The Gateway Arch Reviews

Nice area, fun thing to do. Got our tram ride tix way in advance, so I can't tell you about wait times. Good cafe on site. Clean bathrooms. Wholesome family fun!

The museum was educational and fantastic. The tram was not for me. I’m glad I didn’t it but it wasn’t enjoyable. It was a lot of waiting in lines and the tram was tiny and a claustrophobic pod. I’m sure it was great for some.

Absolutely loved going up the arch. It was so awesome looking out at the top. The gift shop was very reasonable. The staff was so nice. The only thing is that the VR was very boring ! Grandkids loved The museum .

The ARCH is a LOT bigger than it looks from afar. The museum is amazing and the gift store is filled with quality items. I recommend the video/film of construction. AMAZING! Then sign up for your elevator to the top. Each POD holds 5 people (snuggly). The ratchet sounding elevator is quite a unique experience. Your view going up and down is of the interior construction. You see a lot of stairs, workbenches and structure beams. When you arrive at the top, your sightseeing room is not very big.; maybe 12' x 30'. Your windows are small, maybe 12" x 24". You can see Bush Stadium from the top and the Old Courthouse and the city layout from one side. From the other side you can see the Mississippi River with it's tour boats and freighter barges. The people are amazing, the place is beautiful, the riverbank is less desirable than it should be. In my opinion this is a must do.

We did not notice when arriving, in the visitor center there is a tram car where you can get a feel for the size of it before going to the top. We had four adults in our tram car and it was comfortable, but there is a fifth seat so if there are five, it will be fairly tight legroom. There is a window in the tram where you can see the emergency stairs, so you’re not completely closed in just looking at walls. The ride up is four minutes and the ride down is three minutes. They give you 10 minutes up at the top to take pictures.

An experience not to be missed. It takes a while to actually get to the tram for your journey to the top and back. The tram has five seats but it felt very crowded with just four adults. A little hairy if you are claustrophobic and don’t like heights.
Good views from the top but windows are white small

What a great informative place.
So much history with a cool museum, wonderful movie and awesome tour. Definitely a must do when in St Louis. Everything was planned so smoothly with friendly staff

I’m delighted to find out that this 630 foot High structure remains the worlds highest artificial arch. Built almost 60 years ago, you’d expect a higher version in China or Dubai by now. That it took only less than three years to build is another sign of American decline. This would take at least 10 these days. It’s especially impressive if you lay yourself flat on the lawn below the apex, staring upwards.

Nothing better than visiting a site in the off season. Stopped in here on a drive by and found parking close with no crowds here in December. I was able to walk right in and get on the elevator to the top (after buying a ticket of course). Lots of great info about the construction and history behind the arch here too. But the ride to the top and the observation area is unforgettable.

The elevator cars are small and easily cramped if you have all adults in it. I was lucky only had to share with a mother and her 2 small kids, so it was roomy. The observation area was cool too, the way it was arched and there are enough windows for everyone to look out. While you only have 10 minutes at the top it really is enough time to look around and get whatever photos you want. Everything is well organized, almost too much, they have a staged photo area before you go up. You can skip this, which I dd.

Overall truly a great experience, so happy that I made a snap decision to stop and do this. Well worth the admission, highly recommend.

Arch & surrounding park/plaza are beautiful. The 2018 ‘renovation’ of the Arch museum is an abomination. Shame on the US government for funding/allowing a completely incorrect, Orwellian rewrite of US history depicting all settlers of European heritage as thieves, thugs & destroyers. Lewis & Clark have been eliminated from the museum discussion but plenty of focus on woke ideology.

It is advertised that the experience up at the top will last 45 minutes. I timed it, and we were up at the top just over five minutes. Even though we had tickets for a scheduled time, we spent the majority of the time waiting, having to take the mandatory bad souvenir photo, and watch some video which had nothing to do with the Arch, or St. Louis. There was so much hype leading up to the tram that the actual experience at the top made me feel ripped off. Obviously, this establishment is only interested in making money and shuttling people up and down as quickly as possible. It seems like this is becoming more and more common, and it's so sad to see the Arch go this way. I can't imagine coming from very far away only to get a rushed 5 minutes at the top of a monument known around the world.

Also, the VR experience was bad quality. Quite blurry and could not see!

Absolutely worth the visit and the trip to the top! Fun and informative museum with lots of hands-on activities. Friendly, funny, and enthusiastic staff.

Great National Park! Enjoyed the educational information of the area and how the park was started. Enjoyed the river and going up in the arch.

The history was interesting and the architecture was amazing. The view is incredible but it was way to busy. Parking is easy as well.

I hadn’t been to the arch since the late 80s and I was impressed with how much has been done to the park. The museum down below some was a great experience. The trip up the arch was fun for my whole family, even my wife who is claustrophobic.

The grounds and building are beautiful and clean but -B-I-G-!!!. Don't assume you'll arrive late and 'be able to make it' as there's a lot of ground to cover to get to the departure. The instructions will tell you to be there 30 - 40 minutes before departure and I would highly recommend it. We were the first tour on a Sunday morning and they didn't open the doors until 9 am for a 9:15 am tour (frustrating!!!). After using the restroom, it's a little confusing if you need to check in or not even if you have tickets in advance, then go through security, and lines were already stacking up for the first, second, and third tour of the day, then you escalator ride it down a floor, then they'll direct you to the "far end" which is about a football field away. We were almost running to arrive and we got the "2 minute warning". So...maybe book a tour for 10 am or later. Because we were running we did not pre-see the elevator pod and when those doors opened it was a little intimidating. So look before you go as anyone with claustrophobia probably won't do well. It seats 5, but the seats are extremely small and tight, tall people will need to probably stay bent over while seated as you really are getting in a "pod". The ride isn't clunky, but you are riding on a track designed like a set of steps, so it's over then up, over then up, pretty smooth and continuous but they said it's 4 minutes. When you get out at the top the stairs are large and flat and short, so it's not a difficult climb. The views over the city and area are great! Back down at the ground the gift shop is really nice as well and worth a stop. We also did the virtual reality tour of the docks and I'm glad we did as it allows you to see what many of our eastern seaport cities looked like at the turn of the century. The museum section is very large as well so if you have time browse that as well. Parking for the Arch as far as we could tell was about two blocks one way for one garage and about two blocks the other way for another garage. As with everything in downtown St. Louis, be mindful and careful. We had no issues walking the two blocks to the site around 8:30 am on a Sunday.

Not sure it deserves to be a national park, but it's definitely cool. The arch is more impressive than I expected. The visitor center at the base is worth an hour or so, while waiting for the highlight tram ride to the top. The tram trip is well worth the modest fee. It's a good idea to book the tram in advance, especially during the busy summer months. The view from the top -- 630 feet above the surrounding river bank -- is spectacular, especially on clear days! Visitors with claustrophobia or fear of heights may want to give the trip to the top a pass, but everyone else will enjoy it. Take time also to walk around the riverfront park and be amazed by the size of the base legs of the arch.

If you have small children, prioritize other things to do while visiting the city. The park around the arch is gorgeous, but going in and up is a trip. You have to be in a small capsule to get to the top and there are no bathrooms at the top! The experience as a whole is very short, and they could really pad the experience with more education and fun facts. As someone who's experienced Chicago's high sights to offer, I'd much rather prefer those experiences.

Great experience. Entering the Arch requires going through security screening. Weekends very busy-weekdays better. So much to see even if you don’t want to take the tram up the Arch. The movie is a MUST SEE! I was afraid to go up inside the Arch due to a severe fear of heights but my husband talked me into it. So glad went. I had no problem at all. When you’re at the top it doesn’t feel like you’re up high because of the design and you have to walk over to the windows in order to see out. The way it’s laid out I had no issues, even looking out. You ride to the top in a pod w/a max of 5 people per pod. 6 separate pods go up at the same time & when the doors open you climb a number of steps to enter the top lookout. The lower the number on your pod, the fewer steps you take so tell them when you’re assigned a number you want to climb fewer steps when you exit the pod & you be assigned # 1-2-or 3. We were all seniors & had no problem. There is a Ranger at the top to answer questions. Make sure to see the outside of the Arch at night too. It’s beautiful lit up.

The park is well maintained and beautiful. The museum is very informative and relaxing. The trip to the top was short (video on UTube) The top was really neat. You get the feeling of being at the apex. The views were spectacular. Well worth the trip for our 43 rd National Park visited.

This was a bucket list attraction for us and we pre-booked tickets, which is essential in busy periods. The views from the outside of the Arch are spectacular, allowing you to walk right up to and touch the arch and get some incredible photos from the surrounding park and lakes. Once in the museum, and through the ticket entry – there is a large museum to see and explore, explaining the history of St Louis, right up to the building and opening of the arch. There are also some replica arch segments, an example elevator cart, and other interesting features. You could easily spend over an hour in the museum section. There is then a large open area, with a gift shop and fast-food counter. Once called to your allocated ticket time, you then go through another small exhibit which was a bit strange/pointless, before eventually getting into your elevator cart. These were incredibly small, and fit 5 people, but as it wasn’t super busy, the 2 of us had a cart to ourselves, which was still tight but manageable. My partner suffers from claustrophobia – and she was concerned about this, but once inside, she was fine. You get around 10mins at the top, which sounds a lot, but flies by! The view is incredible and before you know it your time is up. We loved our visit here and found it such a unique experience. Highly recommend!!!

Very well organized tour. Very informative of the building of the arch and history. Very spectacular views of the city and river.

Great opportunity to see amazing views, learn about U.S. history, and spend time with family. Enjoyed the interesting facts shared by the tour guide and learned about the history of the arch and nearby courthouse. Inside the arch is a free museum, cafe, and paid attractions: VR experience, historical museum, riverboat cruise (1-hour trip north and south on the Mississippi). You can see and learn a lot in a few hours.

We wanted our Grandchildren to experience the Gateway Arch. It was a great way to give the children a hands on history lesson. Everything was so knowledgeable, well organized, and the staff very helpful.
We very much enjoy our time at the Arch.

We didn’t go up, so no tips there. My friend who lives in St. Louis and took us here said it wasn’t worth going up and I trust him. There is a sort of museum underneath that’s mostly a staging place for ticket holders that’s worth at least a walk through. Mostly though actually visiting the arch is meh. The arch itself is very cool 5/5 but no need to really go to it. Getting close for a nice photo op and different perspectives to view it is fun but the brilliance of the arch is how it looks from afar, at least in my opinion.

Just go to it. You have to visit this place if you haven't ,national landmark. It takes about an hour total. A must do once.

I've been twice. My second visit is the most recent one. There have been quite a few changes between each visit.

Be prepared for a TSA-light security scan into the museum. It's not a full on TSA check, but there is a metal detector and a bag scan. The line moved quickly, so you didn't wait like a TSA line.

If you want to go to the top of the arch, buy tickets in advance. They do have a replica elevator car and a simulated space being at the top of the arch. You can use them to gauge if you could do either. The simulated top has videos of what you would see from the arch.

I didn't know what to expect, but what I did see was an amazing feat of architectural engineering especially for the time period when it was built. The arch is gigantic beautiful and quite Majestic. If you visit St Louis it's not like you can't miss it but I definitely recommend getting the close-up view at the park.

Getting there early was key to a great experience. It wasn't crowded at all, and we got through lines quickly (the longest wait was in the security line - and was only about 15 minutes). Everyone was friendly and helpful and seems to really enjoy their jobs. Clean and plentiful restrooms were easy to locate. Beautiful grounds and beautiful view from the top.

It took us an hour to find a way into the area around the Arch. Once there, it was amazing. The park itself is peaceful and beautiful.

A lot to see and learn by visiting this national landmark. Incredible views, great museum and activities. Just needs better signage outside to mark the entrance. Parking can be a problem in hot weather, with a long walk to the arch. But, well worth the effort to walk there.

Wonderful experience - the tram to the top is such a unique thrill and quite reasonable at $17 adults and $13 for kids 15 and under. Recommend booking online to purchase a ride at specific time windows as some times are sold out on weekends. You get about 10 mins at the top observation deck 630 feet above the city. There is a free history museum and a well stocked at the base. Didn’t go there but there is a small cafe. Highly recommend!!

Highly recommend buying tickets ahead of time. The lines form early and we were able to skip once we entered. Full airport-like security. Was well organized and the trip to the top was unique, but fun - not recommended if you are claustrophobic. You get about 10 minutes up top before heading back down. Museum is fairly extensive - good for adults and most kids do the junior park ranger scavenger hunt. We also purchased the movie tickets - a 30 minute documentary on the construction of the Arch with original footage. There is another VR activity that we didn't do.

Bathrooms near the cafe which had a decent menu, although mostly pre-made with inflexibility on ingredients. Good amount of seating compared to other tourist attractions.

After you exit, be sure to walk over to the Arch and see it from ground level. Plus take a nice stroll through the surrounding park

We drove four hours so our exchange student could go up in the arch. We paid full price for tickets, only to reach the top and find that the entire view was completely obscured by fog. All that was visible were clouds, and at no point were we informed ahead of time that this would be the case.

I would strongly recommend that visitors be notified before purchasing tickets when visibility is extremely limited. At the very least, the Arch could provide high-quality images that show the typical view from the top and can be temporarily placed over the windows on days like this. Visitors who still want the authentic experience could easily remove them, but it would help others feel that the experience was still worthwhile despite the conditions.

This small change would go a long way in managing expectations and improving the overall visitor experience.

A great experience. We did not repurchase tickets as we looked online and saw the day was wide open with spots.
Bought tickets when we arrived, and the next time available was one hour away. Gabe is plenty of time to see the free museum on the lower level. Museum was very informative.
Once our time was called, we probably stood in line 30 minutes. 10 minutes standing on a downward ramp, 10 minutes getting a briefing and watching a 2960’s decade of what happened socially at that time, and then a ten minute wait on stairs for the tram. The actual tram ride to the top of the arch was 4 minutes and reminded me of a Ferris wheel experience. We pod we got in could seat five and was very tight. The door was only 4’ tall, and narrow, so squeezing and shrinking to enter and exit was challenging. Upon exiting, you immediately are on dark stairs.
This isn’t a wheelchair accessible activity. Not really little kid friendly either as it’s hard to carry a wee one within the tight pod and staircase. Saw a three year old get stepped on.
We loved the views looking east and west.

This was a must do on our quick stop in St Louis. It is reasonably priced and the process is fast and smooth. Staff very helpful and friendly. Overall time was about 20 mins. We didn't have time to watch the movie or take the riverboat ride...maybe next time. Very fun experience.

Again the Arch was awesome but St Louis is for sure not one of the safer places to visit, when parking be aware of the area you choose

The Gateway Arch is a unique experience. I highly recommend it. All the National Parks are really well done. The museum under the arch is excellent.

