Have you taken your kids to the Gateway Arch lately? Sure, you might think of it as a tourist destination, but it’s fun to play tourist in your hometown once in a while. In fact, “if you haven’t been there since 2018, you won’t believe the changes that have taken place,” says Pam Sanfilippo, program manager for museum services and interpretation for Gateway Arch National Park.
The idea for the 630-foot-tall monument (that’s 63 stories!) we know and love today began in 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the property to be developed as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial to commemorate President Thomas Jefferson’s ideas for westward expansion of the U.S. A nationwide competition to determine the shape of the monument was held in 1948, and construction began on architect Eero Saarinen’s design for a stainless steel arch in 1963. The iconic Arch was completed in 1965.
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Today, the 91-acre national park has 5 miles of walking and biking paths with outdoor wellness challenges, a newly renovated museum full of interactive components for all ages, a list of free summer programming, and, of course, rides to the top of Gateway Arch for spectacular views of St. Louis.
Here’s how to make the most of your visit to Gateway Arch National Park with your kids.
Must-See Highlights of the Gateway Arch
The main event of visiting the arch is taking the tram ride to the top to see the amazing views of St. Louis. The tram consists of eight capsules, each of which holds five people. While the actual tram ride lasts approximately four minutes, plan to spend at least 40–60 minutes total for the experience. While you wait for your allotted tram time, you can watch videos that explore the building of the Arch. Once at the top, you’ll have about 10 minutes of viewing time before you reboard the tram for a three-minute return trip. “There are a combined total of 96 steps to the tram boarding area and at the top, so those with mobility issues need to keep that in mind,” Sanfilippo says.
Want to add a special experience to your visit to the Gateway Arch? Reserve your spot on a Riverboat Cruise. Offered through Bi-State Development, National Park Service rangers narrate the one-hour cruises, which tour the north and south sides of the Arch. Participants will learn about the importance of the Mississippi River, both historically and today, and see views of the city and Arch that you can only get from the river. Riverboat cruises are currently offered at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily, according to Sanfilippo.
Because the Gateway Arch is part of the National Park Service, it offers Junior Ranger programs, both for the Arch and the riverboat cruises. The Junior Ranger program, for ages 5 and older, aims to help kids learn about St. Louis history and westward expansion in the 1800s. Upon arrival, be sure to pick up a booklet at the Gateway Arch National Park Visitor Center information desk. Once your child completes the requisite number of activities, they’ll earn a Junior Ranger badge.
Hidden Gems
Newly redone, the Museum at Gateway Arch National Park is a free experience that offers an innovative way for visitors to explore St. Louis’ history. In the museum, you can learn why Gateway Arch National Park was established; the individuals and cultures that explored, lived on, and exploited the lands west of the Mississippi; St. Louis’ role as the ‘Gateway to the West’; and how the Arch was selected and built as the memorial to Jefferson’s vision.
Plus, “there are so many interactives for kids—whether it’s IT components for you to find out what settlers took with them on their journey west or puzzles and tactile objects to try or feel,” Sanfilippo says. “Some favorite exhibits are the pirogue [a long, narrow canoe] in the Colonial St. Louis gallery, the magnifying glasses in Jefferson’s Vision, and moving the tram model to the top of the Arch in the Building the Dream gallery. But really, it depends on your age and interest—there is something for everyone.”
The other hidden gem, Sanfilippo says, is the Arch’s documentary Monument to the Dream, a 35-minute film that shows how the inspiration for the monument became a reality. The documentary is screened in Tucker Theater every hour from 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Best Photo Ops of the Gateway Arch
Want to snap some amazing shots of your day at the Gateway Arch for your Instagram feed? Here are a few highlights that Sanfilippo and the team at the Arch suggest:
Head to the reflecting ponds on the north and south sides of the park and snap a shot of the reflection of the Arch.
