Visiting Gateway Arch: A Complete Guide

By David Sanchez · ~10 min read · Data: National Park Service

Gateway Arch is the most unusual national park in the American system. There is no summit to climb and no forest to cross, just a 630-foot steel arch rising along the banks of the Mississippi River in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. People come for one specific experience: riding to the top of the world's tallest arch, then understanding why this metal ribbon tells the story of America's westward expansion. It's a compact urban park that takes half a day to visit. In other words, it fits easily into a Midwest road trip.

In brief: Plan on half a day, or 3 to 4 hours, to see everything, including the ride to the top. The park is downtown, admission is free, and you only pay for the ride inside the arch and certain activities. Book your ride time ahead during the busy season, or you may find the doors closed.

Gateway Arch at a glance: Where the park is and how to get there

The park occupies a narrow strip along the river on the west bank of the Mississippi River, right in downtown St. Louis. At about 0.14 square miles, it's the smallest national park in the United States. This is a long way from the wide-open spaces of Wyoming. Here, the arch rises between skyscrapers and the river, with an unmistakably urban setting.

Architect Eero Saarinen designed the arch, and construction was completed in 1965. The site, long known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, became a national park on February 22, 2018. Its mission is to commemorate the westward expansion of the United States, with St. Louis as the gateway to the West, which explains the name.

To get there, St. Louis has an international airport, St. Louis Lambert International Airport, connected to downtown by MetroLink light rail. The Laclede's Landing station provides the most direct arrival point for the arch. By car, Interstate 44 and Interstate 70 run along the park. Parking is available in downtown garages a few minutes' walk away. You'll find details on routes, MetroLink lines, and parking in our Gateway Arch access guide.

Admission prices, passes, and reservations

The good news for your budget is that admission to the park, access to the riverfront, and the museum are free. You only pay for activities.

The ride to the top of the arch, called Tram Ride to the Top, requires a timed entry reservation and starts at about $19 per adult. Your ticket is for a specific time slot. You choose a departure time, and the tram carries you to the top. In summer and on weekends, these time slots fill quickly. We recommend booking online several days ahead, especially if your schedule is tight.

The America the Beautiful pass, which covers admission to most national parks, does not cover the ride inside the arch. That remains a separate charge. It makes sense, since admission to the park itself is already free. Our National Park Fees & Passes page explains entrance fees and annual passes.

Reservations, permits, and rules to follow

A reservation is required for the ride to the top. You can buy Timed Entry Reservations for the tram online at gatewayarch.com or at the ticket window, depending on availability. During the busy season, from June through August and on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, morning time slots sell out within a few hours. Book at least 48 hours ahead to avoid surprises.

No permit is required for the outdoor grounds or the museum.

Security screening at the entrance. To enter the Visitor Center and the trams, you'll go through airport-style security, including bag screening and a metal detector. Allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes during peak times.

Rules to follow:

• Drones are prohibited throughout the park, without exception.
• Smoking, e-cigarettes, and vaping are prohibited inside buildings.
• Pets are allowed on the outdoor lawns when leashed, but they are not allowed in the Visitor Center, museum, or trams.
• Large bags, including suitcases and oversized backpacks, are not allowed inside buildings.

How to get around Gateway Arch

You can explore the entire park on foot, which is one of its main advantages. Everything is concentrated within a few hundred yards along the river. From the entrance to the underground Visitor Center beneath the arch itself, you can reach the museum, ticket windows, and the two legs of the arch where the trams depart.

The ride takes place in small egg-shaped capsules that hold five people each. The trip to the observation platform takes about four minutes. If you're claustrophobic or tall, be prepared: the space is tight, the windows at the top are small, and you have to lean over to look out at the city. This isn't a standard elevator.

Around the arch, the Gateway Arch Riverfront lets you walk or bike along the Mississippi River. Our Getting Around page covers pedestrian routes, accessibility, and connections to old St. Louis.

How much time do you need to visit Gateway Arch?

