FIELD GUIDE / SUMMER 2026

Gateway Arch National Park

Updated: · saving offline…

Refresh this guide

Conditions change. Follow signs and ranger orders.

Current conditions

A timed tram ticket is required to ride to the top of the Arch and summer tickets sell out early. Visitors must pass an airport-style security check at the west entrance on Fourth Street and arrive at least 30 minutes before a reserved time.

[$] Tram tickets sell out

A timed tram ticket is required to ride to the top. Summer tickets sell out early. Buy before you arrive. The museum and Old Courthouse do not need a ticket.

[X] Security checkpoint

Every visitor to the visitor center must pass an airport-style security check. Weapons are not allowed, including firearms, fixed-blade knives, and pepper spray. Arrive at least 30 minutes before a reserved tram time.

[DOOR] Use the west entrance

Enter the Arch through the west entrance on Fourth Street, facing the Old Courthouse. The Arch legs are exit only.

[PARK] No park parking lot

The park has no parking lot. Use city garages. On Cardinals home-game days, the $10 Stadium East rate must be prepaid by 11:59 pm the day before. Same-day tickets cannot be validated on those days.

[TIME] Last tram is one hour before close

The visitor center is open 9 am to 6 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day it stays open until 8 pm. The last tram leaves about one hour before closing. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

NPS conditions (large page)

Services by place

Major places list all five services. Seasonal services may be closed.

Visitor Center / West Entrance ↑

Do this: Buy a tram ticket before you arrive. Enter on Fourth Street. Use the restroom here before the tram.

  • Food: Yes. Arch Cafe is inside. Regular hours 9 am to 4 pm. Extended hours 9 am to 6 pm.
  • Water: Yes at developed facilities when open.
  • Toilets: Yes in the west entrance lobby.
  • Fuel: No. Buy fuel in the city.
  • Signal: Unknown underground. Usually available on nearby city streets.

The museum, cafe, and store need no ticket. The store closes about 15 minutes before the museum.

Tram / Top of the Arch ↑

Do this: Hold a timed ticket and arrive early for security. You must manage 96 steps. There is no restroom at the top.

  • Toilets: No. There are no facilities at the top.
  • Signal: Unknown. Do not depend on a signal.

The top is not wheelchair accessible. Tornado warnings cancel tram rides.

Old Courthouse ↑

Do this: Walk here for the free museum. No ticket is required. Allow about one hour.

  • Food: No food in the galleries.
  • Water, toilets: Unknown. Use the visitor center before you walk over.
  • Signal: Usually available on city streets.

Open 9 am to 5 pm daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Ranger tours are at 2:15 pm. No reservation for small groups.

Arch grounds ↑

Do this: Walk the paved paths. Picnic on the grass if you want. There are no tables.

  • Food: No cafe on the grounds. Picnic food is allowed. No glass bottles.
  • Water: No dependable drinking water on the grounds.
  • Toilets: No dependable toilets on the grounds. Use the visitor center.
  • Signal: Usually available on city streets.

Grounds are open 5 am to 11 pm. Leashed pets are allowed outdoors only.

Other places

Report park conditions

Drive times

Summer estimates without long stops. Traffic, wildlife, weather, and road work can cause delays.

Stadium East Garage to west entrance

Stadium East Garage (200 S Broadway) → walk several city blocks → Luther Ely Smith Square → west entrance

The park has no lot. Prepaid garage parking is $10 for 5 hours. Height limit is 6 ft 8 in. The walk from any garage is long. Plan extra time.

Old Courthouse to visitor center

Old Courthouse → short walk across Luther Ely Smith Square → west entrance

This is the signed approach. The Arch legs are not an entrance.

Visitor center to the top

West entrance security → visitor center / museum → tram boarding → 4 min up → observation deck

Allow 45 to 60 minutes for the full tram visit. You stay at the top for one tram cycle, about 7 to 9 minutes. You return in the same tram.

Arch grounds to riverfront

Arch grounds → Grand Staircase (about 65 steps) or ramps → Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard / levee

Levee parking depends on river level and is not run by the park. Cash fee. The cobblestone levee is steep.

MetroLink to the park

8th and Pine or Laclede's Landing MetroLink → about 10 min walk → west entrance

The trip from Lambert Airport is about 28 minutes. Follow signs to the park.

Help

Emergency: call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle, and problem.

Park information: 314-655-1600

This independent guide is not the National Park Service and is not an emergency service.

Permits

Tram ride to the top

A timed ticket is required to ride the tram. Adult tickets start at $15. Child tickets (ages 3 to 15) start at $11. Infants 2 and under are free. Buy before you arrive in summer. Same-day tickets may be available when they have not sold out.

Official fees and tram tickets

Museum and grounds

The Museum at the Gateway Arch, the cafe, the store, the grounds, and the Old Courthouse have no entrance fee and need no ticket.

Official fees and free areas

America the Beautiful pass

A pass does not replace a tram reservation. It removes the $3 NPS share from tram and movie tickets. Each pass holder can buy up to four discounted tickets.

Official pass discount

Documentary movie

Monument to the Dream is 28 minutes in Tucker Theater. Adult tickets are $7. Child tickets are $3. Infants are free. An America the Beautiful pass lowers the adult price to $4.

Official film information

Group ranger program

School and group ranger programs need a reservation at least 30 days ahead. May fills early. Check in at the information desk when you arrive.

Official group tours

Short hikes

Distances are one way unless marked as a loop. Check trail closures.