St. Louis – The Gateway to the West
St. Louis is an important historic city right in the heart of America, where the Missouri River meets the mighty Mississippi River. In the early 20th century, St. Louis was one of the major American cities and the first non-European location to host the Olympics. Since then, the city went through a phase of stagnation and its center deteriorated, but there are still plenty of things to see and do. The symbol of the city is the gigantic Gateway Arch in the national park located downtown. Not far from the arch is the brewery of Anheuser-Busch, the producer of the popular American beer Budweiser.
How many days are needed for a trip to St. Louis?
For a trip to St. Louis, it's recommended to allocate at least a full day or up to two days.
11 Must-See and Do Things in St. Louis
- The Observation Deck of the Gateway Arch
- Budweiser tasting at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery
- Nature and attractions in St. Louis' Forest Park
- The Sites of Gateway Arch National Park
- Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium
- Stunning modern art at Citygarden Sculpture Park
- The Climatron greenhouse in the St. Louis Botanical Garden
- Attractions and shopping at the historic St. Louis Union Station
- Thrills at Six Flags St. Louis amusement park
- The monumental facade of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
- High-quality art at SLAM – Saint Louis Art Museum
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What is Saint Louis?
- Saint Louis is located on the western (left) bank of the Mississippi River, just south of the confluence with the great tributary, the Missouri River.
- The Mississippi River forms the border between the state of Illinois to the east and the state of Missouri to the west where Saint Louis is. A large part of the city's metropolitan area lies within Illinois.
- The city is home to about three hundred thousand residents, but its metropolitan area has nearly three million. It is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the Midwest (far behind Chicagoland – the Chicago metropolitan area) and the second largest metropolis on the Mississippi River, after the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota.
- Saint Louis is one of the key historic cities in the conquest and settlement of the western part of the United States. The symbol of moving westward is embodied in the city's icon – the Gateway Arch, one of the most iconic structures in the Midwest.
St. Louis was founded by the French in 1764 and was named after Louis IX, the 13th-century King of France who was canonized as a saint after playing a significant role in two Crusades. The initial settlement was based on a treaty signed in Paris between the English and the French, which stated that all land east of the Mississippi belonged to Britain.
- The city was built on the western bank and rapidly developed towards the end of the 18th century, serving as the capital of the northern Louisiana territory.
- About four years after its founding, the city was leased to the Spanish along with all the territory's lands, and in 1803 it was sold to the Americans under the Louisiana Purchase agreement.
- St. Louis developed as an important port on the Mississippi River because it was the northernmost location where one could navigate the river.
- During this period (towards the end of the 19th century), it was the launching point westward to the Great Plains and the climb over the Rocky Mountains. St. Louis was one of the most important cities in the U.S. at that time.
- After reaching its peak in the early 20th century, St. Louis began its great decline. The city lost its status and prestige, its center deteriorated significantly, and to this day it hangs in there as a large yet somewhat dull city right in the heart of America.
The Industry of St. Louis
St. Louis hit its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, it was the fourth largest city in the US, as well as being an important transportation and industrial hub. Companies in aviation, energy, and food industries operated here during this time.
- In 1904, it hosted the first Olympics ever held in the United States and outside Europe (and the third overall)
- In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off in the Spirit of St. Louis and became the first to fly solo across the Atlantic from Long Island to Paris. Lindbergh named the plane after the city he lived in at the time. St. Louis was also the headquarters of McDonnell Douglas until it was acquired by Boeing from Seattle in 1996. The American aviation giant TWA also originated and operated in the city until it was bought by American Airlines in 2004.
- The most famous symbol of St. Louis, besides the arch, is the nationwide brewery Anheuser-Busch. The brewery was established in the city in the mid-19th century and has since completely dominated the local market. Its flagship beer brand, Budweiser, is one of America's most iconic beverages, alongside Coca-Cola. The company remains one of the largest employers in the city, and a tour of its brewery is likely the second most popular tourist attraction in the entire city.
- The city also established several large companies such as Energizer, the famous battery manufacturer
Map of Saint Louis
How to get to Saint Louis?
How to fly to Saint Louis?
