Facility Overview
The Back Gate parking area at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans is an open-air surface parking and staging lot situated along Olson Drive in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Designed primarily to accommodate authorized Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, active-duty service members, reservists, federal civil service employees, and credentialed defense contractors, this lot provides critical parking near the base’s secondary security checkpoint. Because it is a level, open-sky asphalt facility, it boasts unlimited vertical clearance, making it fully accessible for high-clearance vehicles such as lifted pickup trucks, cargo vans, flatbeds, and commercial service vehicles as well as standard compacts and family SUVs.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Situated in Plaquemines Parish on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, the facility serves as an essential logistics and entry node for NAS JRB New Orleans. Key facilities within immediate base proximity include the Navy Exchange (NEX) and Commissary complex, base housing neighborhoods, the Fleet and Family Support Center, and operational flightline hangars housing Navy, Air Force Reserve, and Louisiana National Guard aviation units. Off-base attractions located within a brief 5- to 15-minute drive along Highway 23 (Belle Chasse Highway) include local seafood establishments, the scenic English Turn Golf and Country Club, and the Mississippi River levee trails. For those traveling into downtown New Orleans, the French Quarter, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and the Caesars Superdome are approximately 15 miles to the north via the Crescent City Connection.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Vehicular access to the lot is gained via Olson Drive, accessible from secondary access roads connecting to Highway 23 (LA-23) and Russell Avenue. Drivers approaching the facility should anticipate military security checkpoints and signage indicating entry requirements. Egress is straightforward during routine operating windows, though traffic volume peaks during early morning duty reporting times (06:00 to 07:30) and afternoon shift conclusions (15:30 to 17:00). Regional public transit does not directly service this base perimeter; visitors and personnel rely almost exclusively on private personal vehicles, government fleet transport, rideshares (which must discharge unbadged passengers outside security boundaries), or base carpools.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Spacious, open-air surface lot with straightforward pull-in parking stalls
- Zero height restrictions, easily accommodating oversized trucks, work vans, and dual-axle vehicles
- Proximity to base perimeter security, surveillance points, and armed sentry posts
- Dedicated ADA-accessible parking spaces adjacent to pedestrian walkway connections
- Paved pathways leading to secondary gate inspection booths and administrative access portals
- Free parking access for authorized military affiliates, registered base contractors, and credentialed visitors
Ideal For
- Active-duty, reserve, and National Guard service members reporting to duty stations across NAS JRB New Orleans
- Defense contractors, commercial couriers, and vendors conducting business at on-base military facilities
- Authorized family members visiting base residential areas, exchange services, and support offices
- Carpoolers and vanpool groups meeting up before entering the operational perimeter
Visitor & Driver Tips
All visitors must carry valid REAL ID-compliant identification, current vehicle registration, and active proof of insurance. Non-credentialed civilian drivers without a valid Common Access Card (CAC) or DoD sponsor must not attempt to drive through security without first obtaining a visitor pass from the main Pass & ID / Visitor Control Center located at the main gate. Back gate operational hours are subject to operational readiness and Force Protection Condition (FPCON) status changes; check current gate operating hours in advance, as secondary gates may close on weekends, holidays, or late evenings.
