cheap flights to New Orleans

Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT)

The next-closest commercial airport is Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi. It’s just under 70 miles away from downtown New Orleans and the festival.

Airlines serving Biloxi include American Eagle, Continental Express, Delta Air Lines, US Airways, and Vision Airlines.

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)

The Baton Rouge airport is a little less than 75 miles from downtown New Orleans and the festival.

Airlines serving Baton Rouge include American Eagle, Colgan Air, Continental Express, Delta Connection, and Vision Airlines.

Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT)

Another airport in Louisiana is in Lafayette, which is just under 115 miles from New Orleans’ downtown and the festival grounds.

Airlines serving Lafayette include American Eagle, Colgan Air, Continental Express, and Delta Connection.

Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)

The airport in Mobile, Alabama is a little more than 120 miles from downtown New Orleans and the festival.

Airlines serving Mobile include American Eagle, Continental Express, Delta Connection, and US Airways Express.

photo by dsb nola