Plan on half a day for a complete visit without rushing. More specifically, allow about an hour for the museum, an hour for the ride to the top, including the wait and your time slot, and the rest for wandering along the riverfront or walking over to the nearby Old Courthouse.

If you're short on time and only want to see the arch, an hour and a half is enough once you've reserved your time slot. Add a river cruise and the park's movie theater, and you can easily fill a full day. Gateway Arch works just as well for a morning stopover as for a relaxed overnight stay. Our Gateway Arch itinerary guide lays out several visit scenarios based on your schedule and travel style.

What to see and do at Gateway Arch

The park is small but packed with things to see. Here's how we break down the visit on the ground.

The best walks at Gateway Arch

Let's be honest: people don't come to Gateway Arch to go hiking. The park has no wilderness trails in the traditional sense, just paved paths along the Mississippi River. The Riverfront Trail lets you walk or bike along the river for several miles, with the arch as a backdrop. It's flat, urban, and pleasant at sunset.

For anyone who really wants to walk, the best options are elsewhere, in the large regional parks and nature preserves around St. Louis. We list the park's walking loops and nearby nature alternatives on our Hiking page.

Wildlife and plants to look for

As you'd expect in an urban park, wildlife keeps a low profile. The landscaped riverfront mainly attracts birds associated with the river, including herons, cormorants, terns, and a good variety of migratory birds that follow the Mississippi corridor in spring and fall. The lawns and planted groves around the arch attract squirrels and small songbirds. Don't expect bears or bison. Nature here is tamed, landscaped, and designed as a setting for the monument. We describe the species to look for and the best times to see them on our Wildlife page.

When to visit Gateway Arch

St. Louis has a pronounced continental climate, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. In January, the average temperature is around 30°F. In July, it climbs to about 81°F, with plenty of summer humidity. Spring, from April through May, averages 57°F to 66°F, while fall, from September through October, averages 59°F to 70°F. These seasons offer the best balance of mild weather, soft light, and lighter crowds than midsummer.

Sunshine follows the seasons. Barely half the days are clear in winter, compared with about two-thirds in summer. The arch is open year-round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and January 1, so the main question is what will feel comfortable for you. Our When to Visit page and Weather page cover temperatures, rain, and crowds month by month.

Where to stay near Gateway Arch

There are no accommodations inside the park, so downtown St. Louis is where you'll stay. Downtown, a few minutes' walk from the arch, is home to chain hotels and a few distinctive properties in restored historic buildings. Historic Laclede's Landing along the riverfront has a livelier atmosphere in the evening.

For a greener setting or an RV trip, you'll need to leave the city. Campgrounds are found on the outskirts, on both the Missouri and Illinois sides. We compare neighborhoods, price ranges, and the best options in our Lodging guide (Where to Stay page), with details by type in our Hotels & Lodges, Camping, and RV pages.

Around Gateway Arch: Things to do nearby

The arch is quick to visit, so take the opportunity to explore St. Louis and its surroundings. In the city, Forest Park has a well-regarded zoo, an art museum, and a history museum, all free, enough to fill a day. Beer lovers can make the pilgrimage to the historic downtown brewery. For dessert, the city claims frozen custard as a local specialty worth seeking out.

Farther afield, Gateway Arch fits naturally into a road trip along legendary Route 66, of which St. Louis is one stop, or a drive up the Mississippi River. We connect these itineraries with the other Midwest parks in our Region sections and Road Trip pages.

Our take: Is Gateway Arch worth the trip?

Yes, as long as you know what you're coming for. Gateway Arch isn't a nature park. It's a monument paired with a history museum. If you're crossing Missouri or following Route 66, it's a worthwhile stop. The ride to the top is a one-of-a-kind experience, the view is wide open, and the museum gives meaning to the parts of America's westward expansion you may never have learned in school.

On the other hand, don't drive several hundred miles out of your way just for the arch. You can see it in half a day, and it won't fill an entire trip on its own. Our advice is to include it in a visit to St. Louis, reserve your ride time ahead, and leave time for the riverfront at sunset. That's when the monument shows its full scale. Use our Itinerary & Time page to build your schedule.

Frequently asked questions