Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Towering above the mighty Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis, the Gateway Arch stands as an invitation to anyone seeking to venture west. The arch’s sleek design was selected in a nationwide contest seeking the perfect symbol for Thomas Jefferson’s Westward Expansion and was completed in 1965 to great fanfare. Today, it stands as one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of America and represents an important part of our shared history.
But the arch itself isn’t the only draw to Gateway Arch National Park. From the engrossing exhibits below to the dizzying views above, this park has enough to fill up an entire day of exploration and fun.
The best way to begin a visit to Gateway Arch National Park is with a tour of the newly renovated museum beneath the arch itself. There, visitors can get up-close-and-personal with 201 years of American history in six different galleries that explore the peoples and events that defined the Westward Expansion that began in St. Louis, including:
Tickets to enter the Gateway Arch include admission to the museum and all of its galleries and exhibits, and they’re completely free for all ages. It’s important to book your visit in advance, however, as entry is given in rolling 10-minute increments and you might find yourself waiting on a particularly busy day. For more information and to reserve your tickets, visit the Gateway Arch website.
For an additional fee, you can complete your museum experience at the Gateway Arch with a tram ride to the observation deck hidden inside the very top of the arch. The views from 630 feet up in the air are absolutely incredible—with a look at the Mississippi River and Illinois to the east and Downtown St. Louis, including the restored Old Courthouse, to the west. The complete tram ride experience takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes and requires guests to climb six flights of stairs to get into position. Note that there aren’t any bathrooms or sitting areas at the top, so be prepared to stay on your feet for the whole experience.
You can bundle tickets for the tram ride in with your free museum admission tickets, and it’s highly recommended you do so in advance so you can be sure to select a time that fits your schedule. The tickets are affordable and vary in price by age:
You can also get larger bundles that include riverboat cruises—more on that below.
Another great way to see the Gateway Arch and the rest of the working riverfront of downtown St. Louis is with a Riverboat Cruise—offered at the pier at Gateway Arch National Park. The standard St. Louis Riverfront Cruise is a one-hour trip narrated by a National Park Service ranger. Tickets range from $8 at the lowest for children up to $22, but can be bundled with your tram ride to the top and/or a documentary film at the park’s theater for a discount—more info on those ticket bundles here.
There are many more options, however, that can give you the Mississippi River cruise experience of your choice. Skyline Dinner Cruises offer beautiful views of St. Louis at night with live music and a delicious menu. Arch View Lunch cruises are a great way to grab a midday meal while taking in the sights and sounds of the mighty Mississippi. There’s also a Sunday Brunch Cruise, a Blues Cruise, and countless other specialty cruises to choose from depending on the time of year you visit. Check them all out at the Gateway Arch website.
Standing under the shadow of the Gateway Arch is the Old Courthouse, whose green dome and alabaster walls complete the picture of Gateway Arch National Park. Admission to the Old Courthouse is free, and it’s a short walk—just a block away from the base of the arch. Inside, you’ll marvel at the classic architecture of the hallowed halls, which were built in 1839.
Why is the Old Courthouse a remarkable place to visit? Consider the cases that went through this facility when it was still in use, like the famous Dred Scott lawsuits of the 1840s and 1850s, in which the enslaved Scott sued for his and his wife Harriet’s freedom twice before being struck down by the Supreme Court—a crushing defeat, but an important national case that drew attention to the many problems with the existing system of slavery in the United States. Learn more about the Dred Scott case, that of suffragette Virginia Minor, and others at the Courthouse—hours and information here.
You’ve journeyed beneath the arch to the museum. You’ve ridden to the top to see St. Louis from on high, walked through the park to the Old Courthouse for a panoramic view of the Gateway Arch and the river, and you’ve even hopped a boat on the Mississippi. What’s left? Well, with a sense of adventure, there’s still one incredible way to get a new perspective on the Gateway Arch and the surrounding city: a helicopter tour! Operated by Gateway Helicopter Tours, it’s surprisingly affordable and easy to hop in a chopper for a private tour of the arch, with tickets starting at only $43 per adult. You won’t fly through the Gateway Arch (that’s illegal) but you’ll fly around and over it and see the city of St. Louis like never before.
For an even more comprehensive experience, the company also offers expanded tours of the city, like the Anheuser-Busch Experience that takes you over Busch Stadium where the Cardinals play and down to the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Or spring for the Deluxe Experience, which will take you over Forest Park around the St. Louis Zoo, the Art and History Museum, and the Chain of Rocks Lock and Dam. Learn all about the available tickets on the Gateway Helicopter Tours website.
Looking for a great place to camp in the RV near the Gateway Arch? You can’t get any closer than St. Louis RV Park, which is just a six-minute drive east of the river. The park offers large pull-through campsites with water, sewer, and electric hookups from 30 to 80 amps. There’s an on-site pool, a convenience store, and best of all, it’s a short walk from outstanding St. Louis restaurants like Pappy’s Smokehouse.
Located a quick drive from St. Louis is Sundermeier RV Park in historic St. Charles, which was Missouri’s first state capital. Today, visitors come to St. Charles and Sundermeier in particular for its location right on the banks of the Missouri River. Enjoy affordable back-in and pull-through sites with full hookups in a quaint and peaceful RV community.
Just over the border in Cahokia, Illinois is Cahokia RV Parque, the perfect home base for day trips to attractions like the Gateway Arch. Cahokia offers all the amenities you’d expect from a quality RV park, plus one you might not find everywhere: a world-class St. Louis-style barbecue restaurant located within the park itself.
Also across the river in East St. Louis, Illinois lies Casino Queen RV Park, a unique destination that offers gorgeous views of the Mississippi River and Downtown St. Louis right from your spacious RV campsite. As the name implies, this park is located near the Casino Queen casino and offers a free shuttle to the casino and to a nearby MetroLink station, so you can hop on a train to make your way into St. Louis and Gateway Arch National Park.
Granite City KOA is a little farther out from the park in Granite City but offers a highly rated RV experience. There are 56 pull-through electric sites, each with Wi-Fi access. While there, enjoy the swimming pool and enclosed dog run for your four-legged family members. There’s also on-site laundry and tent camping allowed if you just have to get out of the RV for a night.
Opened in 2018 along with the newly renovated visitor center and museum beneath the Gateway Arch, the Arch Café is a great place to grab a bite or a cup of coffee during your tour of the museum. Its menu features local favorites, vegetarian and gluten-free selections, and a full coffee bar. Outside on the riverboat dock, Paddlewheel Café offers beer and wine, plus great selections like smashed burgers, catfish, and Nashville hot chicken.
The Gateway Arch is right in the middle of Downtown St. Louis with such a long list of restaurants to choose from it’s hard to even begin narrowing it down. But, Polite Society and Rooster offer great breakfast and brunch options. The Schlafly Tap Room is just a quick drive from the arch, and Pappy’s Smokehouse is the top spot in town for St. Louis-style ribs.
For more information on the long list of restaurants and bars in St. Louis, visit the city’s tourism website.