Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, and Dred and Harriet Scott, who sued for their freedom in the Old Courthouse.

Prices vary by date of visit. 

Begin your tour with an interactive pre-boarding experience featuring 60s-inspired animation and Gateway Arch trivia. Then, be transported 630 feet to the top of Arch for exhilarating views. Please allow 45 - 60 minutes for your Tram Ride to the Top experience.

Adult (16 and up): Starting at $15
Child (3-15): Starting at $11
Infant (2 and under): FREE
Park Pass Holder: Starting at $12

Tickets available at www.gatewayarch.com

Timed Entry Reservation - Location

The Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse with a row of pink blooming cherry trees in front

Cherry trees in bloom

Reaching for the Clouds

The Gateway Arch reflected in the waters of of the north pond

The Gateway Arch reflected

looking across the green lawn in Smith Square to the Old Courthouse

The Old Courthouse

West Entrance to the Gateway Arch Visitor Center

Gateway Arch

Dred and Harriet Scott statue in front of the columns of the Old Courthouse in the morning light

Old Courthouse

Gateway Arch at Sunrise

the sun coming up and illuminated clouds behind the Gateway Arch

Sunrise at the Gateway Arch

People waiting on the Arch grounds waiting for the 4th of July Fireworks show to start.

Twlight Just Before the Fireworks

The Gateway Arch is open year-round, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Summer Hours (9am-6pm, Sunday through Thursday and 9am-8pm Friday and Saturday) run the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend and are the primary visitor season. During Regular Hours (the day after Labor Day through Friday before Memorial Day) we are open from 9am to 6pm. Around the holidays we occasionally have extended hours.

Summer Hours

Closed Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day

Closed Dec. 25, Christmas Day

Closed Jan. 1, New Years Day

Visitor Center, Museum, and Ride to the Top

The park grounds are open daily, year round.

Gateway Arch Grounds

The Old Courthouse renovation is complete, and it is now open to the public.

Junior Ranger Program

Learn more about the people, places and events related to St. Louis history and westward expansion in the 1800s. 

the activity is geared towards younger visitors 5-12, but open to any who wish to participate

no fee is charged to complete this activity 

Junior Ranger Badges

The Junior Ranger books for the Gateway Arch are available at the visitor information desk just inside the entrance plaza. The Junior Ranger books for the Old Courthouse are available in the rotunda of the Old Courthouse. Both books are site-based and are meant to be completed in the park. The Old Courthouse activities should be completed at the courthouse, and the arch activities should be compelted at the arch.

Become a Junior Ranger at Gateway Arch National Park! Pick up a Junior Ranger Booklet at the Arch information desk or the information desk at the rotunda of the Old Courthouse, complete the activities, and then take the pledge to become an honorary steward of Gateway Arch National Park.  As the Junior Ranger program is site-based, the park does not send out books or badges through the mail.

no reservations are needed to complete this activity

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 and events related to St. Louis history and westward expansion in the 1800s.

This activity is available for the hours when the Gateway Arch visitor center is open. 

Report for Duty

Westward Expansion

Museum Exhibits

A white Greek Revival-style building with a green dome

Located across from the Gateway Arch Visitor Center, at 11 N 4th St., St. Louis MO 63102

Explore the historic Old Courthouse, a remarkable building completed in 1862 and under the stewardship of the National Park Service since 1940. Inside, you’ll find engaging exhibits on Dred and Harriet Scott's famous freedom suit, which worked through the judicial system all the way to the Supreme Court. Additional displays provide insights into the art, architecture, and construction of the courthouse, as well as an overview of the United States court system. The second floor features two restored courtrooms that invite visitors to step back in time. After undergoing extensive renovations, the Old Courthouse reopened in 2025, now equipped with modern amenities such as an elevator, HVAC system, and fire suppression system. Art enthusiasts will appreciate the rotunda, adorned with original works by renowned artists Karl Wimar and Ettore Miragoli. One of the architectural highlights is the winding cast iron staircase, completed in 1854, which impressively lacks a central vertical support, showcasing the ingenuity of its design. The Old Courthouse also offers a Junior Ranger program, allowing younger visitors to engage with the history and significance of this fascinating site.