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) – This is the main airport of Saint Louis, located in the northwestern part of the city's metropolitan area, not far from the Missouri River path. At one time, it was one of the busiest airports in America because it was the headquarters and hub of aviation giant TWA. After American Airlines purchased TWA in 2004, the airport's traffic volume was cut in half.
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This is a historic airport established by Major Albert Lambert in 1920. This airport was Charles Lindbergh’s departure base for his transatlantic flight, and the Wright brothers also operated here. In 1927 (a few months after Lindbergh's takeoff), the field was transferred to the city, officially becoming the first municipal airport in the USA. The airport is a twenty-minute drive from downtown Saint Louis. It is conveniently connected with all major airports in the United States and Canada. It can also be easily reached via a transfer in New York, Washington, or Toronto.
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How to drive to Saint Louis?
Saint Louis is located on the I-70 highway route, which crosses the United States centrally from east to west. The highway begins in Washington D.C. (technically in Baltimore) and ends at the junction with Highway 15 in Utah. The I-70 cuts through the center of Saint Louis, just north of downtown, and provides easy access to its center. On the north-south axis, Saint Louis is situated on Highway 55, which descends from Downtown Chicago, through Springfield, the capital of Illinois, to Saint Louis, a little over a four-hour drive. The highway continues south along the Mississippi River through Memphis and ends in New Orleans.
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When is the Best Time to Visit Saint Louis?
Saint Louis is a city with a continental climate that greatly affects your visit. Generally, summers in Saint Louis are hot and humid, while winters are cold and frigid. In between, the transitional seasons tend to be rainy, so technically, every season in Saint Louis has its pros and cons.
- Due to the significant differences between summer and winter, the best seasons to visit the city weather-wise are the transitional ones
- Spring in Saint Louis is very comfortable temperature-wise, but it's unstable in terms of precipitation, so there's a good chance you'll encounter rainy days. Autumn is also relatively rainy, but less so than spring.
- The ideal month to visit the city is September, when it's no longer as hot and humid as August, not as rainy as June, and not yet as cold as October and November. In September, you start to see the first leaves of fall, and the city's (typically grayish) atmosphere becomes more colorful and radiant.
- Summer in St. Louis is a pretty great time to visit, as long as the heat and humidity don't bother you too much.
Winter in St. Louis is as tough as in any of the northern parts of the Midwest. A significant part of the winter, the city is covered in white, and mornings are all about dealing with ice.
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Everything You Need to Know About Lodging and Hotels in St. Louis
- Generally, it's better not to stay in the center of St. Louis since the city isn't the friendliest, especially after dark. A variety of motels nearby are the best lodging solution to stay close to the city.
- If you do choose to stay downtown, it's worth finding a hotel as close as possible to Gateway Arch National Park. Around the park, there are big urban hotels ranging from three to four stars; some are really good (and some really aren't).
Staying outside the city center is a near-uniform American standard of motels and hotels located close to highways. Motels offer adjacent parking, a nearly consistent standard of facilities and service, and are generally quite good, perfect for those traveling with a car in the heart of America.
- The best area to stay in the Saint Louis metropolitan area is in the western suburb of St. Peters, near Highway 70. Along this route in St. Peters, you will find all the major motel chains such as Holiday Inn, Drury Inn, Days Inn, Comfort Inn, and more. Just a little east along the road, you'll also find the more upscale motel brands of chains like Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, and others.
- Near the terminal of Lambert Airport, on the I-70 highway, there's a cluster of motels and hotels from all the major chains. This place has both very outdated hotels and more modern ones. The old hotels are really subpar and not worth staying in, so it's better to find the newer ones. If you're booking a hotel in the area, it's very important to read the reviews on Booking or TripAdvisor.
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Map of Recommended Accommodation Areas in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area
How to Plan a Trip Route in St. Louis?
St. Louis is a somewhat distant destination from popular road trip routes in the USA. The city is located in the heart of the Great Plains, in the wide and fairly empty expanses bordered by Chicago to the north, the Appalachians to the east, Kansas City to the west, and Tennessee to the south.