Amazing. No other words for it. I have driven through St. Louis and seen the Arch that way many times, but to actually see it up close, and then travel up to the top in those trams - amazing. If you go don't miss the documentary about the making of the Arch either - mind-boggling! The site combines history, beauty, and a great experience.

This is my second visit. The interactive museum is amazing-top notch! The process of getting up in the arch and moving through was horrible! The loading area is cramped already and the pods are tiny which is to be expected. The challenge is all the people who hold up the entire process so they can take pictures of themselves getting in (and out) of the pod. Added to the overall load/unload time.

This was an amazing piece of architecture. We watched the film that was shown in the museum. Truly is amazing how this was built. Very informative. Would highly recommend.

Fun time going up in the cable car. Not for people who are claustrophobic but well worth it for the experience. Affordable tickets as well

It had been many, many years since we have visited the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis. The structure is just as appealing, being both awe inspiring and serene (the people could below in a sort of "cave", that has a separate entrance). You can walk from one leg of the arch across mowed grass to another without encountering a few people. It is very photo friendly. Also, you can't beat how close it is to the Mississippi River. The surrounding park is tree filled and there is a short walkway where you can go down to the dock on the Mississippi River and take a "steamboat" ride for an hour or so. We did not go up in the arch, as the last time we went up it cost about $8 and now it is close to $90 for the deluxe treatment, whatever that may entail. We still recall the view, which is an unusual experience but not worth repeating at those prices. There are a few trinket shops and the St. Louis Cardinals play an 8 minute walk away!

The Gateway Arch is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. We came here for a short visit and can't imagine anyone coming to St. Louis to do at least the same.

The arch itself is over 600 feet tall and you really don't get a full sense of its size until you are standing there. It looks like a parabola, but my physicist friends tell me that it is actually a catenary arch, which only slightly different in shape, but stronger.

The arch stands in a well-kept park at the edge of downtown by the river. We walked over from our hotel, but parking seemed a little tight, so plan ahead accordingly. On a nice day, you can take great photographs here, including using the arch to frame the historic old courthouse.

The arch is modern, but it evokes the sentiment of the opening of the west and the trip into the then mostly unknown by Lewis & Clark over 200 years ago.

As others have noted, there is an elevator to the top with spectacular views, but you'll likely want to book ahead as space is limited for obvious reasons.

It is a wonderful sight from the top and something everyone should do at least once. It was crowded and we only had 10 minutes to view the sights on both sides through the small windows, but everyone was polite and moved on so another person could come in behind and get their pictures. The ride up was interesting but not scary. There is a capsule/pod in the lobby of the arch which shows 5 seats and how small and cramped the 4-minute ride up will be - but only 3 minutes down. Unless you are claustrophobic, it is fine. I am 5ft 9 and I did hit my head slightly on the roof.

The person who gives the speech to your group going up, will properly assess who rides with who on the way up and down (same group). If you have a family greater than 5, you will be divided. Very small kids can ride on an adult's lap. I forget exactly the age of child which they allow to do this.

A few steps are involved going up and down while going to your pod which you ride in to the top. The entrance to the door of pod is about 4 feet high. The speech giver does ask if anyone has an issue with steps and I do if there are a lot, so I was put in the middle and it worked out great.

Now let's talk about the movie. A must for adults interested in how it was built. I thought it fascinating, but I think kids would be bored. I think this was only $4.

There was a virtual reality show (where one puts the VR goggles on) - I think kids would like it okay - I did not, and my cousin did not. We thought it could have been much better and more interesting if it had of been animated. So, going back in time and having the people who were talking be able to move and look at you or whoever they were talking to in the movie. Not worth the $8.

Store downstairs was very nice! There is a restaurant next to the store.

There were also museums down below - on your way to the tram - which are free. These were interesting and the kids running around did find some items to keep their interest.

Use IPARKIT Stadium East on Broadway for Gateway Arch parking. There is a video on the internet - I believe same video put out by The Gateway Arch - and I suggest you watch it because the parking is cheap ($10) but only certain levels (ODD levels) are for the Arch and if your ticket was printed as you came in the garage, you need to have it validated downstairs next to the North tram. If you do not get it validated, you will be charged a higher parking price before you exit the garage. If you order your parking online, you do not need any validation of any kind. We also found using a Iphone caused issues when ordering parking for gateway arch. If I used a laptop, the "gateway arch" selection was visible. Not having the Gateway Arch showing will cause the online ticket to reflect a $35 price.

One last thing. I had not seen there were Cardinal games Monday and Tuesday night and Wednesday day. We had no issue with traffic bc of games, and we came and left within an hour of start times.

I like things simple and easy, and our visit was just that.

The Gateway Arch is an iconic landmark symbolizing westward expansion. Standing 360 feet tall, it offers stunning views from the top. The museum at its base provides fascinating historical insights. A must see for history lovers and architecture enthusiasts!

Interesting attraction to visit in St.Louis. You must take the tram to the top! Beautiful views! Very different from all the other National Parks. Highly recommend!

Amazing structure. Exciting tram to the top with a specular view. Wonder informative museum exhibit. Would do it again next time around.

Very cool experience. We took the tram to the top and checked out the sites. It's pretty wild but very cool. The ride up is 4 minutes and down is about 3 and you get 10 minutes at the top. It's very organized and you really don't need more than 10 minutes up there. The ride up is a teensy bit scary but it's really not bad at all. It's like a ferris wheel. You can see the inner workings but not the outside as you go up. At the top there is information and windows to look out of. When you are in line to go up they show you cute little informational videos. The whole event from lining up to leaving took about 30 minutes.

We went there on a Saturday afternoon. Make sure you have reservations. We had tickets to the Tram, The ground are very well maintained and the place on the banks of the MS river is a great place to run around with the kids. The museum at the base of the Arch is a wonderful place chockfull of history. We went up the tram and the kids loved the experience and the view from the top. We also did some light shopping at the Arch Store. And there is a cafe there - we got some coffee to energize ourselves. It’s an attraction not be missed in St Louis. Highly recommended.

Amazing!! Love to go to events near/around the Arch. Beautiful grounds and a nice place to relax and enjoy holidays.

Take a ride to the top!! 630 ft in the air on a clear day is so beautiful! A must do and it is easy for anyone who can do heights and a few steps. Recommend

The arch is spectacular to see from afar and close up. The ride up in the tram is fascinating and the views are outstanding.

This was a great place to visit. Definitely recommend going up in the Arch - the experience is one of a kind. The museum is super interesting - goes through the history of St Louis and the building of the Arch. We did not do the movie (lack of time), but there was lots of information to be had. This is a National Park, so if you are a veteran or a 4th grader, make sure to get your free parks pass (the veteran one is lifetime) - it saves you money here.

We visited the Arch on a Saturday and had pre-purchased all of our tickets. We did the full package with the move, virtual reality experience, tram ride, and riverboat. Unfortunately, it was not a nice day.....lots of rain. The attractions at the Arch are mostly inside. There is a nice museum tracing the history of westward expanion. The move is very well done and covers the construction of the Arch. The VR experience really wasn't much......just a little history of the St. Louis waterfront. The tram ride to the top is the best part. There's only about 10 minutes at the top but the views are great and the tram running inside of the arch is interesting.

The RIverboat was OK.....it would have been much better if we could have been outside. Obviously, that's not there fault.

Due to the weather, we decided not to walk into downtown for lunch......we ate at the Arch Cafe. That was a mistake. The food was not good.

Overall, this is a "must do' in St. Louis.

Had a stopover in STL and took the train to the arch. The train ride was simple, though the environment on the train didn’t feel the safest. Took an uber back, and that might have been the better option for going round trip. The arch is iconic but a bit underwhelming. Can take an elevator ride in the arch. Great for a stopover, I’m not sure about making a whole trip just for it…

We have been to the arch several times - but this is the first time seeing it up close at night. It was much different- beautiful, no crowds, and you can make the biggest shadow puppets ever from the lights.

The overall experience was very interesting, like the history of the area and the timeline of the Arch being built. There's a bit of a Catch 22 for going up in the Arch itself. There were long lines snd wait time when you bought a ticket for a slotted time and have to wait but you only get to spend 10ish minutes in the Arch itself.

The ticket for a reasonable price gives you access to the museum (which provides a ton of information on the history of St. Louis, as well as the monument). Going up doesn’t take long and gives you incredible views of the city.

We were lucky enough to visit Gateway Arch a few years ago when on a weekend trip to St. Louis and it was so much fun to see this! Growing up in PA, the Gateway Arch always seemed so far away and emblematic of the west and it definitely still is, but the country definitely seems to start shrinking once you start traveling. Gateway Arch National Park is the smallest National Park in the US, but it's 100% worth it to come see this engineering marvel. The grounds surrounding the arch are clean and spacious and many people were hanging out there having picnics and enjoying the weekend. There's a museum inside with lots of information and (of course) a large gift shop. We weren't able to take the elevator up to the top since it was sold out, so that'll have to be on our list for our next trip!

Beautiful views and parks to walk. Museum was very interesting and well curated. We rode to the toof of the arch and it was very exciting.

WE had been here before, but to only visit the Arch. This time it was 'park time'. The many different points of the park were great, and the vantage points of the Arch were different and great for photography.

The high light of the visit was the museum with it many descriptive displays of what 'used to be.' Where more than half a day disappeared to we have no idea. It was a great experience.

I'm sure anyone able bodied and comfortable in confined quarters will enjoy the Arch more than my wife and I. At the time of our visit she was recovering from hip replacement and found climbing stairs a major task (thankfully, she is now much better). As a result though, that limited her to views of the Arch at Ground level.

Parking is somewhat limited along the Mississippi River below the Arch. The story is interesting and it does provide a photo opportunity but little else for us.

We were unprepared to be as awed and impressed as we were! Though we did not take the ride to the top, that did not diminish the visit at all. The museum and visitor center is superb and packed with information and interesting displays. And the documentary about the making of the arch is a must watch! Harrowing footage and excellent storytelling and filmmaking. Admission is required for the film but well worth it. Recommend highly!

The Gateway Arch is a must see! It’s an amazing monument and engineering accomplishment to see in person. But you must go to the top to get the real experience. The tram ride up is easy and the views from the top are breathtaking. If it’s a windy day you can even feel the Arch swaying (nothing terrible). Everyone should experience this at least once in their life. Book your tickets/time online in advance for an easy no hassle experience. Parking is close by and only a short block walk. The tram ride to the top is roughly 4 min but it only seems like a min. Time at the top is limited so the whole experience can be done quickly.

Take the trip to top of the arch. I almost chickened out, but it was definitely worth it.

EAT before you go in. Food at the cafe was horrible and incredibly over priced. You expect to be high, but I paid $24 for a pretzel and 3 chicken fingers w/potato chips. A water and iced tea was $10. Once you go through security….there is NO other option. Definitely work seeing, but eat first.

Also…buy ticket for tram ahead of time!

Loved everything about the visit to the Arch! We saw the documentary before riding the cab car to the top of the arch. What an amazing engineering achievement! The views from the top were perfect! Easy ride to and from the arch . This experience is not to be missed!

The view from below was already outstanding. Taking the elevator up was also unique. It's like sitting in a gondola. The view from there is exhilarating. The exhibition down in the arch is also interesting.

Beautiful park and lawn area as well as a path along the riverfront to walk or run. Make sure to book at least a day in advance during the busy season if you want to ride the tram to the top of the arch. They have a model tram that you can sit in to see if you'll be comfortable. The tram fits 5 people and they will put you in a tram with other people. It felt a bit claustrophobic to me so I skipped the trip but my husband went and said the views from the top were amazing. He did say the ride up felt a bit shaky so I'm glad that I didn't go. Someone else said that if it's a windy day, you can feel the monument move.

The Museum of Westward Expansion is located at the base of the monument, it's free and interesting with artifacts and a lot of reading, but you will learn a lot. The history of the monument is also there, and not what we expected.

Worth a trip to the waterfront even if you skip the tram.

We visited on a busy day and have been here before, so we chose to watch the documentary movie about the construction of the Arch and visit the museum. All visitors must enter through security so plan to allow time for this.

The movie was very good giving some interesting details about the construction of the Arch, which was completed in 1965. The builders had several challenges during the construction and this film gives excellent insights in this process.

The free museum is excellent with a number of different galleries. We found the temperature in the entire complex to be rather low for comfort, so bring a sweater.

I had always wanted to into the Gateway Arch and I wasn't disappointed. I went on a Saturday which I hadn't really intended to do as I thought weekends would be very busy but as a government shutdown was threatened which would mean the park would close I decided to go for it. Seemless process , given a 'boarding pass' with a number on, I said stairs were a bit of a problem at the moment and so was given number1 . This number decides which 'pod' you will go into. Yes the pods are small but not in it very long and once you get out and walk inside the arch it isn't that cramped. You don't walk over the complete arch as you either travel up the North side or the South side so you can walk halfway . The views are amazing, obviously there is limited time at the top so that there is a flow of people. if anyone is concerned about feeling claustrophobic then before you buy your ticket you can see and sit in a 'pod' that is near the ticket desk and get a feel for the size of it. Personally I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it.

630 feet in the air and you can go to the top! This is a very nice national park which has a museum and restaurant under the Arch. Things to know:
1. There is no parking right at the Arch. There are pay to park garages about two blocks away and two handicap drop-off spots between the Courthouse and the Arch. The entrance and exit walkways are slightly sloped.
2. You do have to go through airport style security to get into the museum and restaurant.
3. You have to pay to go to the top of the Arch. Times are assigned. The pod entrance is at the back of the museum across from the restaurant.
4. The pods used to get to the top are very small, about 4' x 5' and can seat up to 5 people so they can be crowded but unless you are seriously claustrophobic, you should be alright. When we were there, they only put groups traveling together in the pods which helps. Getting in and out of the pod can be a little tricky if you have mobility issues, too.
5. If you are concerned about being able to walk the steps necessary to get to the top, know that they will ask you if you have trouble walking stairs and, if so, place you closer to the front so you have less steps to walk. The pods are on a slope so, depending on which pod you are assigned, you may have more steps. I think there were about 4 or 5 shallow steps per pod level, so the first pod had about 4 steps, then 4 more to the next pod, and so on. The same applies to the top. When you arrive, each level has four or five shallow steps. The most difficult part if you have issues with stairs is when you get off and enter the main building. There are about 18 regular steps you have to climb.
6. There is a movie about the building of the Arch for $4
7. The Old Courthouse is temporarily closed.

I was surprised at how much I was impressed with this facility. The view is unbelievable. If you have trouble walking distances, do your research to find better parking than we did. We walked for quite a ways. But the view was worth it.

The silver arch in St. Louis, where I resided for several years, is accompanied by a small museum located underneath it. Visitors have the opportunity to ascend the arch and enjoy views of the surrounding water.

