Visiting Gateway Arch National Park with Kids: Everything You Need to Know (2026)

If you’re planning a St. Louis trip with kids, Gateway Arch National Park deserves a spot on your itinerary. But as with most family activities, it’s the kind of place where a little planning goes a long way. Here’s everything I wish I’d known before we went, so you can skip the guesswork and just focus on having fun!

Before You Go

Here are some of the top things to keep in mind as you plan your visit.

Getting inside the park

The grounds around the Arch are open to the public with no security check required — you can walk around freely, take in the views of the Arch and the Mississippi River, and enjoy the walking trails at your own pace.

But if you want the full experience, head into the museum and take the tram ride to the top of the Arch. There’s airport-style security before you enter the museum, so budget a little extra time for that.

Parking

There’s a parking garage called Stadium East Parking Garage where you can pay to park. Street parking is also available around the park, but it can be hit or miss depending on when you visit.

Hours

• Grounds: 5 a.m.–11 p.m., year-round
• Arch: 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with extended hours (until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) from the weekend before Memorial Day through Labor Day

Tickets and cost

There are a few ticket options depending on what you’d like to do.

• The Captain’s View ticket includes both the Arch tram ride and a riverboat cruise.
• You can buy à la carte tickets for just the tram, the documentary, the virtual reality experience, or the riverboat cruise.
• If you want to do all four of the above activities, there’s also a combo ticket that saves you some money.

Rough pricing (it varies by season, with high season — late spring through early fall — running a bit more expensive):

• Tram ride: $15–19 for adults, $11–15 for kids ages 3–15 (kids under 3 are free)
• Riverboat cruise: $26 for adults, $16 for kids
• Documentary: $7 or $3
• Virtual reality: $8 or $5

For the most current pricing and options, check www.gatewayarch.com/buy-tickets.

When I went with my daughter and nephew, we kept it simple and just did the à la carte tram ride — the museum itself is free to browse, so that was really all we needed. But if you want to make a bigger day of it, the options are there!

When to Visit

Honestly, you can visit Gateway Arch National Park any time of year and have a good experience, since the museum and Arch itself are heated/air-conditioned. The bigger question is your preferred weather for exploring outside.

St. Louis summers run HOT — think upper 90s and sometimes into the 100s — while winters are generally mild but can bring snow and freezing temperatures.

There’s also the crowds to consider. The summer months also tend to be the busiest time to visit, though we visited in August and didn’t have to wait too long to get inside.

If you don’t mind colder weather, January and February are great months to visit. You’ll likely be able to walk straight in with no line at all!

Special Events at the Arch

There are a few special events that take place at the Arch throughout the year, which could also influence when you’d like to plan your visit:

• 4th of July: There is an amazing fireworks display right over the Arch — nothing like it! Be prepared for a big crowd though.
• Gateway to the Stars: These events take place throughout the spring, summer, and fall and are hosted by the National Park Service and its partners, the St. Louis Astronomical Society and Dark Sky Missouri. If the weather is right, you’ll have the opportunity for a free telescope viewing of the moon and other celestial objects out on the Entrance Plaza.

Fun Facts (Because Kids Love These)

• The Arch is 630 feet tall — 63 stories — making it the tallest man-made monument in the U.S., taller than the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, and even the Space Needle.
• The base of the Arch is exactly as wide as it is tall.
• Construction began in February 1963 and finished in October 1965.
• The windows at the top are famously tiny — not for lack of budget, but because it took 500 tons of pressure to place the final piece of the Arch, and larger windows couldn’t withstand that kind of force. (Cracking glass 63 stories up doesn’t sound very fun.)
• The Arch was engineered to sway up to 18 inches, but in typical 50 mph winds it only moves an inch or two — and you likely won’t even feel it.
• It’s designed to withstand an earthquake (but I certainly wouldn’t want to be inside and live to tell that tale).

