St Louis
The Gateway Arch, Forest Park and a blues, jazz and ragtime tradition draw visitors to St. Louis, a river city in eastern Missouri.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
St. Louis is an independent city in eastern Missouri, on the west bank of the Mississippi River just below the Missouri River confluence, across from Illinois. French fur traders founded it on February 14, 1764, and named it for King Louis IX of France. Its metro area reaches into Illinois and holds more than 2.8 million people, the largest in Missouri. The Gateway Arch, 630 feet tall and completed in 1965, is the city's best-known landmark.
Beyond the Arch, the Old Courthouse hosted the first two trials in Dred Scott v. Sandford, in 1847 and 1850. Forest Park, about 1,400 acres, holds the St. Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Zoo and the Missouri History Museum. The city is known for blues, jazz and ragtime, and for toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake and St. Louis-style pizza with provel cheese. Autumn brings color change to the trees, while summers run hot and humid.
St Louis in five
- Reserve the Arch tram for a specific timeThe tram ride to the top is a timed reservation, and adult prices are listed at $15 to $19 depending on the day, with Peak Visitation Days costing more. Plan about an hour for the whole experience.
- Know what is free at the ArchThe museum, gift store and cafe are free, as are the Old Courthouse tours, and free ranger-led programs run on the grounds. Parking is not included, so plan for street parking, a garage or transit.Missouri
- Use Forest Park for free museum daysForest Park has the city's major cultural institutions in one green space. Check each venue's own site for current hours and any timed tickets before you go.
- Eat Midwest classics in the neighborhoodsToasted ravioli, gooey butter cake and barbecue are local classics. The Hill and Soulard are two neighborhoods where locals eat.
- Pair it with Kansas City or ChicagoInterstate links make St Louis the middle of a Midwest route. Kansas City is a natural next stop west, and Chicago an easy trip north.Kansas City
Things to do in St Louis
See all attractions in St LouisNeed to know
- Airport
- St Louis Lambert (STL); MetroLink light rail connects the airport and downtown
- Getting there
- Fly to STL, or drive I-70, I-44 or I-64; Amtrak runs to Chicago
- Getting around
- MetroLink and buses downtown; a car for the farthest neighborhoods
- Best base
- Downtown by the Arch; Central West End near Forest Park
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days; 4 with a baseball game or a river drive
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-3°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low-1°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Spring, variableMarchRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, variable
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Spring, easyAprilRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, easy
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh30°Low20°Hot, humidJunePartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- JulyRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low22°Hot, humidJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, humid
- AugustRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low20°Hot, stormsAugustRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, storms
- SeptemberRain9 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, easySeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easy
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°Cool, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low0°Cold, holidaysDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, holidays
Average daily high and low in St Louis, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in St Louis
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 17°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
St Louis
03:58 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°14°5%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Tue20°17°89%Tuesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Wed18°13°73%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Thu18°12°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri17°10°6%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat19°11°5%Saturday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun14°9°13%Sunday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 13%.
Updated 12:15 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Kansas Citya long drive west on I-70A second Missouri city for barbecue, jazz and fountains.Read the guide
- Chicagoa long drive or train ride northBetter as a separate trip than a day out.Read the guide
- Mississippi River townsa scenic drive north or southRiver bluffs and small towns for a slow afternoon.
Before you go to St Louis
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for St Louis, checked
- The Gateway Arch tram ride is a timed reservation; adult tickets are $15 to $19 depending on the day, and the museum and Old Courthouse are free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Parking is not included in Arch tickets; street parking, downtown garages and public transit are the usual options.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around St Louis
Missouri's other big city, a straight drive west
Read the guideChicagoThe Great Lakes metropolis to the north
Read the guideMemphisBlues and barbecue down the river
Read the guideNashvilleMusic city to the southeast
Read the guideMissouriThe wider state and its other towns
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it and how to apply before you fly
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideSt Louis FAQ
How many days do you need in St Louis?
Two days cover the Arch, a museum or two in Forest Park and a food neighborhood. Three days give time for baseball or a river drive, and a fourth works if you add a night out in a neighboring city.
How much does the Gateway Arch tram cost?
Adult tram tickets are listed at $15 to $19 depending on the day, with children 3 to 15 at $11 and infants free. The tram is a timed reservation, and the museum and Old Courthouse are free.
Is St Louis worth visiting?
Yes for a food, museum and history weekend, with a lower price than coastal cities. It is less suited to beach or mountain trips, and summers are hot and humid.
Is the Gateway Arch free?
The grounds, museum and Old Courthouse tours are free, but the ride to the top costs money and needs a timed reservation. Parking is not included in any ticket.
Is St Louis walkable?
Downtown and the Central West End are walkable, and MetroLink links some neighborhoods. Spread-out neighborhoods like the Hill and Soulard are easier by rideshare or car.