My wife and I were on our way to Branson, MO. We stopped off at the St Louis Arch.
This was a stop well worth to time. Magnificent view from the ground and even more from the top.
Views of the Mississippi River, Cardinals stadium. Looking at the State of Illinois and on the other side the City of St Louis.
Gorgeous views!! Well worth the history lesson and the views worth more.

The arch is definitely an iconic landmark to visit. However, I think it’s almost more impressive seen from outside. I’ve gone up twice and the ride up and down is pretty claustrophobic as you are in a pod with no windows. The view from up top is pretty cool. The museum on the lower level is informative.

The Getaway Arch is certainly the landmark of St. Louis. The arch is a great photo subject and has even a tram inside where you can get up. Up here you have a great view of downtown St. Louis and the surrounding area. We were there spontaneously and got another ticket without any problems. Is especially recommended in nice weather.

You can’t go to St. Louis and not visit the arch. Kind of scary to think how boring downtown St. Louis would be without the arch.

Make sure you buy your tickets ahead of time to go up in the arch. You can buy online ahead of time and they also release more tram tickets to go up to the top at 9 AM on the same day. Went on a busy weekday during the last week of March and all same day tickets were gone by noon and advance online tickets were sold out days in advance.

Tickets to the top are timed. Still takes about 20-25 minutes to get to the elevator after your time is called. You get a short history of the arch, a movie about the 1960’s, and a photo of your group.

Elevator ride to the top is unique. You ride up in a five person capsule that goes pretty slowly and is more like riding a Ferris wheel than an elevator. Takes four minutes to ride to the top, three to the bottom, and there are sixteen total elevators (8 on each side of the arch), which is why the number of tickets is somewhat limited.

When you get to the top, the windows are small and you only get ten minutes before you have to go back down.

You board the capsules to the top underneath the arch. Also below the arch is the museum. The museum has been recently redone and is very interesting. Sections on the history of the area with very cool artifacts and a section on building the arch. Allow an hour to go through the museum.

There is also a 35 minute film about the arch, which we didn’t do and a virtual reality experience. Both cost extra. We did the virtual reality experience, which wasn’t that great (about 1850’s St. Louis) and only lasts 10 minutes.

They are currently redoing the courthouse, so this is closed. I believe there will be more exhibit space inside the courthouse when it is complete. Took us about three hours to do everything, which Included the time to take pictures outside, go through the museum, and go up and down the arch.

My wife paid to go up here on her own as I am a little frightened of heights. She said you have to enter a small carrier, similar to one of those things on the Ferris wheels at the fair and this takes you up. Not straight up but you follow rail around the stairs. When she reached the top she went over and looked through the windows, one in to the city past the old courthouse and the other over the Mississippi. She said it was great. After she came down we both visited the museum at the bottom. This is free and it gives a lot of detail about the City history etc. The museum was lovely and provided visitors with a description of how the Arch emerged as a project. Some people like museums, while other's don't. While we were there we heard a local woman talking to her son about why she brought him here because she hoped he would learn a little of his American History. His response was that he wished he'd stayed in bed.

An excellent look at the history of the STL area. The Arch is obviously the main attraction, but there is SO much more. I went to the top…and I was a little queasy from the height…but the staff were awesome and helped distract me! I would recommend trying it out…it’s a “must do” while in STL.

The Gateway Arch in Saint Louis should be on everyone’s bucket list. The museum below the Arch is well done. I highly recommend the movie and tram to the top. If you are claustrophobic, you may consider not riding to the top. The tram cars seat five, and the compartment is small. The arch is an engineering marvel.

Wow. An incredible achievement and a beautiful piece to view. We were here on a perfectly blue sky day and the photos look incredible too.
Our timing was off for the tours but seeing it was nearly perfect.

When I learned that the Gateway Arch now has National Park status, I decided to stop on a recent trip to STL. What a fun experience. Pre-purchase parking in Stadium East - especially if it's a Cardinal baseball game day (it was). The court house was closed for renovations. The visitor center has a nice museum detailing the history of the founding of St Louis, a museum store, and then the ride to the top. There are 8 "pods" with 5 seats each. Cozy quarters but very cool. You have around 10 minutes at the top to look out of east and west facing viewing windows. On this day, the Cardinal baseball game was in progress and we were able to see a sea of red over at the open air stadium. It was a fun experience. Be sure to watch the documentary detailing how the arch was made. An engineering and construction feat given the height!

We fully enjoyed the experience of going up the tram in the arch to the top. It was fun, interesting and informative. I am not great with heights and was nervous about it, but it was not much of an issue b/c the "pods" you take to the top are fully enclosed and there are small windows at the top to look out of. We also enjoyed the museum in the building- it was new and had great info about STL and its origins as a fur trading post through to its history as a gateway to the west. The national park the Arch sits on is also nice. We walked the whole thing and enjoyed looking out at the water. Highly recommended. Kids would love this too.

The museum in the park was very thoughtful and provided a lot of great background of the arch as well as the city itself. St. Louis played a very pivotal role in the frontier and expansion West of the United States and it often is forgotten so it was a great reminder of the role. I ended up taking the tram up twice - once in the morning and once in the afternoon. If you go at the right time, the arch creates a fantastic shadow that can be seen from the top. The pods themselves that you ride to the top are very compact, I noticed later in the day, that they do a better job at spacing people out. In the morning, they would pack them full. You don't get a lot of time at the top and you are stuck doing this awkward shuffle moving between people and waiting your turn to see out both sides. The time goes quickly.

We were coming thru St. Louis and decided to stay overnight and visit the Arch. This was a first time for us. The museum was interesting with quite a bit of history about the area as well as the Arch.

The staff were all very friendly and helpful from the security screen to our guides.

Riding the tram was an experience I'll never forget...coming out of the tram car and being at the top of the Arch was very cool. We could feel the Arch swaying a little in the strong wind.

A few minutes at the top and then the quick-er ride back down. Plenty of spots for pictures inside as well as outside at the park and against the Arch.

Much fun...stop by and check it out if you are in the area.

But your tickets in advance if you’re going to ride the tram. It’s a timed event and they sell out quickly. The tram ride was definitely interesting but once you get to the top it’s great. You have limited time at the top but enough to take some pictures. The museum was also great along with the gift shop. They also have a place to get something to eat. They’ve made it so you don’t leave without being a little smarter. Our visit was almost 3 hours but time well spent.

Beautiful sightseeing and photography spot. Parking is a short walk from the park, but you must pay to park in the garage. Inside the museum is free to enter, has a snack shop and gift shop. They also offer tram services inside the arch, however I am not sure of the price, because we didn't know this was a thing until we got there, but unfortunately we were a little pressed for time and didn't get to do the top of the arch tour this trip.

We saw it as we were passing by, which was pretty clear viewing. Cool to see, but won’t travel just to see it personally 😁. Took pics and kept going.

Lots to do: food vendors, live music, fireworks, riverboat rides, helicopter rides, airshow, and more! You can watch from anywhere downtown whether you're bringing lawn chairs or setting on a blanket.

I’d been up inside the arch as a teenager, but my wife had never had the pleasure. I was excited to give her this experience.

Honestly, it’s a whole production with getting the timed tickets, going through the TSA-type security, and the whole process of getting into the lines, getting to the tiny little trams, etc. After all that, you only get 10 minutes at the top, but it’s all worth it.

The views of St.Louis and the Mississippi River are amazing. The entire experience is unique and something everyone should experience at least once. We’d definitely recommend.

-The PowerTrippers

Amazing to see, the view from the top of the arch is breathtaking.ao much history in the museum it is a must see for all ages.

Such a neat place to experience. We did not go up to the top as my children didn’t like sitting in the pod. I’m glad they had one they could see in and know they didn’t want to go.

We got to tour the museum, and take tons of photos.

Visiting the Arch is a must-do in St. Louis and you won't be disappointed. We visited on a semi-cloudy day, so there wasn't a ton of people there, which was nice. We were able to go up in the Arch earlier than our scheduled time, and then had a lot of time to walk through the museum afterwards.

If you don't like small spaces, this definitely won't be for you. Try out the model in the lobby first to make sure you're ok with the small space. We rode up with another couple and it was definitely cozy, but you still had space to move around. It was interesting to see the inner-workings of the ride as you go up in the arch. From the ground, you barely see the tiny windows, but the view from the top of the Arch is really impressive. Overall, the ride to the top took maybe 45 minutes from when we entered the line to when we returned. They keep people moving along in the observation deck.

If you like reading/learning about history, definitely spend some time in the museum located under the base of the Arch. It was fascinating to learn more about the founding of St. Louis and the key role it played in western expansion.

There is a small food court near the museum, but it was just ok. Vending machines are available and very pricey.

The Gateway to the west, this arch is 630 feet tall, tallest arch in the world and made of steel from Pittsburgh, PA. Underneath the arch is a great museum. We saw a 30-minute film detailing how the arch was built. Additional tickets required to take the ride to the top, with views of the city and the Mississippi River. Highly recommend!

The view from above (not to be missed) is really fantastic if you are lucky enough to have good weather.
Don’t miss the museum below (free) that explains the conquest of the west

Great place to visit. Has a small museum in the visitors center tells the history of the arch and Missouri.

Went in Mid September after labor day. Was not crowded at all. The tram cars to the top are small. If your really tall or claustrophobic may not want to go up. I'm 6 foot 2 inches and my head touched top of the car.

The views are really great on a clear sunny day. Something everyone should do at least once in their life.

Must visit place when you are in St Louis. Ride to the top was a unique experience.
Museum got lot of information. Views were nice from the top, I highly recommend.

I visited this National Park site yesterday with my son and he really enjoyed it. You most likely will need to purchase your ticket at least a day in advance.

After you go through airport type security, you will enter the site's exhibit area with plenty of information about the building of the monument. The park staff was very knowledgeable and added to the experience with extra details.

Once you enter the queue for the tram ride up the monument, we spent a total of 45 minutes; this included the queue for the tram, 4 minute tram ride up, visit the top for 10 minutes, and the 3 minute tram ride back down. The views from the top provided a great vantage point to see the city and the Mississippi River.

The security guards were incredibly rude, the Arch ‘guides’ did nothing to add to the experience. We made a purchase in the gift shop and the worker ripped the bag and literally said….’ Oh, that’s ok’ and did not grab a new bag for us.

The view from the top of the Arch was incredible but other than that I will never go back and not recommend it.

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis appears much larger up close than it does from a distance. The museum is truly impressive, and the gift shop offers a wide selection of high-quality items. I highly recommend watching the video or film about the construction process – it's truly amazing! After that, make sure to reserve your spot for the elevator ride to the top. Each pod comfortably accommodates 5 people. The distinct sound of the elevator makes the journey quite unique. As you ascend and descend, you'll have a view of the interior construction.

This is such a stunning monument - especially at night with the city lights behind it. We enjoyed the museum inside as well as the tram ride to the top. If you are claustrophobic, the tram ride would not be for you fyi. The views of the city from the top are gorgeous. Highly recommend!

It was cheaper for the 4 of us to go up in the Arch than it was to do the Museum of Illusions. Goodness. And this was worth it. Views were fantastic and - gasp - the glass is CLEAN! And they clean it constantly. We've been in the Washington Monument and it's disgusting up there so I expected the same here, but we were really pleasantly surprised. And the museum you walk through to board the tram for the arch is better than the Missouri History Museum. It really divides it by decades and tells you more about St Louis than you need!

We’ve been to the Arch before but that was back when my daughter was 2 and now that’s she’s 11 could enjoy it more. We came on a Sunday, and they open at 9 and at 8:45 there was already a line. You do have go through what they call ‘airport security’ but the lines moved quickly, and you didn’t have to take your shoes off.

Once inside, there’s an impressive museum area (it’s free) with six different areas to visit and a few interactive displays. We only had a couple of hours (including the time to go to the top), but you could easily spend at least 4 or so hours if you spent more time in the museum, and then purchase tickets to the movie and/or virtual reality exhibit. There’s also a separate riverboat cruise as well.

Anyway, I do recommend buying tickets for the ride to the top in advance as we bought ours a week in advance and already the first few slots were gone and when we left at 11:30, the next ride available wasn’t open until past 2. It was slightly disappointing because we have the America the Beautiful pass, but that takes a small amount off the price. We arrived during our boarding time (make sure you go to the right one) and you get a short speech and have to wait to take the trams to the top. It’s fascinating in itself as they described it as a combination elevator, escalator, and Ferris wheel all in one. The ride itself isn’t scary as it only goes a few miles an hour and takes 4 minutes to the top and 3 to the bottom.

Once at the top, they separate the viewing area in half, so you go back down the same tram you came up. The views are great, but make sure you get your pictures in quickly as you only have 10 minutes as they call your boarding number, and you have to leave for the next set of people. They do announce a two-minute warning and they mean it. It’s too bad they don’t allow at least another 5 minutes or so.

My daughter enjoys the Junior Ranger program, so we got the book, and it takes some effort to complete the tasks as you have to do things in each of the six areas of the museum so if you don’t have much time, you won’t complete it. Once done, we went to the ranger to get the badge. We’ve done this at many National Parks and typically the ranger will review the book to make sure it got done and will ask a few semi-detailed questions so in other words it’s not just a rubber stamp and you have to earn the badge. Then, they hand over the badge and then they have to recite a pledge (the first half is standard, but then the ranger usually throws in a funny line at the end). Well, this ranger didn’t care or wasn’t in the mood as he asked two questions, didn’t even ask for the booklet, then said ‘here’ and handed over the badge and that’s it.

They also have a nice store we got some items in, and there’s a restaurant as well but we didn’t go in. This place is definitely a must-see when in St. Louis and spend at least a half-day.

Went up there couple times. This is a must if you are in town for the game or family trip. First trip we had clear sky so it was nice but on second trip we had rain storm so could not see. They could improve n let people stay there longer in case of rain so people get to see the city from the sky. It's sad they to cut the trip short at the top n we were unable to view the clear sky due to limitation. Overall, it a must for anyone for all age.

I took an Uber ride over to the Gateway Arch from the suburbs on Martin Luther Kind Day. I was surprised how quiet everything was. I had no trouble getting a $12 ticket to ride to the top of this impressive monument. I also liked how the whole exhibition/museum area was so modern, clean and nicely laid out for the visitors. I joined the queue (sorry, got in line) and a helpful young man talked us through the whole history of the making of the Arch, joked around a bit and showed us an awfully corny video. He then had us filing into the area where you "board" the little enclosed gondolas. I sat with two young strangers and I felt a bit claustrophobic - I imagined it being similar to a tiny prison cell. Then the slow ride to the top began.

At the top you have great views both over Missouri, Illinois, the city center (sic) and the mighty, iced up Mississippi river. You look out through relatively tiny slits for windows. And then, after 10 minutes or so you start the slightly faster descent down. All fascinating.

Parking took some time to figure out. We ended up having to download an app to pay due to machine being down that normally takes your cc. The actual arch area is nice and spacious. Good picture opportunity. There's a smashed penny machine inside.