Tips for Visiting with Kids

• Book online in advance, especially during warmer months, so tickets don’t sell out.
• No strollers allowed on the tram. You can use them around the grounds and in the museum, but not up the Arch — so think about what fits in a small backpack instead.
• Arrive early. Between security and general lines, it takes time to get through.
• Use the bathroom before you get in the tram line. There are bathrooms in the museum, but none at the top of the Arch.
• The tram ride is short: about 4 minutes up, 3 minutes down, and a maximum of 10 minutes at the top — so plan on roughly 17 minutes total.
• No food or drinks on the tram or inside the Arch. There are places to eat inside the museum or on the park grounds.
• Be prepared for a tight squeeze. The tram pods are tiny, and may not be for people who can easily feel claustrophobic. Each pod holds 5 people, and there are 8 pods on the tram total.

Where to Eat

You don’t need to pack food. There’s the Paddlewheel Cafe near the riverboat dock, the Arch Cafe inside the museum, and a short walk gets you to other restaurants, including the well-known Old Spaghetti Factory.

That said, the grounds are spacious, so packing a picnic and spreading out with a blanket is a nice option, too.

Where to Stay

If you’re planning to stay overnight when visiting Gateway Arch National Park, here are my top hotel recommendations:

• Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch: This hotel is about as close to the Arch as you can get and is a great option if you want to easily walk over!
  
• Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis: A little more budget-friendly, but also within close walking distance to the Arch.
  
• The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza: This hotel isn’t right by the Arch but a short, 14-minute drive away. This is my personal favorite hotel in St. Louis, and it’s a bit of a local icon.

If You Only Have One Hour

If you have limited time at Gateway Arch National Park, prioritize the tram ride — it’s the standout experience. Then pair it with a walk through the museum, which is free and easy to work in before or after.

If You Have More Time

• Walk the grounds and the river trail.
• Visit the nearby Old Courthouse, where you can learn about the famous Dred Scott and Virginia Minor trials that took place here in the mid-to-late 1800s.
• Take the one-hour riverboat cruise for some of the best views of St. Louis.

Other Things to Do While You’re in St. Louis

If you’re planning a visit to the Arch as part of a broader St. Louis itinerary, here are my top recommendations for things to do with kids in the city:

• City Museum: Before we moved to St. Louis, locals told us we had to check out this place, and they were right. It’s hard to describe what exactly this is — part aquarium, part playground, part circus, part cave? Also cool: The exhibits are all built from reclaimed materials. You could spend an entire day here and still not see it all.
• Missouri Botanical Garden: This is a great place for kids to run around and get their energy out. There’s also a children’s garden inside that includes treehouses, a sand pit, and other sensory activities.
• St. Louis Cardinals game: A must-do if you’re a sports fan! The stadium is not far from the Arch. In fact, you can catch an awesome view of it from the top.
• Union Station: Another great hub of activities for kids. Here you’ll find a giant koi pond (bring coins for fish food), the St. Louis Wheel, a playground, food trucks and restaurants, and the St. Louis Aquarium.
• Forest Park: This is basically St. Louis’s Central Park (but actually bigger than the one in NYC!). This park is home to the FREE St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Zoo, and St. Louis Art Museum. There are also paddle boats near the art museum that you can rent.

FAQs

Is Gateway Arch National Park Worth Visiting with Kids?

Absolutely. We took my daughter when she was 4 and my nephew at age 7, and they both loved it. Some kids (and adults, honestly) might find going up the Arch itself to be a little intimidating. The tram is very small and the viewing platform at the top is also tight.

But if your family isn’t up for the tram ride, the views of the Arch from outside are also very cool, and the museum and Riverboat cruises are worth doing as well.

How Much Time Do You Need at the park?

Plan for a minimum of an hour, but I’d budget at least two so you’re not rushing. This will give you time for the grounds, the museum, and the tram. You could easily turn it into a half-day outing if you want the full experience.

Is It Safe?

Yes — during normal operating hours, it felt very safe and well patrolled. We never felt uneasy there.

Can You Feel the Arch Sway?

Generally, no. Fun fact: The Arch was built to handle sway of up to 18 inches, but in typical wind conditions it only moves an inch or two — not enough to notice.

Conclusion

Gateway Arch National Park is an awesome stop during a family St. Louis trip. With a little planning around tickets, timing — and bathroom breaks — it’s easy to make it a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Have a great time!

PLANNING A TRIP?
These are the resources I recommend:
✈️ Flights: Skyscanner
🛌 Hotels: Booking.com
​🚗 Rental cars: DiscoverCars
🎟 Tours: Viator or GetYourGuide