- If you include St. Louis in a road trip, it is definitely worthwhile to find lodging in or around the city
- The driving time from St. Louis to Chicago to the north or Nashville to the south is four and a half hours
- The drive to Kansas City, the largest city on the other side of Missouri, takes three and a half hours
- You can create a square route around the city starting from Chicago, including St. Louis, Nashville, and Memphis in Tennessee, then heading down the river to New Orleans
- Another travel route you can include St. Louis in is the grand loop that starts from Chicago and heads to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone Park, and returns from the Rocky Mountain National Park and Denver, passing through St. Louis. This travel route combines big cities with some of the most attractive parks of the Rocky Mountains
The trip in St. Louis itself is mostly focused along the Gateway Arch Path. The path stretches from the western bank of the Mississippi River, from the stunning arch westward along a series of green squares.
- Near the mall, besides the Gateway Arch, the city's symbol, there are also the Union Station, the Citygarden Sculpture Park, the Busch Stadium, the Old Courthouse, and more
- Not far, just a bit south, is the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the city's second must-see attraction
- On the city's western edge are the botanical gardens at Tower Grove Park and all the excellent museums at Forest Park.
- Forest Park itself is a great attraction for a walk. In addition to the many museums, the park boasts stunning landscape design, and it's worth visiting the pavilions of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in the city in 1904, shortly before the Olympics.
Everything to see and do in downtown St. Louis
Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park is located on the left (west) bank of the Mississippi River. It marks the location where the Lewis and Clark Expedition began their journey at the start of the 19th century, a journey that symbolizes more than anything the conquest of the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coast by the United States. The expedition was initiated by President Thomas Jefferson. Lewis and Clark began their journey in St. Louis, sailing up the Missouri River. They crossed the Rocky Mountains in what is now Yellowstone Park and sailed on the Columbia River to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, not far from Portland, Oregon of today.
The arch is the main attraction of the national park, also known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It's the most recognized urban national park in the USA and the smallest national park in area throughout the country. It was officially declared a park in 1935, located on the waterfront of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis.
Besides the arch, which is the main attraction in the park, there is also the Old Courthouse, built in 1816 (its facade faces Kiener Plaza Park) and the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France.
The Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, the Gateway Arch, is the icon of St. Louis and one of the most recognizable sites in the Midwest. The arch is the tallest structure in the state of Missouri, with a height of 192 meters, and the distance between the two legs of the arch is also 192 meters. The arch was built in the early 1960s as the main attraction of the Gateway Arch National Park. It was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen. It is built of stainless steel covering concrete, and within the 71 sections from which it is composed, there is also a space containing stairs and elevator shafts.
At the top of the arch, there's an indoor observation deck, which is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Missouri. From the top, you'll get a breathtaking panoramic view of St. Louis, the Mississippi River, the Missouri River to the north, and the Great Plains. Major city events take place at the foot of the arch, including the popular Fourth of July fireworks display, one of the largest outdoor events across the USA celebrating American Independence Day.
Address: Gateway Arch, St. Louis (Access with a vehicle is through the western gate at the intersection of Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse)
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Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is one of the icons of St. Louis, along with Bud Light and the nearby arch bridge. It is the home stadium of the St. Louis Cardinals, one of the most prestigious teams in MLB history. Both the team and the stadium are owned by the local brewery Anheuser-Busch. Both are fully dedicated to promoting Bud Light and other famous beer brands from the brewery.
The stadium embodies the essence of the Midwest – hot Cardinals games and a stunning view of downtown towers, with the arch rising above them. The stadium seats 45,000 spectators and is located in downtown St. Louis, not far from the Gateway Arch National Park.
Address: Clark Ave. 700, St. Louis
Citygarden Sculpture Park
Citygarden is a stunning urban sculpture park in the heart of downtown St. Louis. It’s situated two blocks west of the Kiener Plaza and the Old Courthouse in the Gateway Arch National Park, along the St. Louis Gateway Mall. This one-block-wide strip is a green stretch running from the national park and the Mississippi River on the east to the Aloe Plaza in Downtown West. Along this avenue are one-block-sized urban parks, with Citygarden being one of them.
The park was established in 2009 and features dozens of modern sculptures, including those by several very famous artists. In the sculpture collection, you can find works by the great Fernand Léger, Keith Haring, and many other renowned sculptures from around the world.