It's a beautiful arch, but he park is also lovely. Be sure to spend time in the outskirts of the park and look to the river. The pathways are gorgeous and it's nice to find calm in the river. I did not go inside.

The arch and museum inside were neat to see. The museum was free and very informative, takes you through the history of St. Louis and it’s importance. The arch was amazing to see, even bigger than it looks in pictures

The tram ride was a little underwhelming. The fact that it’s possible to ride to the top is pretty cool but if you’re the slightest bit claustrophobic, I wouldn’t recommend it. I didn’t think I was but it was just a little too much to be in such a tiny place on the way up and down and a very small, timed scenic outlook at the top.

This is definitely worth a stop. The ride up into the arch isn’t all that great, but the grounds and the museum and the whole area are awesome. Be prepared to go through airport TSA type security if you want to enter the museum, which is free.

Awesome if you are in the area and not worried about heights then this is a must and not far off 66 if you are doing that. There is a multi storey carpark nearby so you won't have a long walk.

It is easy to see why this is the number one attraction in St Louis and at a the heart of the smallest national park in the US. We decided to take the river cruise and arch cable car option and we took the cruise first and came back later for the trip up the arch. The visitor centre and experience/museum is really well done and free to access if you are not going up the arch. It gives the history of St Louis from its origins to the present day as well as the background to the building of the arch which still looks very impressive today almost 60 years on. It is good that the tickets are timed so you can take your time until your departure time is displayed. There are good spacious facilities including an excellent cafe, gift shop and restrooms. Going up the arch is quite an experience in the tiny pods, but well worth the short trip to the top to see the amazing views, even though you get a maximum of 10 minutes up there. Really enjoyed our time there and staff throughout were so helpful without exception.

Mr Jitender at the reception of the hotel is an amazing person with great capabilities! He has an extraordinary talent to immediately connect with the guests with a smiling face and quickly solve any issues of ranging from room to food to taxi to any other problems! This approach makes him outshine others .
I wish him more success in life ! God bless him always 🙏

A great experience and very good overview of St.Louis. Price performance definitely fits. The gondola lift is unique and an interesting experience in itself.
The staff is super friendly and dedicated. Top!

So much to do I ended going back a second day. I recommend attending one of the park ranger’s talks. It seems they do them outside in the mornings and in the museum in the afternoons. The museum is really well done and appears to have lots of interactive activities for children. It was very convenient to just eat at the cafe where I thoroughly enjoyed my St. Louis specialties like T-Ravs and gooey butter cake. Entry to the museum is free and the whole experience made me think “a great example of tax dollars well spent!” The documentary about the building of the arch is well worth the $7 ticket price.

Security was reassuring, the Jr Tanger activity was down awesome encourage the kiddos to seek and find. Gave the adults longer time to enjoy the 5 different areas.

Yup, it's a giant arch! The museum is very good. I only did the movie because heights are not my jam. That said, the movie was great and super informative. The museum is well worth your time and will give a great overview of the Westward Expansion. Great grounds if you want to do a picnic.

This is an amazing monument. The underground museum is designed well. The tram ride and views from the top are so cool. There is also a very nice gift shop and a cafe.

There were works. Also impossible to get near. But we have a very nice view of the arch on the Illinois side. We also take the opportunity to admire the Eads Bridge

We stayed at the nearby Drury Inn so we could just walk to the arch for our tour of it-- the museum, food area, elevators and view from the top were all nice. No complaints. If anything it's a unique experience to get up to the top and then look out thru those tiny windows! A memorable experience, for sure. We also did the paddlewheel boat nearby and a carriage ride too-- never felt unsafe and overall that area seemed safe and pleasant!

The Park's staff was very accommodating to our questions, the property was very clean and the views were amazing. We spent time on the grounds taking photos of the arch with the family

If it was just the Arch it would be just another scenic view. But the Gateway Arch is an extraordinary feat and a unique experience in taking a trolley ride to the top to see greater St Louis. There is an amazing museum that captures much of the history of the area and the USA.

A remarkable piece of Engineering is so impressive, the construction of the arch, was a marvelous piece of building.
On the site of the arch they have a wonderful museum & gift shop. To travel to the top of the arch is by a small pod, it can take up to 5 people per pod, you buy your tickets which have time on them for your trip. It takes 4 minutes up & 3 minutes down, the views from the top are wonderful.

A big factor on how we planned our road trip was to see the Gateway Arch. It's definitely an impressive looking structure that dominates the St. Louis skyline. It has museums and a gift shop at its base which, if I'm not mistaken, are free to enter. You just need to go through airport style security. Before going on the elevator to the top, a tour guide will give an orientation, talk about some of the history, answer questions and direct you through all the steps. Our tour guide was very lively and pleasant. Unfortunately I don't remember her name. The ride itself was interesting due to the unusual path it would need to take to the top. It can get quite cramped though. Your time at the top is very limited due to the small space and the number of people hoping to visit. So when your up there, don't waste time, pick a window and enjoy the views (riverside and cityside).

We really enjoyed our visit to the Arch! Parked down by the River where the River boats are docked then walked 5 minutes to the entrance. Get there early enough to go through the free museum for 30-45 minutes before going up the Arch. The “elevator” ride to the top is in basically a pod which you sit in and is about 4 feet tall. If you are a fairly large person and or claustrophobic the 4 minute ride may be pretty uncomfortable! Once at the top the view is spectacular although the windows you look out of are quite small. You have less than 10 minutes so check out the views from both sides!

Super fun experience. The crew was very informative and interactive. The ride to the top was about 4 minutes and you get about 8-10 minutes on the top. There are 8 pods that go up at a time with up to 5 people in each pod. He view from the top is amazing! I'm glad we did this.

Pro: The subterranean entrance is hidden when approaching from the river side. Reasonably priced and great experience. Quick ride to the top in the pod. Great view! Bathrooms very clean.

Con: If trying to buy combination tickets to both the Arch and river boat, then verify the river boat time when planning.

The pods have 5 seats in each. It is an extremely small pod and very tight quarters. It is only for 3 minutes or so up and same on the way down but if you are claustrophobic think twice before buying your ticket. There is a sample pod near the ticket booth so take a look first.

I rolled over here from the nearby Hyatt during the lunch hour. You absolutely need to dedicate about 1.5 hrs to the Arch and museum. There is a cafeteria inside, but I didn't eat there so I can't comment on the food. $17/adult to ride the tram up to the top. You need to be ok riding in a little pod that is a little cramped. It takes 4 minutes to get to the top, you get about 10 min at the top, then 3 min to get down. It's quite a view. The museum is well put together. The gift shop has nice things too.

Didn't know what to expect as far as getting to top of the Arch, but it was all thumbs up once I did!
This feels like a ride at Epcot, but you quickly realize you are actually going up in 1960's technology! Very antiquated and very cool. Once at the top, amazing views.
This is not for the faint at heart, but I think it's a must see in America!

I didn’t pay attention to the Tram model at the entrance. My bad. I decided not to climb last minute when I saw the capsule in which they can fit 5 people. That is ridiculous. It’s an elbow room. Because I didn’t go up, one of the workers started yelling. I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. I ended up going to customer service to try and get my money back and I was denied. Sad! I felt bamboozled…

We made our way to Gateway Arch National Park first thing because I wanted to photograph the arch in the morning light and, because like the majority of our summer road trip, the weather promised extreme heat later in the day.

We had opted not to visit the museum or ride the tram to the top. Instead, I took a stroll through the park, enjoying the different vantage points of the arch throughout. The park’s website even has a page dedicated to the best spots to photograph the monument.

The arch gave an amazing view this morning. The skies were clear and there was a breeze that kept the 90° day bearable. The staff was plentiful, polite, and helpful. The movie before the ride to the top was an excellent historical account of the construction.

I visited the museum about 25 years ago. It's been completely redone...and I don't love it. I much preferred the old museum.

We did love this experience and it was a great way to get a Birds Eye view of the city!! The facilities were very clean and kept to a high standard. The museum was fun, interactive and interesting. Full of history of St Louis. The gift shop was huge and had a wide selection of stuff. It was all very reasonably priced too. The staff in particular were so helpful and friendly here!

We had booked a time slot to go up the arch but the queue was still so long. Also couldn’t really hear out your guide too great once we moved to the hall with the videos.

Once we got up the arch you had 10 minutes there and it was plenty time to see the amazing views of the city.

It was an amazing experience all round and I would recommend it to friends and family visiting the city!

It was a beautiful clear day & not real busy. We were able to get in when we wanted. The ride up to the top is 4 minutes & trip down is 3 minutes.

We had a great experience. Was a little nervous about the height but soon was made aware of the tiny trolly you ride to the top in. Got a bit excited but had blast and the trip up and down we're very quick. The time at the top is quick too so make sure you get the pictures you want and enjoy the view.

A must see/do when visiting St. Louis ! Viewing from the Arch is impressive and the museum is very well done. Plan on spending several hours here minimum.

We had visited years ago with our son and my husband wanted to visit again. I did not to go because I don’t like crowds. We scheduled our arch visit for 9:10 a.m. I have to say, I enjoyed this attraction a lot. The park service has done an excellent job of moving people through in an organized way and they are some of the friendliest park rangers we have encountered. Ditto the regular employees. You have to go through a security check, and again, they were very nice. I would schedule a visit for the morning because the shadow the arch makes when the sun is rising is beautiful (and probably the crowds increase as the day goes on). The 30-minute movie of how the arch was constructed is well worth the $4 fee. We probably spent about an hour, which included going up into the arch, watching the movie, browsing the gift shop and seeing one exhibit in the museum.

On our way across the country, we stooped to see the Arch. The museum is very well done and the ride to the top was scenic and memorable.

We really enjoyed visiting the Arch. There is a museum and a train ride you can take to the top. The museum is free but the ride is a little expensive so we opted out of that. But the arch is most definitely worth seeing.

There are not many restaurants nearby.

A true wonder!! Watch the movie on how it was built. It was really incredible!! Everyone was helpful and informative when we had questions.

This is a has to do. It is a landmark of St Louis celebrating the start and expansion of USA. You go up with a very small egg shaped elevator. Fitted for midgets. You can have a look around on top, 630 feet above the ground. Nice views. When Blackmon the ground, don’t forget to visit the museum. Nice and informative. Forget the food.

We are in MO for our yearly vacation and our first stop was the St Louis Arch. I’m not one for heights and small spaces so we did not go up in it. With that being said there was still enough to see without going up. They have a very nice museum with lots of history about the state and the arch itself. It took us about 2 hours to go through it. There is a gift shop and a restaurant on the property a well. The park was nice to walk through also.

Beautiful area, great, FREE Museum, and the teeny pod was bearable. If you are large sized, or more than one of you are, I don’t know how you would fit. It’s about 4 ft. by 4 feet, & has 6 seats crammed inside. The view from the top is through narrow windows, not an expansive panorama. Worth doing for the experience. I was able to tamp down my claustrophobia.

I really had no idea what to expect at the Arch and I was pleasantly surprised. Situated between the river and the arch there is a beautiful green open space which extends under the arch. As you enter there is a pretty neat looking museum and movie on how the arch was built and some early American history. The ride to the top of the arch is a pretty unique experience. As you ride to the top you'll wonder what would happen if you got stuck! but fear not this engineering marvel will take you safely to where the most amazing views of St Louis stretch before you. Its a short 4 minute ride to the top and you have about 10 minutes to soak in the view then it's a shorter 3 minute ride to the bottom. I'm not going to describe the ride as that is the beauty of this unique experience. Best thing is this attraction will not break the bank at just under $20 per person. Well worth it!

Gateway to the west, west of the Mississippi! After watching the historical video would have. been amiss not to have gone up to the top of it and peer through the windows for the best panaramic view of all St Louis. Went to Missouri to watch the Phillies and the Cardinals could not have been there without going to the Arch. A MUST see and good family experience.

The entire complex is large, beautiful and impressive. I was surprised at the degree of security that awaited us before we could enter. But in today’s world, it is better to be safe than sorry.
We immediately took the tram to the top of the arch. I must admit that I expected more. There was nothing to see as we ascended. Once we reached the top, we could look out of the very narrow windows and observe the area from the height of roughly 630 feet. There was no narration to enhance the experience. After about 10 minutes we returned to the tram and went back down. Big deal!
The film and museum, both of which I believe are free, were a different story. I could have spent a whole day in that museum. I left feeling enriched and knowing much more than I did just a short while earlier. That more than made up for the lackluster tram experience.

Everyone should do this! The trip to the top on the egg elevator was great. When you go you will see why I said egg elevator. Watch your head! The views at the top are spectacular. The mueseum at the bottom inside had lots to see,read and do.

Essentially part of the Gateway Arch National Park, which includes the Arch, underground visitor center and museum, Old Courthouse, Mississippi Riverfront, and landscaped green spaces and trails. The Arch is a true marvel. For having built a structure like this in the 1960s, really mesmerizing. We booked the combo tickets for the tram ride to the top and Riverfront cruise.
Some details of the Arch itself: it’s the tallest human-built monument in the US, 630 feet. The architect is Eero Saarinen, and he is indeed a visionary, to have come up with such a striking masterpiece of a structure, and the engineering talent it took to build it, again in the 1960s, is truly amazing. They have done a phenomenal job of explaining the process involved in building this stricture, and it’s relevance to history. It was essentially built to commemorate St. Louis role in westward expansion of the US.
We got to see a wonderful puppet show about Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase (bought it from Napoleon Bonaparte, resulting in doubling the size of the US) which resulted in the Westward expansion. Essentially named the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was really fun for my 4 year old. And we got to learn some history in a funny way as well.

St Louis because of its strategic location near the confluence of nation’s two longest rivers- the Mississippi and Missouri- was a successful trading center. The Arch is built on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis. They actually held a competition challenging architects of the nation to design a memorial that would evoke the grand scale and drama of the nation’s westward expansion. And from the 172 entries, judges chose Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch.
Even the tram to the top is a marvel, Eero Saarinen wanted visitors to experience a ‘sky ride’. He entrusted this job to Dick Browser, a elevator man with experience for designing auto lifts for parking garages. It’s a series of barrel-shaped capsules strung together like a train. Takes you to the top of the arch and you get to see the views on both sides!
A true marvel, and the national park services and the museum has done a great job in making visitors understand it well as well. An absolute must for any St Louis trip.

