Driving from New Orleans to Biloxi

All: Thanks to Air Tran discontinuing flights from South Florida directly to Gulfport, we had to book through Southwest and fly into New Orleans. Got a great deal on the flights, a so-so deal on the car rental.

Just wondering about the drive from New Orleans airport back to the Grand. Have heard it takes an hour and that it is a piece of cake, yet when I printed out directions, I got a distance of 100+ miles??

Insight from any who have made this drive. We land at 9am on Sunday morning and leave New Orleans to fly back to Ft Laud at 340pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Is the Alamo office at MSY right in the airport or is there a shuttle and time needed for dropoff ? Hate to sacrifice any good gambling time if the car-rental is going to be a breeze lol. Mark

P.S. Loved the Gulfport airport; like 7 minutes to go through security. Never flown through New Orleans , so basically flying in the dark lol.

Driving from New Orleans to Biloxi

It%26#39;s been awhile since I%26#39;ve done the direct drive from the NO airport to Biloxi, but iirc, it%26#39;s more than an hour, around 90 minutes or maybe even longer.

The NO airport is in Kenner, a suburb on the other side of the city, so you have to drive past NO itself to get to Biloxi. It%26#39;s a very easy drive though, I-10 the whole way to the 110 exit.

Driving from New Orleans to Biloxi

Hi Mark,

I have driven this many times, in fact will do it again next Thursday. Alamo has a shuttle. When you get your bags walk straight out across the street into the airport%26#39;s parking garage. On the ground floor walk at a 1 o%26#39;clock angle and you see (if you are lucky an Alamo Van) an area where all the rental car shuttles are located. Alamo is a 5 minute ride from the airport (West) on Airport Rd. When you get your car head East on Airport Rd and just past the airport there is a left hand turn to a connecter to I-10. Watch our speed, there is always a Kenner cop hanging around. Head East on I-10, after about 5 to 7 miles go on I-610, you will avoid downtown NO. After about 4 miles 610 will end at I-10 again and keep heading East. From the airport it about 45 miles to the MS stateline. The Biloxi exit is #46 (I-110) which is 46 miles from the La. stateline. The Beau is at the end of I-110. 90 minutes is good time. I was flying out of Tampa at 8am, land 8:30 NO time and have my butt at a machine by 10 to 10:30 am, no sweat!

I see you rent from Alamo, I do not know if you used any discount codes but google ';Alamo discount codes';, play with the codes with a new reservation. If you gets cheaper, book it. After it is confirmed, cancel the one you have. I do not pay for it under I am there. I have found that rates may drop so you get closer to the trip dates. Sign up for their web newsletter. About 10 days out they have ';Last Minute Specials'; for the time period of your trip and you may save again. I normally get a compact for under $20 per day. Because of gas prices, they have been out of cars when I arrive and they will upgrade to a midsize or a small SUV at no additional cost.

This is getting long, if you have any questions, reply back. I have done this about 50 times.

BK: Thanks for the great answer. We%26#39;re going on a Sun-Wed trip so that we don%26#39;t have to miss any work, so the price I got thru Hotwire is still standing right about where the prices are; there is a jazz festival that weekend in New Orleans; my bosses just came back from the same Sun-Wed deal; they weren%26#39;t able to score anything to write home about car-rental wise either. In fact while on the shuttle to the rental facility they overheard a fellow shuttler (lol?) complaining that New Orleans is very expensive car-rental wise.They went thru Thrifty and got a Dodge Caliber with MANUAL widows and MANUAL trunk lock. Oy vey lol.

You%26#39;re getting a good rate I suppose because you are going on the weekends.Alamo has great weekend deals. Frankly with the airfare at $58 each, I can%26#39;t complain about the car, especially as we are comped at the Grand for all 3 nights.

Mini rant: Air Tran needs to start flying from Ft laud to Gulfport again !!!!! Thanks again for the great info BK. Mark

Your very welcome Mark

What date are you leaving?

Were you able to use any ID codes or coupons on your Alamo rental. I was messing around with 3/29 to 4/1 and the rate would change up to 20% with different codes. For instance if you are a AARP member there is a $20 coupon for a 4 day rental. Just google ';Alamo AARP Coupon';.

Mark: Your post says you are going to the Grand? If this is correct, and you are heading to Biloxi via I-10/110, be careful to exit 110 heading east and NOT toward Keesler Field. If you take the wrong exit, you will have to make a U turn on Hwy 90 to get back into the easterly direction.

Also, the Grand is past the Beau Rivage, but just a 10 minute or so difference.

Good luck on your exiting technique, or make the U turn.