Service animals (as defined by the ADA) are allowed.

One of Gateway Arch National Park's visitor centers

The building is open from 9am to 5pm daily. It is closed on Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving Day.

Visit the Old Courthouse

African American Heritage

Architecture and Building

Enslavement

Voting Rights and Suffrage

Urban America

Civil War

Guided Tours

Trails & Rails volunteers ride Amtrak trains and share St. Louis area history with their fellow passengers.

Ages 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Guides ride the <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/illinois-services-train">Lincoln Service</a> daily in summer (between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend) and weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) in September and October. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 4 six-hour long trips between May and September. A mandatory one-day training takes place before the summer season begins.

 A uniform shirt, training, program materials, and train tickets are provided.

A woman in a green shirt holds up an animal pelt. Several people are gathered around looking at her.

Trails & Rails volunteer

Would you like to represent the National Park Service and engage thousands of people a year along one of the most interesting rail routes in America? <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jeff/getinvolved/volunteer.htm">Become a Trails & Rails guide</a>! Two routes are available through Gateway Arch National Park's volunteer program: Missouri River Runner and Lincoln Service.  Trails & Rails volunteers do not need to be historians or naturalists, but they should have an enthusiasm for meeting people. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old (ages 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian), in good health, and available for 4 six-hour long trips between May and September. A uniform shirt, training, program materials, and train tickets are provided. Guides must begin and end each trip in St. Louis.  A mandatory one-day training takes place before the summer season begins.

Pets are allowed on Amtrak trains, with some restrictions. See <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/pets">Pets on Amtrak</a> for more information.

To register as a Trails & Rails volunteer, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=4180DDBDA2C5A0B081B507AAFC05B88D488D55C15BB99A&r=/jeff/getinvolved/volunteer.htm">e-mail us</a>.

Guides ride the <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/illinois-services-train">Lincoln Service</a> daily in summer (between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend) and weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) in September and October.

Have fun riding the train and sharing St. Louis area history!

Become a Trails & Rails Guide

Trains and Railroads

This activity is suitable for all ages, but minors must have an adult present.  Unaccompanied Minor Tram Policy: Any unaccompanied tram rider who presents a child’s ticket must have an adult, at least 18 years of age, with them to provide permission to ride alone. Children under the age of 10 may not ride unaccompanied.

Individual ticket prices vary by date of visit check www.gatewayarch.com for the prices for your visit date. Ticket prices start at $12 for adults 16 & over, $8 for children 3-15 and $9 for those with the America the Beautiful Pass.

a young African-American girl looks out of the window of the Arch onto the city below

Top of the Arch

Tram tickets sell out early and often. Advance ticket purchases at <a href="https://www.gatewayarch.com/">gatewayarch.com</a> are highly recommended. There is nothing more inspiring than a view that stretches for miles on end. Come find your inspiration at the top of the Gateway Arch. Have courage, take the ride, and gain a new perspective on your own life and on the city that symbolizes the Gateway to the West.  Begin your tour with new, interactive pre-boarding exhibits featuring 60s era animation and Gateway Arch trivia. Then, be transported 630 feet to the top of America’s tallest monument. Each tram tour has an anticipated duration of 45-60 minutes. For the best experience, purchase your Tram Ride to the Top tickets before you visit. Start planning your Gateway Arch adventure now. Unaccompanied Minor Tram Policy: Any unaccompanied tram rider who presents a child’s ticket must have an adult, at least 18 years of age, with them to provide permission to ride alone. Children under the age of 10 may not ride unaccompanied.