My wife had never been up in the Arch and it’s just something that you gotta do. The museum, for me, was super interesting. I’ll confess, I love big structures and engineering marvels like this as well as trains and bridges. To come back here was a bucket list for my senior years. The experience is not without its flaws. Part of the interpretive portion is a description of St Louis’s history dating back to the French, Native Americans and Creole peoples. You know how it ends, the settlers corralled these wonderful, cuddly, people onto reservations in Oklahoma. Must of this portion of the exhibits focuses on the diminishing lands of the Native Americans. Having said that, the museum in its entirety really gives good information about the settlement in St Louis, Lewis and Clark, the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The other part of the museum is a thorough exploration of the building of the arch. The construction of the Arch is fascinating and I spent quite a bit of time here after our trip to the top. I’m not sure if they are volunteers or employees, but the ticket takers are, well, dressed less than professional. In general, the Park Service employees are very professional and they were unpaid on the anniversary weekend that we were there. The anniversary weekend also included some of the workers who actually built this iconic monument when we were there. We really debated about staying in downtown St Louis as we perceived it was not safe at night like many other United States urban centers. The hotels are busy and touristy making them difficult to maintain and crowded during peak tourist times. Despite the setbacks of politics in our National Park and a precarious urban location we really enjoyed our time here. The view is simply amazing and you should try to do it first if you are going to do the whole St Louis experience. By doing it first, you really get a broad overview of St Louis, including the Historic Court House and Busch Stadium. Children really seemed to like the experience and we would recommend it if they are old enough to remember it.

Standing tall at 630 feet (192 meters), the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a gleaming stainless steel marvel that commands attention—and your camera lens! Whether you're snapping selfies or panoramic shots, it's the perfect backdrop to capture the spirit of your adventure.

Beneath the Arch lies a hidden gem: an expansive underground museum that brings the story of America’s westward expansion to life. My kids (ages 10 and 13) were completely drawn in by the interactive exhibits and immersive storytelling. And the best part? Admission is absolutely FREE! 🚨

Not planning to ride the tram to the top? No worries—you won’t miss a thing. Monitors display the exact same breathtaking views, so you can enjoy the experience without the heights—and without the cost. 😉

Beautiful scenery, but closed during the holidays. We actually went on the 22nd, but they had sold all of the tickets for tram ride and river cruise for that day and the 23rd. Per government rules they were closed on the 24th/25th. We will definitely be sure to plan ahead if we return to St. Louis.

We enjoyed the museum, the tram ride to the top, the documentary movie, and the gift shop. The museum is well done with a good mix of artifacts, graphics, and interactive exhibits, and contains lots of interesting information. I was so freaking excited to ride the tram and see the city from the top. The tram is a historic throwback. If you're claustrophobic you probably won't enjoy it. The documentary film is very dated, but interesting. The gift shop definitely has something for everyone.

We were a family of 6 adults and 3 children. All of us enjoyed this experience. The staff was informative and fun.

Amazing views, interesting tram ride to the top - if your claustrophobic stay behind & just view the exhibits which are very informative.

This was a lot of fun. First off, there are things to do here even if you don't want to go up in the arch. The free museum is very well done, there's a restaurant, a gist shop, a 3-D movie, etc. My kids were nervous about going up, but there's a pod near the front of the building where you can try it out to see how you feel. Each pod fits 5 people. We were a group of three, so we were put with a group of two. It is very tight in there. My kids didn't really enjoy the ride, but they did love spotting our hotel from the top of the arch. You're not up there long, but it's enough. I definitely recommend the experience.

Squeezed into “an egg” for a max of 5 riders seated having a window to view the tram shaft/staircase to the top. It was worth it to enjoy the sites of St.Louis!

We had a great time at the arch. You ride up in a small pod that reminds me of something off the Jetsons cartoon. Not good if you are claustrophobic FYI. You get about 5-7 minutes up at the top. We only had one other couple with us so we were able to see so far into the distance from each view. There is a museum you can visit after the ride that I thought was great. The gift shop had many choices to choose from and very reasonable prices .So glad we visited.

Have been here multiple times over the years but it never gets old. If you're in or around St. Louis its definitely worth it to stop here. Last visit we arrived by train it it was amazing on how the arch dominated the skyline.

This is a well organized tour of a national monument in a national park. There is a nice museum included within the building. The tram tour to the top is very strictly timed - and each tour lasts about 10 minutes at the top, 4 minutes up, 3 minutes down and several minutes for a short film and tour guide explanation. In total about 30 minutes. The museum is self guided. The tram tickets vary in price depending on day - we went Friday morning for $17/each. There’s a small restaurant onsite, which we didn’t try, as well as additional tickets for a movie ( time constraint prevented us from buying). Interesting experience.

While there isn’t very much to do around it, the gateway arch is one of those must-see places when in the area. We could not get tickets to go inside that day, but it was nice strolling around it and sit by the river for a bit.

Visited: 04/07/2023

This was actually a really nice visit. The structure itself is incredible, and the architectural feat it was to produce a curve is really interesting to learn about in the museum underneath which we explored after going up.

The lift to go up can look scary, and it is a bit unnerving to see the insides of it all as you go up and down, but it's prefectly safe and you barely notice you are turning a curve. It's really well organised and you don't feel like you are waiting too long before you go up. The top is timed for limited numbers, but you get about 10 minutes to explore and enjoy the views from the top which is all you need really.

We would recommend you book tickets and times in advance as it can get busy. We went first thing on 4th July and it was fine, I assume evening/dusk or sunset would be really busy.

Side Note: Don't bother with the boat cruise:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g44881-d2665270-r954665473-Riverboats_at_the_Gateway_Arch-Saint_Louis_Missouri.html

I am a huge supporter of the National Parks system, and understand changes must be made for efficiency and other considerations. That said, the recent visit to the Arch left a lot to be desired based on about 20 past visits.

We arrived about 12:50 and purchased tickets to go up at 2:35, the earliest available. We spent part of the time looking over the history museum. It has been revamped and looks great.

At 2:30 we went to the assigned entry point. The young lady passing out tram numbers gave my party of four tabs for the number four car…along with a 300-pound guy traveling solo. This despite seeing at least one car with only three people.

We also had only 10 minutes up top, which turned out to be more like eight minutes. Really? We waited almost two hours for 8 minutes?

I booked the combo ticket which included the movie, Arch ride and cruise boat. I arrived around 9:15 am on a Saturday and glad I did. It wasn’t very crowded yet and I was able to take the pictures I wanted. Make sure you make time for the museum as well. The movie was great but if you don’t purchase it that’s fine. Just about everything in the movie you’re able to read about in the museum. The park surrounding the arch is beautiful and picturesque. The ride up to the arch in the capsule was great. If you’re not ok with heights or being enclosed you may want to rethink it. It does go by pretty quickly though with good conversation. Once at the top good balance and patience is a must. The cruise was my least favorite. Such a big boat but horrible seating. There is enough room for more seats outside but opportunity was not ceased. Sitting inside was way hotter than being outside. There was also so many flies it was annoying. If you don’t mind standing stay outside during the cruise.

The welcome center, gift shop and museum are all underground as well as the access for the trans to the top. We went there with the intentions of taking the tram to the top but, they have a pod for you to checkout prior to buying tickets and chose against it since my hubby and I are both closterphobic, but it's only 7 minutes in the pod. At any rate we are still happy we made the stop. Grounds are beautiful and a great place for a picnic or walk.

There is nothing more iconic in St. Louis than the Gateway Arch. With national park designation they have made massive improvements that should attract even return visitors. The entry to the exhibits and tram to the top of the arch has been upgraded. Even during really busy times they can handle the entries quickly and smoothly. The museum exhibits are fantastic and worth see just by themselves.

We went to the haunted tram. We got there later than we planned so we missed the museum part. They had lots of activities and trick and treating. The staff at the trans were helpful and amusing. Little bit scary but not to much for the the littles. Wish we got there sooner but was traveling home from Nashville Tn

Visited the famous St Louis Arch. This experience was one of a kind. Lots of history here and quite a piece of architecture. Very impressive!

We went over for a few hours after our Cardinals day game. A very fun experience, be sure to plan to pay for parking and also know that you have about 10 minutes at the top. That is plenty of time, but lots of people are disappointed when they find that out.

One tip: leave extra time to walk through the museum at the base of the Arch, it's super cool, and has a VR experience that our son LOVED!

The Arch was a wonderful experience it’s a must see if you are in St. Louis it has a lot to do there the movie and museum where very informative we loved it.

The grounds around the gate are beautifully maintained. Take the trip to top, unless you are afraid of heights. the views are outstanding. Don't miss the documentary movie on how this was built. There were no OSHA regulations at that time, and there were no death related accidents. Take a look at the shoes they wore, and no one was tethered.

The museum advertises that the gift shop closes at 6. But when you arrive, the gift shop insists that it closes 15 minutes earlier than the museum says it closes and won’t allow entry after 545.

So many things to say! Pre-book parking at Stadium East. Easy breezy getting to the arch from there. I thought security would be a lot bigger hassle, but they were super efficient and we didn't even have to wait in line to get through. Saved us tons of pre-planned time. The north tram wasn't operating, but the lines were not affected. We got in a little earlier than our scheduled tram time. The ride up is a bit cramped, but its fast enough you can manage. 10 minutes doesn't sound like a lot of time to enjoy the top, but I felt it was actually quite sufficient to see everything you needed and let others do the same. The gift shop was well stocked and reasonable prices for souvenirs. Don't sleep on the museum. So many interesting untold stories of the western expansion. These are the stories that need to be re-told of our American history, it wasn't at all easy for a lot of people.

Great experience the Arch and the museum. Took the family with boys aged 3 and 8 they really enjoyed it. Good value. Try it

if you are going to see the arch make sure you go up. it is only like 10-15 minutes up there but it is a good look around.

I visited this spectacular place with the family last summer and we all were fascinated. The lawn makes good match with the beautiful skies. Next visit we're planning to use the elevator.

The arch, and riding to the top in the little pod elevators was a great experience, and so was the museum featuring the import of this area in the western expansion. The good and the ugly was all there to see, which is important in understanding and learning from history. It was a memorable visit and exciting to be in the arch and watch a movie of its challenging and marvelous construction.

The view from the top of the arch is great. Also the Park Rangers talking about the history of expansion to the west outstanding.

The Arch is truly a one of a kind experience and worth doing. The whole Arch complex gives you so many ways to experience our history. We spent most of the day there and time just flew by.

Every time my Wife and pass thru St. Louis we always stop. The Grounds the Arch is on is very nice. We always enjoy walking thru the gift shop that is located below the Arch. There are also steps that lead down to the river. I like to sit there just to watch the barge's go by.

Many years since we visited the arch.
Toured museum, but did not go to the top - wife did not like it LAST time!!
Always an awesome site!!!

So here is the disclaimer - I hate heights! Like I can't get 2 steps up a ladder without shaking like a bobble head holding jelly on a trampoline!!!!!
But we are travelling Route 66 and were staying in St Louis so how could I let my wife down and not go up to the top of THE Gateway Arch. So planning the trip in the UK I paid in advance for tickets. Good job we did as they sell out quick - Top Tip pre-book your ticket or be disappointed !!!!

Once you go to the arch make sure you are ready for airport style security and listen to what they have to say about items to remove - don't be the one who gets called out. Oh and make sure you are early because the visitor experiences are amazing. I videoed them but TripAdvisor won't let you upload video (get a grip TripAdvisor THIS is the way forward!)

Check your tram times and get your car number. And then for me the shaking and sweating started. We got called into our tram groups and had a short video shown followed up by the photo opportunity (we opted out) but you get a free post card.

Then off to the tram. So Listen - these are tiny. We had four people (2 strangers with us but lovely people) but they hold five. I'm 6'2" but slim and it was a tight squeeze. I think they said the doorway is 4ft tall. Get used to that but it is only 4 minutes up and three down. If you are claustrophobic sit near the door as it lets light and a view of the stairwell in so it feels less restricted.

As an Acrophobic (fear of heights) this was a really pleasant journey up, just 4 minutes and yes it was cramped but light conversation and it was journey over and straight to the top.

So here is the kicker - I was fine at the top!!! The views are stunning and for some reason the portal windows detach you from the height. It's almost like watching on a tv. I loved it and would definitely do it again in a heart beat!!!!
Views - wow and I can promise the time up there passes in a heart beat, in fact I was kinda disappointed when we had to go back down.

Gateway Arch your team, your venue and your view are awesome.

Thank you so very much from a guy who could go two steps up a ladder!!!!

The whole family enjoyed going up to the top of the Arch. The museum is fabulous and the gift shop was not overpriced like other attractions. The views from above are spectacular and all the staff are very nice.

I highly recommend visiting and spending time at the museum to learn the history.

The Gateway Arch is the best thing to see in St. Louis. It was amazing. The Gateway Arch was built as a symbol of the West, since at the time, everything west of the Mississippi River was considered ‘west’. There is a visitor center, gift shop, museum and cafe underneath the arch and it is even a part of the smallest National park in the United States. I highly recommend seeing the Gateway Arch.

An experience worth living, if not for the view from the windows which it deserves anyway, certainly worth doing for the ride up in the "elevator".

My wife and I really enjoyed the visitor center museum and found it one of the more well done exhibits we have been to. It had a modern feeling and yet conveyed lots of interesting history and facts. We definitely recommend spending some time enjoying this part of the visitor center. The ride to the top was a lot of fun and not scary in the least. The pods are quite small and we were fortunate to only have the two of us in our pod. Please do watch your head entering and exiting as the four foot ceiling is very low and metal is hard !! If tight spaces are a concern for you, it might help you to know that the pods have glass doors and you can see the stairway and infrastructure of the arch as you ride up and down. The ride is quite short and there is lots of ventilation in your pod. It is definitely a great thing to experience.

The Gateway Arch was stunning to visit! The museum is well done though we didn't plan enough time to really go through it in much detail. We were on one of the last trams of the day to the top and flew through security as there was no line at that time The whole area kind of feels like an airport, especially in the area between the boarding sections where the cafe and shop are. You are limited in the amount of time you spend at the top but we had no problems getting plenty of photos and video from both sides of the arch. They move people through very efficiently.

The only problem we ran into was with the Arch Cafe. We were looking for someone to have dinner that our picky kids would also eat at. I saw the menu on that Arch Cafe website and it seemed perfectly so we planned for that. The website says it is open during the Gateway Arch hours which I confirmed during the summer are 9AM to 8PM. The downloadable brochure they have even lists their hours of operations as 8:30AM to 9:30PM every day of the week. We arrived around 6:15PM to find the kitchen was closed. All we could get were refrigerated pre-made deli sandwiches, packaged yogurt, and bags of chips. And as soon as we paid for what we picked, the place closed up. I'm not sure if they were closing early for some reason or the website has old information, but this was very disappointing. So just keep in mind the Arch Cafe may or may not be open.

We stopped to view the gateway arch on the way to New Jersey. It was beautiful, reflecting the sunlight. The park was free to access and was well maintained. There were people eating, families playing and people jogging.

They had a free museum inside and a shop you could buy souvenirs at. There was also a tram that sells tickets to go inside the arch and up to the top. It sells out towards the end of the day so if that's on your to-do list make sure to call ahead or go early!

There was plenty of information on the architect of the arch and fun facts. An interesting fact I learned was that it gets struck by lightning a lot and was built to withstand swaying during heavy winds.

