Established
2018
Size
91 acres
Visitors / yr
2.4M
Entrance
Free
Best season
April through October
Nearest airport
STL St. Louis Lambert International
01
Why Gateway Arch is worth the trip
Missouri · Established 2018
Let's be honest about Gateway Arch. At 91 acres it is the smallest national park by a wide margin, it occupies a downtown riverfront, and whether it should carry the title at all is a running argument among park people. None of that survives standing under the thing. Eero Saarinen's 630-foot stainless steel curve is the tallest monument in the country, and it still looks like it arrived from the future.
Ride the tram to the top. The pods are tiny, the ride is agreeably strange, and the view runs the Mississippi and the city that outfitted America's westward expansion. The museum beneath the arch takes that complicated story seriously, including who paid the price for it. Give it a couple of hours, walk the riverfront, and decide the argument for yourself.
02
Top things to do in Gateway Arch
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around.
01
Museum Exhibits · nps.gov
Visit the Old Courthouse
One of Gateway Arch National Park's visitor centers
02
Museum Exhibits · nps.gov
Visit the Brick Mural
The Tucker Theater mural at Gateway Arch National Park honors those who made the Arch possible. Created by artist Jay Tschetter, it features a...
03
Museum Exhibits · nps.gov
Explore the Museum under the Gateway Arch
The Museum at the Gateway Arch covers 200 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States with an emphasis on St....
04
Junior Ranger Program · nps.gov
Report for Duty
Designed for visitors 5-12 (but open to all!) the Junior Ranger program is designed to help young visitors learn more about the people, places...
Museum Exhibits · nps.gov
Visit the Old Courthouse
One of Gateway Arch National Park's visitor centers
02
Museum Exhibits · nps.gov
Visit the Brick Mural
The Tucker Theater mural at Gateway Arch National Park honors those who made the Arch possible. Created by artist Jay Tschetter, it features a...
03
Museum Exhibits · nps.gov
Explore the Museum under the Gateway Arch
The Museum at the Gateway Arch covers 200 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States with an emphasis on St....
04
Junior Ranger Program · nps.gov
Report for Duty
Designed for visitors 5-12 (but open to all!) the Junior Ranger program is designed to help young visitors learn more about the people, places...
Before you go
Get the Gateway Arch heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Gateway Arch guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
03
Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Gateway Arch.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
- St. Louis, MOGateway town
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
-
Sun HatFull-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
-
Water ShoesQuick-drying grip for shorelines, slot canyons, and river crossings. View on REI
-
Sun-Protective ShirtUPF 50+ fabric keeps you cool and blocks UV all day. View on REI
-
Water BottlesCarry at least 2 liters. More in desert heat. View on REI
Getting there
- STL St. Louis Lambert International 15 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Gateway Arch map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
04
When to go
Loading weather...
Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
41°
25°
Low
Open
Feb
46°
28°
Light
Open
Mar
56°
38°
Moderate
Open
Apr Best
68°
48°
Moderate
Open
May Best
77°
59°
Moderate
Open
Jun Best
86°
67°
Heavy
Open
Jul Best
90°
72°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
88°
70°
Heavy
Open
Sep Best
82°
62°
Moderate
Open
Oct Best
70°
50°
Moderate
Open
Nov
56°
39°
Light
Open
Dec
45°
30°
Light
Open
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
06
Parks near Gateway Arch
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Gateway Arch belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.
View the Tracker