Tram rides to the top are popular and sometimes sell out. For the best experience, purchase your Tram Ride to the Top tickets before you visit at www.gatewayarch.com  

Tram Ride to the Top: Getting there is part of the adventure. Enjoy stunning views from the top of America's tallest monument.

A View From the Top

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

There is a fee for some aspects of this Wellness Challenge, the film and the trip to the top. The other parts of the challege do not have a fee. 

graphic of an orange head in profile with a sun and river inside on top of a real photo of the Arch

NPS Wellness Challenge at Gateway Arch

Welcome to your wellness challenge at Gateway Arch National Park! Personal wellness is well within reach if you get out and explore.  Known globally for its iconic architecture and engineering, the Gateway Arch is a monument commemorating westward expansion and acknowleding its impact on indigenous peoples and the environment. It sits within a 91-acre urban national park located in downtown St. Louis, one of the few urban national parks west of the Mississippi River. The park grounds provide an oasis within the heart of the city. Gateway Arch National Park offers you multiple opportunities to improve your health through physical, mental and learning challenges.  What is the Wellness Challenge?  The National Park Service Wellness Challenge promotes the unique health resources that you can find in all seven Missouri National Parks.    Challenge yourself by choosing from a wide range of activities – physical, mental, and learning - to promote your health and well-being.  <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/nps-wellness-challenge-at-gateway-arch.htm/index.htm">Learn more about the Physical, Mental and Learning Wellness Challenges and learn how to earn your badges. </a>

Pets are allowed for the outside portions of this challenge. 

Reservations are required for the trip to the top of the Arch and for the film. The other challenges do not require reservations. 

Gateway Arch National Park offers you multiple opportunities to improve your health through physical, mental and learning challenges. Will you rest below an architectural wonder and take a moment to breathe? Will you stroll through the paved paths of the Explorer’s Garden? Will you learn something new about history? The possibilities are endless - personal wellness is out there waiting for you. And, it is well within reach.

Gateway Arch Wellness Challenge

Colonization and Settlement

Explorers and Expeditions

Landscape Design

Monuments and Memorials

Scenic Views

a group of people standing along a trail next to the Captain's Return statue in front of the Arch

Move along the historic St. Louis Riverfront Trail – part of the Mississippi Greenway - while revisiting stories from the past and embracing innovations of the future. Witness the barges traveling up and down the river and view the historic Eads Bridge and get your body moving.  <a href="https://greatriversgreenway.org/greenway/mississippi-greenway-chouteau-old-chain-of-rocks-bridge/">Explore additional sections of the Mississippi Greenway.</a>

Move along the historic St. Louis Riverfront Trail

Move Along the Mississippi River

River and Riparian

a stone block along a curved path in front of a green lawn with plants surrounding

Explore with Lewis and Clark

Stroll through the paved paths of the Explorer’s Garden located in the North Gateway area of the park. In the Garden, you can find plants that were used by Native Americans and detailed by Lewis and Clark in their expedition journals as they traveled west.   How would you describe this place?     What captures your attention?     What sparks your curiosity?  Experience a moment for yourself while enjoying the variety of native plant life in the shadow of the historic Eads Bridge.   <a href="https://www.nps.gov/jeff/learn/nature/plants.htm">Learn more about the native plants at the Gateway Arch.</a>

Stroll through the paved paths of the Explorer’s Garden located in the North Gateway area of the park. In the Garden, you can find plants that were used by Native Americans and detailed by Lewis and Clark in their expedition journals as they traveled west.  

Native American Heritage

looking down at a pond with a curving edge reflecting clouds surrounded by green landscape

A Moment of Reflection

Visit the reflection ponds to the north and south of the Arch. Relax and soak in the environment by using all five senses.  How would you describe this place?     What captures your attention?     What sparks your curiosity? Let your imagination go as you lay out a blanket, set up a lawn chair or rest on a park bench by the ponds. Practice deep breathing and journal in one of St. Louis’ largest open greenspaces.