Great experience riding to the top of the Arch and seeing the phenomenal views on both sides. Museum on ground floor well done.

This was the main attraction we wanted to see during out visit to St. Louis. As people had told us, pictures don't do it justice and you have to see it in person to appreciate its size. It is amazing to see and the museum is very well done with wonderful exhibits and lots of info. Our two kids went up to the observation deck of the arch and loved it. We moved our visit one day because of rain and it was a good move, because it was a clear day and they could see for miles and take great pictures. The film they show about the building of the arch is a must see, without it you cannot appreciate what it took to build such an amazing structure. As a side note, if you are there close to a meal time, the small restaurant inside is surprisingly good. We would recommend to anyone who has a chance to go see the arch in person, it's worth your time.

So, I recently read an article that was about National Parks. Most over-rated, and most under-rated. And while you could see in the article that the author was trying to steer people away from all the big well-known ones like Yellowstone, Tetons, etc… toward the less known ones. It also gave a rating – and The St. Louis Arch was at the top of the list for most over-rated. And although the visitor’s center and gift shop were pretty extensive, and they’ve renovated the grounds --- I’d have to agree.
It didn’t help that upon descending to Visitor’s Center we got hit with an awful sewage smell. Almost unbearable. It was so bad – that I asked one of the NPS rangers, and apparently when they renovated the bathrooms, the sewer often backs up. The smell was obnoxious.

The ride up was cool, cramped, but cool. The stop at the top of the arch lasted 10 minutes. Last time it was about 30+ minutes. The views were cool --- and they’ve finally added some attractions to the East.

Parking: Validate for several hours in the East Parking Lot between the Arch and the ball park.
Staff: Excellent
Merch store: Extensive
Grounds: Clean

Would recommend: Yes
Would re-patronize: Probably not

Must do if in saint Louis great couple of hours and views from the top were brilliant , staff Attentive and friendly , recommended

This is an incredible learning experience. The museum takes you back in time and teaches you about the area. Definitely watch the show that explains everything they had to do to build the Arch. The elevator is a crazy experience but it is worth the trip!

Awesome experience to ride in the Arch. We did not do the movie or VR experience. The museum is interactive and interesting! The views and experience are hard to beat. We even went when it was rainy/cloudy!

An amazing view from the top. An experience like no other. Recommend as a quick stop when passing through Missouri. Skip the line and buy the tickets ahead of time.

A must do or see when in Saint Louis. It takes about 45 min. Wait in a line, watch a short boring video. Then up you go in a five person casket to the top. Have about 10 minutes to catch the view. Then a 3 minute ride down. Nice gift shop and dinning area. A one and done experience

A must see in St Louis. Get the combo package which is great value and ride to the top of the arch to see the amazing views over St Louis, also included is the movie dream of the monument, museum entry and a 1hour riverboat cruise. We learnt some amazing history and it was a real surprise package. Pre book to line up all your your times allow 1 hour for tram ride, 1 hour to look around museum, 30mins for movie and 1hr riverboat. Parking is best at the riverboat location located in front of the arch

This was a big reason we planned our trip to St Louis. Stayed at the Drury Plaza right next to arch and enjoyed view and walking to arch. We booked an early tour and very glad we did. Arrived right at 9am when they open and got to enjoy the history museum after we got through security. It was amazing history with lots of hands on exhibits. Got in line for our ride to top and was given our own pod for just the two of us. (SO glad we went early- when we came out the ramp was packed with people waiting). The ride up wasn’t bad at all and the views from top are breathtaking. SO worth it. Truly a national treasure. Also an amazing gift shop with super friendly staff.

The Gateway Arch was a fun experience. The area felt very safe, and the park was nice. The ride to the top was enclosed in a very small capsule-type car that holds 5 people, so if you are claustrophobic, I would not attempt it. The views from the top are beautiful! You're inside with small windows to look out, but the number of people who go up at one time gives you plenty of room to look outside. You can see for miles. A definite must-do if you're in the area and don't have a problem with tight spaces.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Gateway Arch. I suggest you get your tickets in advance for the arch tram ride. There are lots of exhibits to view to kill time as you wait your ascent to the top of the arch. There are tremendous photo ops outside.

I have never had the desire to go up in the Arch. My kids, who enjoy Percy Jackson, wanted to go, so it was an extra stop on our summer trip.
Pricey, but not surprising. It's a monument and National Park; they can charge what they want as people will pay it.
It is a timed ticket experience. We didn't wait too long in the line to get into the trams to the top. We were told we would get 15 minutes at the top. Seemed like a short amount of time to us.
After hearing the rules of the tram ride and waiting our turn, it was time to load in (5 people fit). If you are truly claustrophobic, DO NOT GO. I'm not a huge fan of small spaces and feeling trapped, but didn't think it would be too bad. It is a small space. I was wrong, spent the ride with my eyes closed and trying to stay distracted with by my family goofing off. I personally wouldn't do it again. There is a sample tram in the museum, but there is no door to close. For me, not being able to see out was a huge problem. While there is a window in the door all you are seeing it the inside of the Arch, which includes a staircase. The view out the door window did not help me.
Once at the top, we are reminded of our 15 minutes. Everyone is trying to see out the tiny windows to see the views. We lucked out with a beautiful day and could see for miles! For the most part, all of the guests were polite and courteous, allowing one another the opportunity to see out the windows and take pictures. Obviously, it is a small-ish space but has enough room to move around one another.
Our 15 minutes was up very quickly. I didn't time it, but I am guessing it was closer to 10 minutes.
You definitely spend more time in the line than anything else, but that seems to be the norm in most places.
Kids were thrilled to be at the top and share the differences from the movie and book.

This is a bucket list site to see! It is even grander than we expected. We didn't go up inside but we did wander about the museum below which was very interesting. Really glad we visited.

Yep, it's awesome! I highly recommend stopping to see the arch and museum under it. The museum is super cool. We had lunch on a park bench, which made for a unique and lovely picnic spot.

Easy to get to from downtown. Great park around the arch and lots of angles for good views. We didn’t go inside because the Uber driver told us of a recent fire, but view from outside was nice.

We did 3 activities while here. Please note, you should buy your tickets at least 2 days in advance or they will be sold out. You select times for each activity and then can spend time in the museum, store and food in between your times. It’s all under the arch itself and nicely air conditioned throughout. The virtual reality experience was just about 10 min. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, skip it. Nothing exciting. Next, the documentary movie, about 30 min. If you are interested in all the details of how it was built, this is interesting. Not for small kids, it’s a documentary. As for the tram ride to the top, this is the best part and not to be missed. Be sure to get a ticket to do this. Round trip it’s about 45-60 min from when you get in line. It’s a very small pod you ride in so if you don’t like small spaces, this is not for you. The top of the arch is super cool. You can look out both the east and west side of it. You get less than 10 min at the top, it was plenty of time.
Great experience. Just the museum itself is free but in my opinion not the experience that I was looking to have.

Gateway National Park is a great spot. It's been a few years, but it is still a great place. The renovations are complete. The pathways with the trees growing in look perfect.
There is no better place to relax by the waterfront. To have the arch right there as you look up, and a backdrop for pictures just feels special.
Easily can spend the day down there.
No more electric rental scooters allowed in the area.

The Gateway Arch is a must see venue in St. Louis. The historical museum is fantastic. Very educational and informative, highly recommend the Junior Ranger program. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The movie on the building of the Arch was very good. The only drawback to the visit is a new policy since COVID that limits access at the top of the Arch to either the North or South sides since they are blocked off. Also they limit time at the top to only 10 minutes. Before COVID you took a tram up to the top and you could leisurely look out all 32 windows throughout the entire top area, take pictures, and read all the informational pictures. We barely had time to look out East and West side windows, and take a family picture before we were told to line up for the tram down. For the cost of a tram ticket it is not worth the time allocated at the top.

Make a reservation! Allow time for museum. Great trip to the top. I was nervous because of the pod/elevator ride to the top, but it was fine. 4 minutes up, 10 minutes to look out and 3 minute ride down. Nice views and history. Stamp you National Park passport book.

Despite my fear of heights, we had to check this out. You buy timed entry tickets for the arch online. We did learn that the time is a little loose, so no running if you are cutting it closer!
The pod you ride to the top isn't very claustrophobic, but my girl and I are tiny people too... once you arrive at the viewing area it has a very nice setup where you can lean on angled ledges to stare out the portholes. You get about 10 minutes, which is plenty of time to see the views and take some pictures.

Hot outside so I brought a bottle of water with me for the walk over and back . I missed where it says no outside drinks allowed. They sell food and drink inside but I had to drink or throw away my water to use my ticket that I purchased online. I missed where it says that no outside drinks allowed. I will go back and search their website. Their website says you must keep your items with you I missed the no outside drinks section.

Park is downtown with easy access and no crowds. Well worth the quick trip to see the Arch and walk through the museum. Interesting history of the area and as a bonus you drive past the stadium. Went with our grandbaby who was 15 months and we had no issues with strollers and facilities.

The Arch is fantastic!! The museum is awesome and gives great history of St. Louis. Make sure to attend the movie in the museum!!

This site has a lot to offer beyond the top of the arch. The Western Expansion museum on the first floor is really well-done. You can spend as long or as little time there as you want. The tram ride to the top is quick, but its tight, so if you are claustrophobic it might not be your thing. Awesome views on both sides - and you can get a sense for how flat this part of the country is. One of those famous sites that was on my bucket list as an American. Glad I checked it off.

We visited the Arch in April 2023. We have been here several times, but this is the first time since they constructed the new entry and changed it to a National Park. It's always nice to see the views from the top. We enjoy the shops and the history of the arch being built. Worth the time and we will visit again.

The Arch was very interesting and a must if you are in the St. Louis area. We went to the top. I am somewhat afraid of heights, but I made it without difficulty. The movie was also really good.
One complaint was that we had difficulty finding a place to park. However, we did finally park on the levee. Lots of steps up to the Arch from the Levee.

Visited the Gateway Arch, formerly known as The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, on Thursday, August 17, after an incredible lunch at Bogart's Smokehouse a few minutes away. Prebooked parking at Kiener Plaza East, 500 Pine Street - a 9 minute walk to the Arch ( $15 for 5 hour minimum).
If you enjoy photography ( and even if you don't ), make a clockwise circle walk around the Arch, and especially around the shapely reflection pond on the north side. Inside the paid admission area is a large underground information exhibition area for various time periods in the westward expansion. At the far side of these information areas is the theater showing the 35-minute 'Monument to the Dream' documentary about the building of the Arch. This is informative and interesting, but not free.
There is also a 10-minute Virtual Reality Experience where you wear a headpiece covering your eyes completely. It is, in reality, not a very high-tech experience. It is about an 1850 visit to a St Louis riverside dock. Save yourself $10 per person on this add-on. This is NOT a highlight of an Arch visit. It is a slightly modernized version of the early 1900's stereoscopic viewer. Not much of a story to be viewed either.
The tram ride to the top of the Arch should probably be booked in advance, but on a weekday afternoon, we were able to proceed on our own schedule, earlier than our prebooked timeslot. $19 combo ADULT ticket for the 35-minute documentary film and the tram ride inside the legs of the Arch. ( You cannot walk to the top of the Arch. The tram is the only option to see the view from the top. )
The tram ride is 4 minutes up in 8 connected 5-person, 5- foot diameter pods. The view from the top is an indispensable part of your Arch visit.
The Arch is impressive. This is a Bucket List experience.

The view is amazing and the ride to the top is fun! I watched the Arch being built in my youth and it was great to visit it again.

I was more impressed by the arch than I expected to be. The museum and the tram ride were both really fun. I would suggest skipping the movie it was pretty boring.

Taking the ride up to the arch and just overall taking in the scenery was a fun way for me to enjoy a much needed break. The cafe is also worth going to.

The outside architecture is far more impressive than the inside trek to the top. The experience consisted mostly of waiting. While the elevator ride to the top was only 4 minutes, if you're claustrophobic, it seems like 40. They only allow 5 minutes to view the city from the top and then rush you back into the cramped pod (It seats 5, but we only had 3 smaller ladies and it was still tight.) In my opinion, a better use of your time and money would be to take your own photos of the outside and visit the free, interesting and thoughtful museum on the ground floor.
P.S. The riverboat ride that is sold as an add-on is NOT worth it, especially if you have taken architectural river tours in cities such as Chicago. The scenery was less than stellar and consisted of tent camps, graffiti, and factories.

Parking is close and easy at the Stadium East garage: the validation station is by the restrooms when you enter the center, by the ticket stand.
The arch is amazing and it’s not a complete visit without going to the top.
The museum is free and provided a lot of information about the area and the arch. You can purchase tickets in advance; recommended to get the best times as they often sell out.

This is a must in St. Louis. We learned about the history of the making of the Arch with a movie the day before which helped the experience. The area has been upgraded in 2019, is beautiful and modern with a museum in addition to the tram ride to the top. Don't do this ride if you are claustrophobic.

You are placed in a small cubicle bubble or whatever the heck they put you when you stand in line for like 45 minutes listening and watching slides across the brick wall to be placed inside of a non-sanitized small space because they do not sanitize upon entry or exiting to go up however many stories high to go into a crowded little room to look out small ass windows for $65 for a family of four the windows are so small and nothing is sanitized upon entry of that room either or exiting it is not worth the money it’s better to look out from the outside versus paying all that money to go up. You could not even understand any of the staff talking and everything is so Tylee squeeze them together that Covid or any kind of virus would be hot to not go here.

It’s definitely one of those obligatory things to do when visiting. Rooted in history from the 60’s. There’s a great museum aspect available before and after traveling to the top of the arch. Be mindful of any issues of claustrophobia as the pod you travel in is quite small. If you happen to visit in a clear day l, you will be able to see a lot more. And 8 mins is enough to spend at the top.

We did the trip up the top, museum, movie, and cruise. We enjoyed all what we did. The Arch is spectacular. Recommend everyone to see it. You can go outside and inside the museum for free. The tram up the top, movie, and cruise you have to pay.

Buy the package deal with movie, tram and boat cruise. The movie explains how they built the arch and all all the difficulties building it. Eero Saarinen was head architect who designed the arch, but it was really something to see the engineers go to work and figure how to get it right. The museum and kiox were full of information on the history of the area and developing the area.

I really enjoyed this trip to the Gateway Arch. It looks so grand in person. The technology to get to the top is incredible for todays time, let alone when it was built. It looks like it would be impossible to get to the top but it's possible. The whole system going up and going down is done very well. The surrounding park is beautiful as well. Enjoy your visit.

This experience was fantastic! The arch was really cool to see it in person. My favorite part of the arch was the underground museum that it had. I learned a lot about the arch. It had many cool things in the museum. The best part was how the sections were apart by the years. A lot of the stuff in that museum was high quality. It had a scavenger hunt for kids. The cool thing about that was when they finished the hunt they got a junior ranger badge. Overall it was a great experience.

