St Louis for a day - logistics

Question

We are headed to St Louis and Kansas City for baseball games in late July.

We'll be in StL for 1 full day before heading to KC. It's a 7:10 game on a Fri and we'd love to explore what we can before the game - Gateway Arch, maybe the Anheuser Busch brewery (if it's pretty cool)? And a great dinner before the game!

Here are my questions!

*Do the brewery?

*Should we navigate without a car - I feel like I'm seeing we should probably expect to drive but I'm also a smidge concerned about the car, haha! If I'm reading that parking garage correctly, it's pretty reasonable if you stay for 12 hrs or less?

*If we get a car and end up driving, thoughts on what area we should lodge? There are 5 of us, needing 3 rooms, so I was thinking an airbnb. (Our 3 20-something children and us, 50-somethings).

*Katie's and Pappy's seem to get a lot of love restaurant-wise on this forum, anywhere else?

Finally, this question is probably kind of hard to answer but any info is appreciated.

On our way to KC we are planning to stop at Stone Hill winery. I guess I wondered if we should do it the morning of the game so we could get to KC faster? Or just pop in on the way to KC? One of our group is in the wine industry so it's high on his list to visit. I'm not even exactly sure what I'm really asking, ha!

Thank you thank you, any feedback appreciated!

Answer

It sounds like you have a fun, packed day planned in St. Louis before heading to Kansas City! Here’s a detailed breakdown and some suggestions for your logistics, sightseeing, and dining:

Exploring St. Louis:

The Gateway Arch is an iconic must-see and works well for a quick visit. You can take a tram to the top for city views if your group wants to do the full experience. The surrounding park area is great for walking around and taking photos.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery: Definitely a worthwhile stop, especially if your group enjoys seeing behind-the-scenes brewing operations and the historic site. Tours can last 1–2 hours, and they often include tastings for adults.
Timing: Since your game is at 7:10 pm, you’ll want to plan sightseeing and dinner in a way that allows you to comfortably get to the ballpark. Consider starting the Arch visit mid-morning and brewery tour in early afternoon.

Navigating without a car:

Downtown St. Louis is walkable in areas near the Arch and Ballpark Village. However, having a car gives flexibility, especially if you want to visit multiple attractions across the city. Parking garages downtown are reasonable for a day—many offer flat rates under $20 for 12 hours, which is convenient if you plan to move between sites.

If you stay downtown or near Ballpark Village, you can park once and walk to the Arch, brewery, and dinner.
Street traffic in July can be busy, so factor in extra travel time if you plan to drive.

Lodging:

Since you need three rooms for a mix of ages, an Airbnb can be a practical choice, offering more space and flexibility than multiple hotel rooms. Ideal areas to look for include:

Downtown/St. Louis near Ballpark Village – walkable to the ballpark, restaurants, and Arch.
Central West End – lively area with restaurants, cafes, and good access to highways if you’re driving onward to KC.
Clayton – quieter and slightly more suburban, still within 15–20 minutes of downtown attractions.

Dining options:

Katie’s and Pappy’s are local favorites, but you have other solid options depending on your group’s tastes and timeline:

Salt + Smoke – casual, great BBQ near the ballpark area.
SenThai – excellent for adventurous eaters, a bit upscale but family-friendly.
Chesterfield’s local diners – good if you stay in that area.

Stone Hill Winery:

If your group is really interested in wine, stopping at Stone Hill Winery is worthwhile. For logistics:

Visiting on the way to KC after your day in St. Louis allows you to maximize sightseeing without rushing your morning.
If you visit in the morning, you might be cutting it close to enjoy the Arch and brewery without feeling rushed.

Summary plan suggestion:

Mid-morning – Gateway Arch visit and park exploration.
Early afternoon – Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour.
Late afternoon – Dinner near the ballpark (Katie’s, Pappy’s, or Salt + Smoke).
Evening – Attend the 7:10 game.
Next morning – Depart for KC, stopping at Stone Hill Winery along the way.

This schedule balances sightseeing, meals, and the baseball game without feeling overly rushed, and having a car gives more flexibility for moving between attractions and managing luggage with your Airbnb choice.

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