Gateway Arch National Park Guide
QUICK GLANCE
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Time needed (minimum noted): 1 day
When to Visit: Year round
Activities: Walking, Museum,
Advanced Reservations Required: Yes
Lodging Style: Budget, mid-range, and luxury
Where to Stay: St. Louis, Missouri
Fixed Costs: Yes (Tram ticket)
Transportation: Walking, car, rideshare
Road Trip Option: Yes
Accessible Activities: Some (Tram ride to the top of the Arch is not wheelchair accessible. Museum and Park grounds are accessible)
INTRODUCTION
The Gateway Arch gets a lot of feedback for being a National Park. The grounds where the Arch now resides was named the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in 1935 to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase made by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803. The Arch, including the grounds, which were designed to mirror the graceful curves of the Arch, were designated a National Park and renamed the Gateway Arch in 2018. As many critiques point out, the Arch is very different than Yellowstone or any of the other National Parks for that matter. There is much debate as to whether another national designation would be more appropriate. The Arch, and St. Louis, were frequently referred to as the Gateway to the West. St. Louis served as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the city itself was referred to as the gateway to the West.
WHY GO
Visiting the Gateway Arch is an easy National Park to visit and tick off your list. At a 192 acres, it is the smallest National Park. The Arch itself is interesting and unique, and the grounds of the Park are beautiful. It’s also a fun stop with good food with the option for an add-on road trip. The Arch stands 630 feet tall, and the distance between the base is also 630 feet wide. Fero Saarinen designed the Arch, and Dick Bowser designed the tram ride to reach the top of the Arch. Construction on the Arch began in February 1963 and completed in October 1965. The trams in each leg of the Arch to reach the top opened in 1967 and 1968. The Park sits next to the Mississippi River, and the views from the top of the Arch are beautiful. I visited in early spring, Mid-March, and the magnolias and redbuds were just starting to bloom.
LOCATION
Gateway Arch National Park is located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
TIME NEEDED (MINIMUM NOTED)
A half day is all you need to visit the Arch. If you also want to see the Old Court House or take a river boat ride on the Mississippi then you will need a full day.
WHEN TO VISIT
The Arch can be visited year-round, although the Arch may close during the winter due to very inclement weather. The inside of the Arch is climate controlled. The gardens surrounding the Arch are prettiest in March and April when in bloom. Peak visitation periods include spring break, the entire summer, and the day after Thanksgiving.
BEST THINGS TO DO & MUST SEE
Some of the best things to do at this Park include:
Take a tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch
Walk the beautiful grounds around the Gateway Arch
Enjoy the Gateway Arch Museum
Ride the tram to the top of the Arch. You do a need a ticket to ride the tram to the top. Tickets may be reserved in advance at Buy Tickets | The Gateway Arch. Ticket prices range from $12-$19 for adults depending on whether you have a National Park Pass. Tickets do sell out during busy times, so it’s advisable to reserve tickets in advance.
It’s advisable to budget at least one hour for the tram ride to account for lines and queuing. You will need to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time. Gateway Arch Visitors enter the monument through the entrance that faces Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse. The Arch legs are exits only.
The Tram ride to the top takes about four minutes, you get about eight minutes at the top in the viewing area, and then it’s a three minute ride down. The tram itself is cozy. The tram or pod looks like a large washing machine or dryer drum with seats. If you are claustrophobic or have concerns about tight spaces this may be an uncomfortable ride.
With a half day at the Gateway Arch, you can also enjoy the Museum and the grounds. These are both leisurely activities and fully accessible.
ACCESSIBLE ACTIVITIES
The Tram ride to the top of the Arch is not wheelchair accessible. The Museum and Park grounds are accessible and wheelchair friendly.
LODGING STYLE AND WHERE TO STAY
The Gateway Arch is located in the heart of St. Louis, making St. Louis a perfect place to say. The city offers a variety of budget, mid-range, and luxury lodging options.
FIXED COSTS
If you plan on riding the tram to the top, and you should, there will be a cost for this ticket. Entry to this Park is free.
TRANSPORTATION
If you’re flying into St. Louis and only going to the Arch, you could use public transportation to the downtown area and just walk to the Arch depending on where you stay. Parking is available at the Arch if needed.
ROAD TRIP OPTIONS
Yes! The Gateway Arch can be made into a road trip. We travelled from St. Louis to Mammoth Cave and then down to the Great Smokey Mountains. Responsible stops in Kentucky Bourbon country make this a fun road trip.
TIPS
Visit Sugarfire Smoke House for amazing St. Louis style barbecue. The brisket was delicious and ask for burnt ends! The bourbon caramel milkshake was also amazing!
Reserve your tram tickets to the top of the Arch in advance at Buy Tickets | The Gateway Arch. This will ensure you get to go to the top and you’ll get to reserve your time.
GO FURTHER
Visit the Old Courthouse, the location for the first two trials in the Dred Scott Case. This case was a landmark Supreme Court Case that saw two slaves, Dred Scott and his wife Harriett Scott, sue for their freedom based on residence in free United States (US) territories (Illinois and Wisconsin). The Court, in 1857, ruled African Americans were not US citizens and could not sue in Federal court, and that Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in US territories. The ruling deeply divided the nation and intensified the debate regarding slavery leading up to the Civil War. The decision was later overturned via the 13th and 14th Amendments.
Walk the Park grounds, the Explorer Garden, and the North Pond.
Visit the Eads Bridge. This is the oldest standing bridge over the Mississippi River, and was the first bridge over the river below the confluence with the Missouri River.
Visit the Dred and Harriet Scott Statue.
Visit the Captain’s Return statue commemorating the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark expedition.
Visit the Mississippi Riverfront and take a boat ride.
