I think any visit to Saint Louis has to include a stop at the Gateway Arch National Park. The Arch represents the city of Saint Louis and its role in the westward expansion of the United States. It’s also one of those iconic American symbols. My last visit to the Arch was back in 2003, and the area has changed a lot since then. The National Park Service recently built a fantastic museum underground beneath the Arch. If you have the time, consider riding a tram to the top of the Arch. You’ll want to plan ahead and buy tickets in advance to make sure you get a time that fits your schedule. You can also add on a bunch of other items like steamboat rides and movies.
Address and Location
You will find the Gateway Arch National Park at 11 North 4th Street in Saint Louis, Missouri. Parking around the Arch is very limited unless you plan to stay at one of the hotels in that area. You can find parking garages within a few blocks walk of the Arch.
Cost
You can walk around the Arch and explore the museum for $3. America the Beautiful pass holders get in for free. If you want to go to the top of the Gateway Arch, buy your tickets ahead of time. They offer a bunch of different packages that include steamboat rides and and movies. Tickets prices vary during the year. America the Beautiful pass holders get discounted tickets.
What to Do
To enter the Arch or the museum, you will need to go through airport-style security. From there, you can queue for the elevators if your tram time is boarding. If you aren’t taking the tram of if you’re there early, take a lap around the Museum at the Gateway Arch. It explores the history of the area, the history of settlement in Saint Louis and the West, and the construction of the Gateway Arch. I really enjoyed the variety of information in the exhibits. In addition to the actual Arch, you can also explore the Old Courthouse across the street (the domed building you see behind the Arch).
Bonus stop
If you want to get some shots of Gateway Arch National Park from a bit further away, go across the river to Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park in East Saint Louis, Illinois. Getting there looks a bit sketchy, but the park has a observation ramp with great views of the Arch and Saint Louis.
Missouri National Park Service sites: Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield | Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
What a fun trip! Someone was just telling me recently to plan ahead to tour the museum before you go up in the arch. It sounds like a great set up. I visited the arch when I was a kid, but I think we just walked up to it and looked at it. Haha