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St. Louis Union Station
The huge and impressive structure of Union Station is located in the southwest part of Downtown St. Louis, one block south of the Gateway Mall. The station opened in 1894 and was once the largest train station in the world. It served Amtrak's coast-to-coast lines until 1978 and was later converted into a massive mall.
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Today, the site is a tourist attraction that hosts the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station and The St. Louis Wheel. Nearby the station are large parking lots for vehicles (a great place to park your car as a base for a city center tour) and large urban hotels. The arena of the St. Louis Blues hockey team, the Enterprise Center, is also located in the complex, hosting concerts and other events.
Address: S 18th St. 201, St. Louis
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City Museum
The City Museum, as it's simply called, is a contemporary urban museum north of downtown St. Louis. The museum specializes in an impressive display of applied art items, especially repurposing industrial products into modern sculpture. The museum feels like a giant junkyard on one hand, a world because of the fascinating and interactive curation, turning the junkyard into a big and particularly fun playground. The place includes vehicles, buses, and even planes that are now part of the museum. The collection also includes a Ferris wheel, architectural formations, and more things combined in the exhibit.
Address: 750 N 16th St., St. Louis
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Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Anheuser-Busch is probably the main symbol of the city of St. Louis, even more than the Gateway Arch. The brewery is currently the largest and most significant beer producer in the United States, dominating nearly half of the national beer market. The company's leading brand, Budweiser, is the best-selling beer brand in the United States. The brand excels in iconic commercials that promote it, especially the Whassup? ad from the early 2000s, which became a part of pop culture.
Even before WhatsApp??? The brewery specialized in advertisements, including the use of Clydesdale horses in its early sales promotions. The breed of giant horses is still the company's mascot, and at the entrance to the brewery, you can see the horses it owns.
The brewery today functions as the company's headquarters, a (mainly symbolic) production facility, and a museum for visitors—Budweiser Brewery Experience. It's a must-visit spot for anyone coming to St. Louis, including a tour and explanations on how beer is made, and of course, tastings to top it off. The brewery was founded by Adolphus Busch in 1852 along with his father-in-law Eberhard Anheuser, both from families who emigrated to the city from Germany.
Address: Lynch St. 1200, St. Louis
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The Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden is nestled in the northern part of Tower Grove Park, in a residential area in the southwestern part of St. Louis. The park itself is a lovely place, boasting a series of charming gazebos, each built under a different cultural influence. The Missouri State Botanical Gardens are among the oldest in all of the United States. They were originally planted in 1859 and were named Shaw's Garden after the landowner and initiator of the gardens, Henry Shaw.
The gardens host thousands of species of plants, flowers, and trees. It is divided into thematic gardens including the Japanese garden, the large Climatron greenhouse, and the maze inside the Tower Grove House, which also includes the Victorian garden.
Address: 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis
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The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is one of the city's most impressive buildings. Located in the Central West End district, it's just a short walk from Forest Park. This massive cathedral was built in 1914 to serve as the seat of the city's bishop, replacing the previous cathedral which is now part of Gateway Arch National Park. The cathedral is a fascinating blend of several architectural styles, mainly based on principles of Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Above the entrance is an enormous rose window flanked by two tall bell towers.
Address: Lindell Blvd. 4431, St. Louis
St. Louis' Forest Park
St. Louis's great city park is a fantastic spot for outings and strolls for the whole family. The park hosts several museum institutions, including the Science Museum, Art Museum, History Museum, and the Zoo. Besides the museums and the zoo, the park boasts many important public buildings and attractions such as the Jewel Box greenhouse, now the park's visitor center at Cabanne House, and the famous bell tower at the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center.
The park was planted, designed, and opened to the public in 1876. Many of the park's buildings were constructed as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World Fair held in the city in 1904. That same year, the Olympics took place in the city, with some competitions held throughout the park.
Saint Louis Science Center
The Saint Louis Science Center is located in the southeast corner of Forest Park. It is a large museum founded in 1963, offering an extensive collection of natural specimens, scientific exhibits, and numerous interactive items where you can touch, play, explore, and learn about the world of science and nature. In the museum lobby stands the Energizer Ball Machine, created by the local battery giant. The most exciting part for kids is the dinosaur exhibit located on the museum's lower level.