Amazing experience, I highly recommend.
Interesting museum and breathtaking view.
Can be difficult for individuals suffering from claustrophobia or fear of heights.
Waiting time can be up to 45 minutes, standing.

We visited this place on June 19. You can park in the Stadium East Parking Garage. After the security check you can view the museum about St Louis and the Arch. There are interactive displays and many informative videos. The museum is free, the film in the auditorium about the making of the Arch and the ride up must be paid for. A reservation is necessary because everything is arranged with a time slot.

The Arch itself is must-see in St. Louis. It is a stunning architectural achievement, and the museum inside is informative and beautifully maintained. I wish we'd had a little more time to enjoy it.

The tram ride to the top, though... not my favorite. It's basically like a ferris wheel. You start underground at the museum level and then swing out to the base and then around to the top. Pretty cool. However... the pods are tiny (~ 6 ft diameter sphere) and are plastered shut except for the small windowed door where you enter/exit. For most of the ride you move along a giant open stairwell which you can look out into. At the beginning and end, though, your pod directly abuts (like 2 inches away) a metal wall. And if the 60 year old tram were to malfunction at either the top or bottom, you'd basically be trapped in a 6 ft sphere staring at a metal wall with no means of escape (unless you were "lucky" enough to break down next opposite one of the tiny metal doors out) . If you are in car 8, the first 100 feet of your ride up abuts this metal wall. If you are in car 1, you are in car 8's situation on the ride down. NOPE. The top area is okay. It's nice to say you were at the top, I guess.

In summary, the Arch itself rules, but for anyone remotely claustrophobic, the tram ride is pretty much the worst. The NPS should update the pods to have an escape hatch out the top for emergency scenarios.

Iconic monument celebrating the United States westward expansion in the 1800s. Didn't get a chance this time to have the full experience including booking the elevator ride to the top of the Arch or visiting the museum but hope to be back soon to do that. It was still an amazing site to see and photograph. We were able to find some metered parking along Memorial Drive just north of the Arch that allowed us to stop and have a close look for 15 minutes.

Waste of money, didnt go. No mention of stuffing into a small 5 person pod the size of a bathroom stall. Should have a model or picture at least to inform people!

So glad we visited the National park and went up in the arch. It was much more than any of us expected. The staff are really a gem here. Our guide was perfect! It was a rainy slow day. Much bigger inside than I thought. Nice museum, store, cafe, theatre and ride to the top! Coordinated and organized well. Recommend some Beatles music or any music and a fan in the “elevators”. So very glad we visited.

Great place to visit. The arch is remarkable piece of engineering and if like me you have an engineering outlook on things it is somewhere that keeps your mind asking - how?. From the shear size on the outside to the intricate lift mechanism inside it is a fascinating monument. Absolutely worth a visit if you are ever in St Louis

We took our grandkids on a train trip to St Louis and this is one of the attractions we took them too. Our grand daughter was a little nervous (age 11) but our 9 year old grand son was ready to go! One she got to the top she was fine and would go again if in the area again. They had a great time looking around the museum before the ride to the top. It really is a must do if you're in St. Louis. I went years ago as a child and enjoyed it as an adult.

The Arch is so impressive to view in person. It’s breathtaking. I didn’t take the tram to the top – did it the last time and was not interested in doing it again!!! It was nice to walk around the park, take time to go through the museum and watch the film, which was very interesting and informative. This is a must do in the St. Louis area!!

We really enjoyed visiting Gateway Arch National Park during our trip to St. Louis. Staying at the Hyatt nearby made it super convenient to get to. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the $17 tickets to go up into the Arch were absolutely worth it. The views from the top are stunning and give you a unique perspective of the city and the Mississippi River.

That said, the experience may not be ideal for those who are claustrophobic or afraid of heights. The space at the top is a bit tight, and you have to lean over to look through the small windows, but that’s part of the charm—you’re inside an actual arch!

The tour guides were knowledgeable and made the experience even better. My favorite little detail? The funny banana peel slip signs—they added a quirky and playful touch to the visit.

Overall, Gateway Arch National Park is a must-see attraction that’s well worth the time and cost. Highly recommend adding it to your itinerary!

This is a good experience for kids. It's also the icon for a good overview of the city and into Illinois. A fun, but short experience.

The ride up to the top was very unique and
once up top the views were great
If tights spaces bother you the ride up
may not be ideal

An engineering marvel, this is a must see attraction when visiting St. Louis. Get your “tram to the top” tickets early, and see the movie too. There museum is well done also.

The arch was above the city and the boat tour was beyond the city. Both were excellent and certainly one of the best value for money experiences of our 21 day road trip.

It was the staff that was truly above and beyond. We spent 12 hours in St. Louis and traveled from one end of the city to the other. When we returned to our car I realized my keys were missing! We had to leave the city early in the morning and I was resigned to a big bill to replace them. As we drove eastward we called the restaurant and the art museum to check for lost keys, no luck. When we contacted the Arch, they had them! Not only did they find them but they mailed them to me in Canada, free of charge! They arrived today. Thank you so much!

Go to the Arch a great place with great people.

First time in STL we had to visit the arch. We rode the tram to the top. It’s a little capsule and it takes about 4 mins to get up. Once at the top you have nice panoramic views of the city through the small windows. We got lucky and it wasn’t a super crowded day so our pod was just us and the top wasn’t overly crowded but I imagine it might be kind of cramped if the pods were maxed out. There’s a nice free museum at the base and a cute gift shop. Worth walking through. My biggest complaint was that security was a little careless with our stuff. I had my wallet in one of the bins and they picked it up and slung it so it fell out and I didn’t know. Luckily the people around were honest and asked around to see if anyone was missing a wallet but it would have been so easy for them to pocket it. If you have a bag make sure everything is inside and if not just make sure you leave with everything you came with. Overall I’m glad we did it. Wouldn’t have felt like the visit was complete without riding to the top.

My 4 and 8 year old loved the Arch. We stopped on our cross country road trip and it was a high light for my kids. I hadn’t been in 30 years and was impressed with the updates that had been done. The museum is free to visit and the tram to the top is very reasonable. It’s also very organized. I wish you got a bit more time at the top but I did like that it wasn’t packed up there. The grounds outside are nice too we walked around and even took the steps right down to the water. Worth the stop!

This was the highlight of my stopover trip! I’ve been before years ago but still amazed how the arch was built and how beautiful it is especially at night. Definitely worth the time to explore. Ladies in the gift shop not so nice.

Great view and experience! I was here on a business trip and got to visit this landmark on one of our offsite tour's with the tourism bureau. I highly recommend!

Overall very good. The area is clean and safe, you go through airport styled security to enter. There are museum exhibits to review, these can be done before or after going up the arch. The arch summit itself is an interesting experience, the capsules you go up
In are small and I would suggest not for the claustrophobic. They were also quite warm as No aircon. Once at the top there was aircon which was much more pleasant. The views over the city were great and the ~10 minutes you’re allowed to stay before swapping with the next group was about right, a measure they use to control congestion.

A must stop if you're in the area. Parking can be a bit tough, but we went during the week and lucked out. The museum was very impressive. Actually learned quite a bit about the entire westward expansion. A great half day trip that was free.

The arch was so beautiful and fun! I did the tram and experience when I got to go all the way to the top and get a beautiful view of the city! Put your guide Natasha was very wonderful, she did a good job of explaining all of the history and answering all the questions we had! She was very personable and kind.
The tram ride was short and a bit cramped but not too bad. Would not recommend this for claustrophobic people, but they do have a model cart in the lobby so you can see exactly what you are getting into.
Also we had a person in a wheel chair in your group and luckily they are able to walk a little because wheel chairs were not allowed after certain point, and there was two flights of stairs down and then two flights of stairs up after the tour. We were not warned about this when they scanned our tickets to please be aware.
Otherwise the view from the top was amazing. The museum they have on the ground floor once you get through security is very cool. They have all sorts of fun items to look at and life size recreation of many things. I'm not a museum person but this one made me want to walk through and see all the things. There were many interactive items which kept it interesting.

Highly recommend! The museum was also free! You just have to go in and go through security, no ticket necessary. Plus they had a cafe/restaurant down there for the visitors as well.

This being one of the most recent National Parks, and with my girlfriend being from Missouri, we had to come visit here. There are attraction is gorgeous. It has a nice park outside the facility itself, so around the archway there’s a beautiful view of the river and the city. Going down stairs leads you into this really well kept and polished area of a map of Missouri, highlighting the area the arch is in specifically.

Farther down the underground area is packed with history of the founding of St Louis which was incredible to see. Full of artifacts, collections of history, statues, and props, that was totally unexpected. The museum area is so amazingly well done. The ride to the archway itself is really cool too! The tour guides love their job and were so funny and informative. The tram you ride to the top is a small little 5 setter sphere so be careful if you’re claustrophobic! Once you get to the top you get a view from the highest point in the state standing at 630 feet tall. You get a stunning view of river and the entire city of St Louis! A must see if you have a couple of hours out of your day.

The last time I visited the Gateway Arch was in 2014 and since then, they have put $280M in updating/upgrading. The new museum, etc. are amazing. The view from the top is fabulous and ALL of the staff were so friendly and helpful. We loved taking the tram to the top and even though one of our party was scared of heights - she had no problems since you don't feel lie you are "hanging out" on the edge of the top of the arch. This national park is not to be missed when you are in St. Louis.

My husband and I took a road trip to celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary and to celebrate that I am cancer FREE! (Thank you Jesus!) He has talked for years about visiting the Gateway Arch, so I surprised him with a stop in St Louis to see it. NOTE: Purchase your tickets online before you come as well as your parking ticket. If you purchase the parking tick online it is only $9 (2023) and is good for 5 hours. What an amazing time we had. I am still recovering and have a hard time walking or climbing stairs and very claustrophobic. The tram is small (it has to be) but will hold 5 people. The ride to the top was 4 minutes and the ride down is 3 minutes. You are given 10 minutes at the top to enjoy the view. We had a very clear day and could see for miles. I was able to ride the tram to the top without any problems. The views were Incredible! I do have to say that there are many steps, but they are broken into levels and easy to climb. My legs killed me the next day but as I said I am still recovering. Everyone should take a day and visit. The museum is a day in itself. So much time was involved in making it, it deserves you taking your time to view it fully. Everyone we encountered was professional and friendly.

Such an impressive structure. Unfortunately, minimal interactive offerings to light up a pair of nine year old boys with zero interest in riding to the top so we barely spent an hour here. Thankfully, we did find a couple of things they wanted to do. They were excited to find a Lego knockoff of the Arch at the gift shop, though!

Nice views, good museum material but spoiled by being freezing cold to the point of almost feeling sick going from outside to the outside. The kids were cold most of the time. Then really suffered going back outdoors. Not healthy, comfortable or necessary to be that cold.

It’s way bigger close up than it looks like from a distance. I walked in the park under it. You can touch it and get some nice pictures from the park. It’s unique and cool.

Stopped on our way into St Louis. It was the first time for most of our group. They found it to be interesting and educational. I highly recommend viewing the movie about the construction before going up in the arch. The time up top was only about 10 minutes, but worth it.

I was blown away by how tall it actually is! It certainly is worth the visit if you are in St. Louis and if you go, make sure to see the film on the construction of the arch. It will give you a great appreciation for what it took to build this National Park!

In my opinion, this should be a national monument as opposed to a national park. While it is a magnificent site to see, aside from the 3 minute ride up/down each side of the arch…. There’s absolutely nothing else to experience while there.

The area directly surrounding the arch is beautiful. The historical buildings surrounding the arch are just as eye-catching. The possibility of breathtaking photos is endless! But that’s where it ends.

In order to ‘experience’ the arch, you ride a tram. You literally sit in a 4-foot tall capsule that has 5 stools in it. If you are with all adults… no way you’ll all fit in one capsule if you’re claustrophobic … FORGET going to the top. There’s absolutely nothing to see on the way up/down except the ‘Behind the scenes’ makings of a roller coaster ride/Ferris wheel/escalator combo. Once to the top, you have about 10 minutes to look out several windows on both sides of the arch. From 630 feet in the air you can see the Mississippi River and most nearby roof-tops.

This is definitely a once & done experience!

We did the museum and tram tour on 7/26/24. When you arrive at the VC, you'll go through a TSA like screening process (to your right as you enter the VC) prior to getting into the tram/museum area. After that, you head downstairs (escalator) to the museum area. The tram rides are at the far end of the museum marked by a red light. There is a north and south tram ride and your ticket determines which one you go one.
When you head to the tram, you'll be given a tram number by the first tram person you encounter (there are 8 tram cars). From there you head to the trams and line up on your number.
The tram cars are small 5 people max and really only 4 adults. The ride up takes 4+ min. Once up you exit the car and walk up the stairs to the observation area. Each side (north/south) gets to view one half of the observation area. The windows are small but the views are good. After 8 to 10 min. you'll head down in the same car number you came up in.
Once down you can explore the museum (great history of St Louis, the making of the Arch and the Louisiana Purchase. We spent about 2 hours on the museum. The restaurant, gift shop and bathrooms are all in the area around the museum.
This is a fun thing to do.
I'd recommend getting your tickets ahead of time on line as the tram rides sold out on 7/25.

We visited in early June. Very tall and impressive. I wanted to go to the top but my kids were concerned about the confined space so we did not go to the top. We enjoyed the free museum underneath. Security was interesting - felt like airport TSA. Not a big deal at all, just unexpected. The waterfront area was nice. We parked in a parking garage and it seemed expensive.

The ride upwards (4 Minutes) and Downwards ( 3 minutes ) at the ARC was so very nice and pleasant in that small round shaped cube. The view from the 630 feet arc above with the view down below was just so very awesome. Next downstairs the museum with all the history of the arc was just very knowledgeable .The garden and the riverfront was also so very soothing to the mind. Worth an visit and not top be missed visiting all.

Brilliant trip up the Arch and the museum was excellent with some superb history of St. Louis and the development of the USA.

The tram ride was fun, the views from the top of the arch amazing. The sun was shining through the Arch and highlighting the old Courthouse. The museum was so expansive and extremely interesting and well done. We spent almost two hours there just learning about the westward expansion. Try the hot chocolate in the cafe. Best I have had in a long while.

The bow is very beautiful metal structure.
Beautiful pictures. Both day and night.
Quiet and pleasant family walk.

A nice day out at the Gateway Arch. It is worth going to the top and looking out the small windows and getting a beautiful view of the city. Make it a combo with the riverboat cruise.

The museum is fantastic and is free to enter. You only have to pay for the tram ride. If you've never been to the top, it's worth the trip. The tram cars are small and can trigger claustrophobia, BUT you can see out if the doors and the ride up is only 4 minutes.

The surrounding park is gorgeous and a great place to hang out for the day.

