Month guide · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans in January
What January is really like in New Orleans: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ( t / c / bio / en:WP:CHICAGO / en:WP:LOTM ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 7°C (45°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Mild and often damp, with the occasional cold snap; Carnival season begins and king cakes appear in every bakery.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in New Orleans: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 7°C (45°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (18°C (64°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:56
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:22
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Mild with occasional cold snaps; Réveillon dinners in December, king cake from January and Mardi Gras, which falls in February or early March.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in February). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Carnival season opens on Twelfth Night (6 January)
- Sugar Bowl college football game (usually around New Year)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles streetcar
Ride out to Audubon Park, walk through to the zoo or the river, and come back at dusk; have exact change or a pass in the Le Pass app.
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes each way
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Views
Park · Mid-City
City Park and NOMA Sculpture Garden
At about 1,300 acres, City Park is larger than New York's Central Park and holds one of the world's largest stands of mature live oaks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Art
- Nature
Zoo · Uptown
Audubon Zoo
Ride the St. Charles streetcar to Audubon Park and walk through the park to the zoo; it takes about 20 minutes on foot.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Experience · Riverfront
Steamboat Natchez river cruise
The Natchez is a steam-powered sternwheeler that sails from the Toulouse Street Wharf behind Jackson Brewery, with a calliope concert on deck before departure and a jazz band on board.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 7°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit New Orleans?
A good-value shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, February–April and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
New Orleans in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit New Orleans?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. Mild and often damp, with the occasional cold snap; Carnival season begins and king cakes appear in every bakery.
+How warm is New Orleans in January?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F).
+Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.