Address: 5050 Oakland Ave., St. Louis
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SLAM – Saint Louis Art Museum
The SLAM is a large art museum with a surprisingly high-quality collection in the heart of Forest Park in Saint Louis. The museum opened in 1904 as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in the city. It boasts an enormous collection of art and archaeology items. The 'Western' art collection includes some famous masterpieces by the great European masters.
The important works in the museum's collection include:
- The magnificent "Saint Paul" by the Greek-Spanish giant El Greco
- “The Judgment of Paris” by the Northern German Renaissance giant Lucas Cranach the Elder
- The painting "Ecce Homo" (the presentation of Jesus to the people before his crucifixion) by the Venetian Renaissance giant Titian
- The electrifying painting "Danaë" by the Italian Baroque giantess Artemisia Gentileschi
- The "Bathers" by the great French Post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne
- The painting "The Louvre in the Morning" by the Jewish giant Camille Pissarro
- The famous Madame Roulin painting by Vincent van Gogh
Address: Fine Arts Dr. 1, St. Louis
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Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum is located in the northern part of Forest Park in a massive building that was constructed for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. The museum mainly deals with historical items of the city and the state of Missouri, but there are some other intriguing exhibits. These include artifacts related to Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis aircraft with which he crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The museum also features a full-size replica of the historic plane.
Address: Lindell Blvd. 5700, St. Louis
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Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo is located in the northwestern part of Forest Park. It opened in 1910, six years after the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, utilizing facilities left from the fair. The zoo is home to nearly 20,000 different animal species, including elephants, polar bears, hippos, and alligators. The zoo is a very popular spot for families with children; while it may not be the largest in the United States, it certainly offers a wonderful experience for a family outing.
Address: 1 Government Dr., St. Louis
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Everything to See and Do South of St. Louis
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
The historic plantation of Ulysses S. Grant (technically belonged to his wife's family) is now a historical site exploring the life of the 18th President of the USA. During his military service, Grant married Julia Dent, whose family lived in St. Louis. Grant lived in the place during the years before his presidency, on an estate and farm called White Haven.
As was customary at the time, black slaves worked at the site and Grant supervised their work at the end of the 1850s. This experience greatly influenced his views, and he was a strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln when the Civil War broke out. The site is a twenty-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, on the southwestern outskirts of the metropolis.
Address: Grant Rd. 7400, St. Louis
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Six Flags St. Louis Amusement Park
The giant Six Flags Saint Louis amusement park, also known as Six Flags Over Mid-America, is located west of the city, a half-hour drive from downtown. It's one of the largest parks in the national network and one of the original three. There are rides for all ages and kinds, some vintage but most are modern. The place features very fast roller coasters and monstrous attractions that get your adrenaline pumping.
Address: Six Flags Rd. 4900, Eureka
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Sports Events and Teams in Saint Louis
Baseball – The Saint Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are the prestigious baseball team from St. Louis in the MLB. They are one of the most successful and decorated baseball teams in the league. The team has won 11 championships and played in no less than 19 World Series. The team was founded in 1882 in the city and has been owned by the local beer empire Anheuser-Busch since the 1950s.
The team plays at Busch Stadium, which seats 44,000 fans. The stadium is located downtown, a block and a half from Gateway Arch National Park. The Cardinals are the leading professional sports representative in St. Louis following the departure of the Rams, the city's mighty football empire, in 2016 when the team moved to Los Angeles.
Home stadium address: Clark Ave. 700, St. Louis
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Hockey – the St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues
The Blues represent St. Louis in the NHL, the professional hockey league. The team was founded in the city in 1967 and won the Stanley Cup once, in 2018. It's quite a decent hockey team and their games are usually thrilling and lively. They play at the Enterprise Center stadium in Downtown West, right next to the city's opera house. The stadium seats 19,000 people and usually, getting tickets for games isn't a problem unless they're playoff games.
Home stadium address: 1401 Clark Ave, St. Louis
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