The building below the Arch structure has been significantly updated since we visited 40 years ago. It's much larger, and contains a nice museum area. The place is actually a National Park. Visitors must pass through a security checkpoint, similar to the airport. The tram ride to the top of the arch includes a lengthy history session before you get into the cramped 5-seater cars. If you are claustrophobic, this ride isn't recommended. The view from the top is great, though! On a nice day, the park around the arch overlooks the Mississippi River and is a great place to spend time. Parking can be an issue - be prepared to walk a few blocks - there are many parking garages but none appear to be associated with the Arch itself.

We were headed to the Ozarks and planned a stop in St. Louis specifically to visit the arch. You cannot begin to appreciate the magnitude of it until you see it in person. We purchased tickets in advance which I would highly recommend. Our ticket to go up the tram was for 9:50 a.m. which worked out great. When we came back down, it was so much busier and long lines. I am a little claustrophobic but the ride up in the tram didn't bother me. We took up four of the five seats so we had a little elbow room. I think it would have bothered me if we tried fitting five people in the tram. When yu get up there, they only give you about 10 minutes but other than the views, there is not much to see so 10 minutes is plenty of time. The views were amazing, I got some great photos, and I am glad we did it. The museum didn't take long but it was okay.

We opted to watch the documentary movie and I would highly recommend you do it. It was very well done and they included a lot of original footage in it. My sons were very impressed with the movie and said they were glad they saw it. We watched the movie after going up in the arch which made us appreciate it all the more. We had lunch at the Arch and we all liked our choices and the prices were decent.

I would skip the Riverboat ride if you were thinking of doing the package deal. The shoreline of St. Louis was a bit run down, the Mississippi was dirty, and if you weren't stationed on the side to see the river front, there wasn't much to see.

As a tip, you can park for $10 in Stadium East through the link they send you when you order your online tickets. NOTE...if it is a home game day for the Cardinals, you must pre-pay for your parking the day before to receive the discount price. Otherwise, it will cost you $30. Other parking in the area for game day went up as high as $50 to park, so it is definately worth paying the day before. I would also recommend you arrange your trip to the Arch before the game starts.

The Gateway Arch is beautiful and inspiring. It has great views of the area from the top and an interesting museum underground at the base. We reserved a time slot our tram ride to the top a few weeks in advance. We planned to arrive an hour early to allow time to find parking and browse the museum before riding the tram to the top. The displays included area history as well as the story of how the arch was conceived and built. The tram cars are small, each seating five people very snuggly with a short door to duck through and steps to get in and out. The arch is located in a park along the Mississippi River that provides views and interesting angles for photos of the Arch.

This was the single greatest activity we did on our 3000 mile road trip down the Mississippi River. We stayed within walking distance at the Courtyard Downtown. I don't know how I missed this, but everything is below ground except for the tram that takes you to the top of the Arch. The facility is beautiful, clean, and wonderfully laid out. The free museum is in depth and such a great review of the history in this area. The VR experience was nice but if I had to choose that or the movie documentary I would choose the movie - which left us in awe at how the Arch was built. The tram pod was an experience. 4 person pods take you to the top and back down. We didn't get to see much due to it being very overcast, but still worth the trip to the top. We had tickets for the river cruise, but we were there at the tail end of Hurricane Beryl and river level was too high.

Really cool moment that shows creative engineering from the 1960s.

The surrounding area is nice and offers many great photo opportunities, but if you don’t have claustrophobia, it’s the trip to the top that is the real highlight!

The trip to the top costs 15$ and the whole tour about 45-60 minutes, of them it is about 5 minutes at the top of the lookout.

The Gateway Arch exceeded expectations. It was as so much larger than we imagined. We took the tour to the top of the arch. The cars we rode in to the top are tiny and definitely not for anyone with claustrophobic tendencies. Ride up took 5 minutes. Ride down took 3 minutes (gravity I suppose). The views from the top were great but the viewing area is also small and there is no where to stand normally. Glad we took the ride but don’t need to go again. The museum area was extensive and informative.

The Gateway Arch was only one block from our hotel, The Drury Plaza and the views of the 630 foot tall stainless steel arch from our pool desk was incredible. I remember it being built as a child, taking 2 1/2 years to completion in October 1965 and finally getting to take what seemed like a little space capsule ride to the top. Obviously, the views were fantastic, easily looking into Busch Stadium 2 blocks away as the Cardinals were playing, seeing the historic Old Courthouse, skyscraper after skyscraper, sweeping views of the mighty Mississippi, and out to what looked like a mini city skyline in the distance, maybe Clayton, Missouri. The Arch is so symbolic, that just seeing it conjures up thoughts of American history, that the Museum of the Arch located below so brilliantly covers. The history of the Arch is great to read about, and the history of St. Louis in the Museum will take you hours. There is also a gift shop and a place for food and drinks. The Gateway Arch area is the smallest National Park in the country at 91 acres as it winds along the Mississippi, as a beautiful green space, with 2 ponds and winding walkways.

I don’t understand why this place still holds the title of a national park. The park itself is nice, it’s clean and easy to navigate. Still, it’s relatively small and there’s nothing natural about it.

The monument itself is interesting to look at, although I can’t really get behind what it stands for. I skimmed through the (free) museum but was disappointed to not see many mentioning of the indigenous people who lived on this land before westward expansion. I did not take the elevator up to the top as I think I might panic being stuck in that little box for several minutes! Be aware that you have to go through airport like security in order to enter the museum / cafe / gift shop area.

This is a different type of National Park; mostly a museum and the arch. The admission is free and there are parking garages nearby. We didn't take the ride to the top of the arch, but enjoyed the museum and the riverboat cruise. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.

The Arch is a beautiful piece of architecture. Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown, the Arch and museum are currently closed, being a National Park. However, I was able to walk around the Arch and get some great photos of it from the outside. Some day I hope to return to St. Louis to go inside the Arch.

The Arch is very nice and the museum is very will done and super fun, to get to the top is pretty cool too in the 1960 elevator but the top was fine after a few minutes your good, there’s not much to do but take a few pics and read the poster but the windows are so small.

My wife and I were in St Louis visiting with other adult family members. Some in the family have never done the Arch. So we reserved a time (highly recommended) on a Friday afternoon. We got there early and went through the museum. Last time my wife and I did this was 25+years ago. Wait time was not bad even for a Friday afternoon. Fairly long walk with a lot of steps to get to the elevator cars. Workers keep things organized and informative. There is an informational movies about the Arch while waiting. Cars only hold 5 people max. Takes about 5-8 minutes to reach the top. Cars rock while going up (and coming down). Definitely not for the claustrophobic! At the top it is divided in half; hence why you go up/down on north or south leg. You only stay for about 10-15 minutes and you are herded back to the cars to go back down. But the view is amazing! The Arch is just one of those things you just have to do!

The experience was amazing. The Arch was on my bucket list and it didn’t disappoint.
I will say that it is a LOT of walking to get to the tram entrance. If it hadn’t of been for the offer of a wheelchair I would not have been able to do it. I am Minimally disabled. I am very grateful for the experience.

One of the landmarks you got to visit when in St. Louis. This was my third time visiting the Arch. I noticed some improvements.

The Arch and the Museum itself is without a doubt a very unique experience. You can’t find a giant man made arch as big as the Gateway, and it’s pretty rare to have a museum exclusively underground. The museum does a great job showing the history of westward expansion that started at the intersecting river of Mississippi/Missouri, along with the steamboats that made it possible for early travel. Bonus points for having some very aesthetically pleasing and modern displays of the exhibits themselves. The other highlight is the view of St Louis itself atop of the Arch, you get the best view of the skyline of St Louis atop the Arch. The only negatives are that the Arch while an impressive structure worthy to see once, is pretty tonal in its structure/appearance. When you’ve seen it once, you don’t feel like you need to catch a second trip to experience it again but it is worth it. The other negative is the ride up the arch while short, is very uncomfortable. Thankfully the view is worth it. Overall, great stop as a tourist in St Louis.

Remarkable history and fascinating architecture of the arch itself. Tram ride was a lot of fun and museum was an unexpected surprise.

Trent, Jake, and Jess, were very informative and helpful. I hope you will recognize their hard work. I was there at the end of the day and I’m sure they were a little fatigued, but you would never know it.

The Gateway Arch is the landmark of St. Louis and can be seen from afar: the impressive 192-meter-high monument is the highest arch in the world and symbolizes the gateway to the West. The claustrophobic ride to the observation deck in the small, egg-shaped cabins is a real experience.

Went up to the top during my visit to St. Louis and really enjoyed the experience. Tickets were reasonably priced, around $15–$19 per person, which felt well worth it. You do go through a security checkpoint similar to an airport before boarding the tram. The tram ride itself is part of the fun, and the views from the top are incredible, giving you a great perspective of the city and the river. The visit also includes access to the free museum, which is well done and worth exploring. Definitely an iconic St. Louis experience.

The Gateway Arch is America's smallest National Park site. I visited it solo yesterday, and would not mind returning one day soon. Visiting is fun and easy in the off-season, by which I mean not Spring, Summer or Fall, and not around major holidays. But, because the view is the point, be sure to check weather and go on a day when very good weather and clear or mostly clear skies are assured. The view was so beautiful yesterday because of the clear blue sky, bright winter sun and ability to see the shadow of the arch while inside the viewing area at the top. The base contains a very extensive and interesting set of high-quality museum and video exhibits, gift shop, commemorative photo service (all optional) and plenty of exhibits to aid people with disabilities to enjoy the experience. For example, there is a tactile display panel for bling visitors to get a sense of scale and which uses puffs of air to guide their hands while an audio track explains what they are feeling. Most of these experiences are included in the base fee. There are different price levels depending on how much information you want and how much time you have to spend. On the day I went, no reservations were needed at all, and there were no lines. About 3.5 million visitors come here every year, so imagine what that means for holiday or summer crowds, and you'll get the picture. As for the experience, the main arch tramway is a feat of engineering in itself, but was designed in the 1950s and built in the 1960s. The Arch was designed and constructed with a useful life goal of 1,000 years, provided proper maintenance is available. It should be able to withstand a direct hit from a tornado, for example. Due to structural limitations and strength requirements, the internal tram cars are very compact and may be crowded, but only for a few minutes when the doors are closed. Stairs to and from the trams are an unavoidable necessity on part of the journey up the arch, so if that is a limitation for you, talk to the staff to determine if you are able to participate. They are extremely well informed and will explain options and necessary abillities. Even a blind person can have a fun time if they have a companion skilled in explaining the views, and the tactile experience is pretty interesting all by itself due to the exceptional design features of the tram, and the shapes of the arch. There's more to tell, but I made a quick trip through, skipping bits I did not have time for, so I will leave others to explain the overall site, the riverfront walks and other experiences that I missed on this visit. Overall, in terms of value for time and value for momey, I rate the St. Louid Gateway Arch as 10/10.

We didn’t actually go to the top but I wanted to write a review from a different perspective.
I’d had mixed reviews about the arch and even a few discouraging us from visiting whilst driving Route 66 but I’m glad we ignored them.

Just to go and see the arch and take in this outstanding engineering feat was enough for me. It rises above the St Louis skyline and can be seen for miles around.
It is far bigger up close than I imagined and the free museum below is well worth a visit which I’ve commented on separately.

Great experience visiting the arch! We loved the 30 minute documentary about the building of the Gateway Arch before taking the tram to the top. Definitely recommend.

First of all, we're not from Missouri, and had never been to St. Louis. And most pictures I've seen of the arch gave it a white-ish appearance, leading me to always think it was made of some kind of stone (like the Washington monument). Whoops. Its steel. I also didn't know you could ride an elevator to the top! (I know, how clueless). Anyway, we enjoyed the museum and the visit to the top of the arch a lot! The museum is REALLY well done! I was amazed.
The ONLY negative thing was the dumb video you have to watch (projected on a wall, making it even more low quality appearing) before riding to the top of the arch. The video is the most cliched "1960's!" video *the decade the arch was built). "The beatles! MLK Jr! JFK! Hippies/flowers! groovy music! moon landing! Billie Jean King! Womens Lib! Civil rights!". Its the same old stuff we've all seen and heard a MILLION times in our lives. The video should have focused on the ARCH, The team who designed & built the arch, the significance of the arch and what it represents, the details on how it was constructed, etc!!!!!

Really enjoyed the tour, but were in a pod with 2 people we didn’t know. Very small space so did no care got that. Well organized, plenty of Park Service people around to help. We were afraid the downpour would cancel it, but it didn’t!!! It’s a bucket list item. If you’re in the area, do it. I would not recommend going to St. L just for that.

Great experience, especially for engineers…
The tram can be claustrophobic for some but thinking about the 60s technology it is a breakthrough.
Even today the construction of such a system needs special skills and expertise.
The top windows wowww!!!
You can see miles and miles. Wonderful.
Definitely recommend

Having grown up in the St. Louis area the Gateway Arch is a must! Returning after many years away and this time with family. A beautiful National Park albeit the smallest, great museum and the ride to the top is well worth it. Do not pass up on this!

This place is full of great history. I learned more about our history as Americans in one day there than I did my entire school years. Take your time to read the stations and enjoy.

We have the lifetime military National Park Pass. It gave us a discount on tickets to the top of the arch. Schedule your trip to the top well in advance. We got there at 2 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon, and the wait was 2 hours. It gave us time to explore the museum, but if you're in a hurry and just want to go to the top, plan ahead.

The Gateway Arch is a true engineering marvel! The view from the top is unmatched, St. Louis sprawling below.
A bit crowded and wait times long, but worth it. Tip: book your tickets early to avoid the queue!

It was very fun and unique to go to the top! Totally worth the ticket to see the fantastic view and have a nice memory. I would recommend coming with friends or a family, even kids could enjoy it.

Plan ahead. Your tour/tram ride is the time you will need to be in line. Not when it starts. Take time to tour the nice museum and gift shop. It is very clean and organized. The ride to the top is only about 10-15 min total but takes about an hour. Absolutely recommend.

Impressive and informative. I never noticed the windows at the top before we looked out of them. The viewing area steep (I didn’t expect that) but it added to the fun.

Beware of route guidance that leads you to the road between the arch and the river. The road to the National Park is blocked and you are lead to poor parking ond the riverbank. Must climb two big hills to get to the Arch. On a hot July day, that's not entertaining.

Whatever you do, watch the movie that is shown in the Tucker Theater. I have a fear of heights and was having anxiety watching those men walk around without harnesses! I checked to see how much those guys made and it was $2.30 an hour! Best 30 minutes of the whole place. The museum was informational and fun and the views from the Arch are AMAZING!

Definitely worth the stop. I highly recommend watching the movie before going up the arch. The tour up to the top only lasted about 15 minutes, not sure if that’s normal or not but it was very busy so maybe they were just running us through faster than normal. Lots of history to read/watch videos. You could spend most of the day there if you wanted.