Visit the reflection ponds to the north and south of the Arch. Relax and soak in the environment by using all five senses.

Explore to your heart's content! If you have seen enough of the Gateway Arch grounds, cross into the city and enjoy the views and playground at Kiener Plaza just on the other side of the Old Courthouse. If you still have time or energy, the sculpture garden park Citygarden is just a block to the west. With water features in the summer, amazing sculptures and soothing trees and plantings Citygarden is a wonderful feature of the city to explore. 

a group of men and women running or jogging along a path

Carve Your Path

Walk, run, bike or roll around Gateway Arch National Park on over five miles of paved trails. You can explore the city of St. Louis further by visiting the Old Courthouse (part of Gateway Arch National Park), Kiener Plaza and Citygarden.  Create your own personalized journey with the help of the Gateway Arch National Park trail map or immerse yourself in an accessible self-guided walking tour available on the National Park Service app.

Explore the five miles of paved trails on the Gateway Arch grounds

Carve Your Own Path

Trails

Climb the Grand Staircase or ascent the gently curving ramps surrounded by native plants to the top of the bluff to gaze down at the river and explore the area below the Gateway Arch monument. 

Take your time to get to the top or make it a challenge and go quickly! 

two women and a man jogging down the Grand Staircase in front of the Arch

Once the bustling heart of the city, the St. Louis riverfront on the Mississippi river is still a great place to take in the views and watch the river traffic. The riverboats you see to the south offer tours, tickets available in the Gateway Arch Visitor Center. 

Get your heart pumping by walking up the Grand Staircase or moving up the ramps. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the tallest monument in the nation and the mighty Mississppi River.  Feel the wind on your face, listen to the sounds, and imagine the stories the river has carried throughout history.

Ascend the Grand Staircase or gently sloping ramps to the top for a fantastic view of the mighty Mississippi River.

Rise to the West

All ages, but minors must be with an adult parent or guardian. 

The exhibits can be experienced in a short browse before catching a tram or in through study reading all the panels and interacting with all the exhibits. It's up to you!

two glass cases, one holding a model of the Arch grounds and one a large model of the Arch structure

Building the Arch exhibit

the museum is directly under the Gateway Arch, enter through the Visitor Center entrance and make your way down to the first floor

Connect with the past, present and future while exploring six interactive story galleries in the museum.  Experience over 200 years of historic events, multi-cultural influences and the inspiration behind the Gateway Arch.  Challenge yourself to consider different perspectives and discover previously untold stories. Rethink and reimagine the city of St. Louis and westward expansion with each story you encounter in the museum.   You can experience the galleries chronologically or just wander as you spot something that catches your eye. To start in chronological order first head to Colonial St. Louis on the right side of the walkway after you pass the giant screens. There are interactive elements for young people (or the young at heart) in each gallery. Every gallery also features touch stations for those with low or no vision to have the opportunity to experience a representation of a key artifact from that gallery.

Service animals are allowed, but no pets. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. (Americans with Disabilities Act guidance on service animals) & 28 CFR 36.104)

Reservations are not required to visit the museum. 

The Museum at the Gateway Arch covers 200 years of history about the westward expansion of the United States with an emphasis on St. Louis’ important role during that era.

The museum is open the same hours as the Visitor Center, during the day and in summer during the early evening. 

Explore the Museum under the Gateway Arch

Bison

Asian American Heritage

Commerce

Trade

Engineering

Farming and Agriculture

Forts

Grasslands

Hispanic American Heritage

Immigration

Industry

Latino American Heritage

Migrations

Military

Mountains

Presidents

Science, Technology and Innovation

Social Movements

Civil Rights

Tragic Events

Wars and Conflicts

Colonial/European Contact Conflicts

French and Indian War

Indian and Frontier Wars

Mexican War

Homesteading

The Gold Rush

Wilderness

Women's History

Park Film

You must buy a timed ticket to see the film. Adults $7; Children (3–15) $3; America the Beautiful Pass $4

looking into one of the triangle shaped pieces of the Arch from high up, cars and river below

The Arch under construction

To find the theater, travel down the escalator, elevator or stairs to the ground level then walk through the museum. Tucker Theater is on the left when you exit the museum. 

