Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Gateway Arch National Park brings together a riverfront walk, a history museum, and a ride inside the 630-foot monument in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. You can visit the museum and Old Courthouse without buying a ticket. The Tram Ride to the Top is a separate paid experience, with physical requirements that are worth checking before you book.

Highlights around the Gateway Arch

• The view from the top: a timed tram experience with a short stay above the Mississippi River and downtown.
• The museum beneath the Arch: a free introduction to St. Louis and westward expansion.
• The Old Courthouse: restored courtrooms and exhibits about legal struggles over freedom and voting rights.
• The riverfront grounds: paved paths, reflecting ponds, and different views of the monument.

Plan your tickets and arrival

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

A qualifying pass removes the USD 3 NPS portion of eligible attraction tickets; it does not make the entire tram experience free. One pass can cover up to four discounted tickets. Check the fee and pass guidance before selecting your ticket category. Parking costs are separate.

Security screening and the tram's physical demands

Allow time for security before your reserved tram departure. Weapons and pepper spray cannot enter the Arch complex, and NPS does not store prohibited items for visitors. A ticket time should not be treated as your arrival time at a downtown garage.

Going to the top and returning requires at least 96 steps across six flights. You may also need to stand for 30–60 minutes or longer. There are no benches or restrooms at the top. If enclosed spaces concern you, try the replica tram capsule near the ticket counter before committing to a ride.

Share the grounds and protect the exhibits

Pets are welcome outdoors on a leash no longer than six feet. They cannot enter park buildings, except for qualifying service animals. Pick up waste, keep pets away from wildlife, and never leave them unattended or tied to park fixtures.

Do not swim in the reflecting ponds or entrance water feature. Camping and fires are prohibited. Keep food and drinks out of exhibit galleries. A picnic on the grounds is possible, but there are no picnic tables; pack a meal that does not require cooking.

Book the experiences you want

Buy tram tickets ahead through the official ticket operator. Same-day tickets may be offered, but popular dates sell out. Review the contents of a package before purchasing: the tram, movie, virtual reality experience, and riverboat cruise are different activities.

Ordinary museum and courthouse visits need no ticket. Groups larger than ten that want a courthouse ranger tour should call ahead. Special events have separate permit requirements; contact NPS if your plans involve organized use of park space.

Finding the entrance in downtown St. Louis

The park sits beside the Mississippi River, near the downtown approaches from Interstates 44, 55, 64, and 70. Enter the underground visitor center from the west side, facing Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse. The Arch's legs are exits, not visitor entrances.

NPS does not operate a park parking lot. Choose a downtown garage or legal street space before arrival, or use MetroLink and walk from a nearby station. The official maps and arrival resources help connect parking, the courthouse, and the west entrance. Leave time for the walk between them.

Nearby parks across the river

• Frank Holten State Park: an Illinois option in East St. Louis, with road access at 4500 Pocket Road.
• Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County): north of East St. Louis, off Illinois Highway 111 near Granite City. Its campground access road and campground are closed until May 2027.

Combine the view with the history

Allow roughly 45–60 minutes for the complete tram experience, including boarding activities. Time at the top is under ten minutes. The five-seat capsules are part of the experience, so this outing is more structured than taking an elevator to an observation deck.

Spend time in the museum even if you skip the tram. Families can ask about Junior Ranger activities. A separate documentary presents the monument's construction, while the outdoor paths let you explore at your own pace.

The Old Courthouse has four exhibit galleries and historic courtrooms. Rangers usually lead a tour at 2:15 p.m., subject to staffing. Its exhibits opened in May 2025.

Facilities and accessible options

The visitor center has restrooms, drinking-water fountains, an information desk, and ticket services. The Arch Café and store are available beneath the monument. Use these facilities before boarding, since the observation area has none. Arrange overnight accommodation elsewhere; this is a day-use urban park with no camping.

Paved grounds paths, the museum, and courthouse exhibit galleries provide accessible options. The courthouse has ramps and an elevator, although one historic courtroom has a step. The museum offers a replica of the Arch's final section with video views for visitors who cannot go to the top. Wheelchairs are available to borrow in limited numbers.

The tram cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Review the park's accessibility details for drop-off points, mobility assistance, and interpretation arrangements before choosing activities.

About Gateway Arch National Park

Architecture and contested rights

Eero Saarinen designed the Arch, completed on October 28, 1965. The site entered the National Park System in 1935 as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and received its present name in 2018.

The courthouse adds a different perspective to the monument's expansion theme. It hosted the first two trials in the Dred Scott case in 1847 and 1850, as well as Virginia Minor's voting-rights case in the 1870s. These stories make the visit an opportunity to examine who could claim freedom and citizenship as the country changed.

An urban stop for birds and small mammals

The grounds sit between the Mississippi River and downtown development. Resident birds and seasonal migrants use this green space, while squirrels, rabbits, and opossums are among the animals visitors may encounter. Keep pets from chasing them and observe without drawing animals toward you.

Contact and ticket assistance

National Park Service visitor information: 314-655-1600. Park mailing address: 11 North 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102.

Ticket assistance: 877-982-1410. Use the operator's booking page above for availability and attraction choices.