Learn firsthand from the architects, builders and supporters who made the dream of the Gateway Arch a reality. Share in their struggles and triumphs during this award-winning film, Monument to the Dream. Run Time: 35 minutes Showing in the Tucker Theater, located under the Gateway Arch. Timed tickets required. <a href="https://www.gatewayarch.com/buy-tickets/">Tickets can be obtained at the park partner site. </a>

Service animals are allowed, but no pets. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. (Americans with Disabilities Act guidance on service animals) & 28 CFR 36.104)

Buy your timed tickets for the film at gatewayarch.com or at the Visitor Center. 

Learn more about the construction of the Gateway Arch through this award winning film!

The film runs during the hours the Arch Visitor Center is open, during the day and in the summer during the early evening. 

See Monument to the Dream

Visit www.amtrak.com to book tickets. Gateway Arch National Park provides guides aboard the Lincoln Service daily in summer (between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend) and weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) in September and October. These guides connect passengers to the fascinating natural and cultural heritage of the area between St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois.

Trails & Rails logo showing the words "Trails & Rails" and an Amtrak train

Trails & Rails Logo

Gateway Arch National Park provides guides aboard some trains to connect passengers to the fascinating natural and cultural heritage of the area between St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois.  Guides ride the <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/illinois-services-train">Lincoln Service</a> daily in summer (between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend) and weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) in September and October. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/amtraktrailsandrails/index.htm">Trails & Rails </a>is an innovative partnership between the National Park Service and Amtrak to enhance the travels of passengers by sharing stories about places and people of interest along the routes. Book your Amtrak tickets:<a href="https://www.amtrak.com ">https://www.amtrak.com </a>or call 800-872-7245 (USA-RAIL)

Dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) are welcome. Extra fees apply. See www.amtrak.com/pets for more information.

Enjoy your train ride and learn fascinating local history!

Travel aboard Trails & Rails: Amtrak’s Lincoln Service between St. Louis and Springfield

Shopping

looking into the store, a large area with tables and racks of merchandise

The Arch Store

In the Arch Visitor Center, under the Arch. To reach the store once you have entered the Arch complex come down the elevator, escalator or stairs to the ground level and walk through the museum. The Arch Store is to the right after you exit the museum.  

The Arch Store offers Arch-themed souvenirs, books and gifts; Western-themed products like high-end reproduction Remington bronze statues, a bust of Thomas Jefferson, and numerous Native American crafts. The store also honors the 1960s origins of the Arch itself, featuring items such as the iconic Eero Saarinen-designed Tulip chair and table, Eames stacking cards and mid-century modern architectural books. For more information call 314-678-1530 or 800-537-7962. <a href="http://www.jnpa.com/index.shtml">Jefferson National Parks Association</a> (JNPA), a not-for-profit organization, has operated stores at the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse for more than fifty years. Revenues generated at these retail outlets support a wide variety of educational classes, exhibits, living history programs, and archival and conservation work at Gateway Arch National Park.

Pets are not allowed, but service animals are permitted. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. (Americans with Disabilities Act guidance on service animals) & 28 CFR 36.104)

Find the perfect souvenir and support Gateway Arch National Park with your purchases!

The store is open the same hours as the Arch Visitor Center, during the day and in the summer in the early evening. 

Gateway Arch

Overview

Hours

Fees & Passes

Map

Things To Do

Category

Report for Duty

Description

Visit the Old Courthouse

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Become a Trails & Rails Guide

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A View From the Top

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Fees

Gateway Arch Wellness Challenge

Description

Fees

Move Along the Mississippi River

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