While you’re at one of the ends of the park, you can also line up the legs of the Arch to make it look like one single pillar, similar to the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
In the late afternoon, head to Luther Ely Smith Square to take a forced-perspective photo. You can make it look like your kids are holding up the legs of the Arch or patting on its head.
Get as close as you can to one of the bases of the Arch, and snap a shot looking up! “This is an amazing shot to have,” Sanfilippo says. “I’ve gotten it when the sun is right above and the Arch itself is kind of blocking the sun, but you still see that burst of light on either side of it and that’s a cool one, too.”
From Kiener Plaza Park, you can take a striking picture of the Arch and the Old Courthouse, which was the site of a number of landmark civil rights cases, including where Dred and Harriet Scott filed their suit for freedom. (Note: The Old Courthouse is currently closed for renovations; Sanfilippo says the renovations should be completed in late 2024, followed by the installation of exhibits and reopening in early to mid-2025.)
Finally, during a Cardinals game, stand in the sections behind home plate at Busch Stadium to take an epic shot of the field with the Gateway Arch in the background.
Special and Seasonal Events
Gateway Arch National Park hosts a variety of family-friendly events year-round. Sanfilippo shares some highlights, many of which are free summer events.
Celebrate America’s birthday by heading to Gateway Arch National Park to see Fair Saint Louis’ July 4th fireworks. They shoot off from barges on the Mississippi River, so any spot in the park is a great spot to see the show. The fireworks display will begin between 9:15-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4 and last approximately 25-30 minutes.
Gateway to the Stars, which runs monthly through October, gives families an opportunity to learn about astronomy and space with NPS Rangers. One we’re particularly looking forward to? Kids Explorer Night on Friday, Aug. 25, from 7-9:30 p.m. It’s when kids ages 5-12 can build and bring home their own working Galileoscope and earn the special Junior Ranger Night Explorer patch.
Other summer family programs at Gateway Arch include:
Puppet Program: Rangers will use puppets to engage kids and teach them about various themes related to the Arch; Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Touch Tables: Rangers will have a cart with various touchable objects, including animal hides, tools, and clothing from the city’s early history daily at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.
Museum Tours: Meet a ranger for a special tour of the museum. Learn about the city’s role in the westward expansion of the U.S., and explore more than 200 years of history. Daily at noon and 4 p.m.
In the fall, celebrate Halloween at the Arch’s Frights & Heights event. Families can come dressed in costume for trick-or-treating, tram rides to the top of the Arch, special activities, and more.
Tips for Visiting the Gateway Arch
Sanfilippo offers the following tips for spending the day at Gateway Arch with your kids:
- Book your tickets in advance online to ensure you’re able to access the Arch. This is especially important in the summer, as tickets tend to sell out.
- Take advantage of the Preferred Parking Program at Stadium East Parking Garage. You’ll get a discounted rate of $9 for the first five hours.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your tram reservation time to allow time to get through security.
- The last tram leaves one-hour prior to closing.
- Wheelchairs and strollers are not allowed in the trams.
- Because the Gateway Arch was designed prior to accessibility guidelines being in place and the design cannot be modified, tram rides to the top are not accessible for wheelchairs or those unable to walk the 96 steps to and from the trams. The grounds, walkways, visitor center, and museum are fully accessible, though. In fact, the museum’s exhibits were created using universal design.
- If you want to avoid large crowds, then plan to visit in the late fall or early spring.
Fast Stats
- Good for: Everyone! You’ll love the history and views, and your kids will have fun (and learn a few things) with the Junior Ranger program
- Price: The Tram Ride to the Top starts at $15; $11 for children ages 3-15; and $12 with the America the Beautiful Pass. The Gateway Arch also offers combo tickets for Tram & Movie, Tram & Cruise, and See Everything. See the website for pricing information.
- Hours: The Arch is open daily, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. in the summer and daily, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. in the winter. Park grounds are open daily, 5 a.m.–11 p.m., year-round.
- Is there food? Yes, there are two restaurants on premises, and both have kids’ menus. Paddlewheel Café, located on the riverboat dock, is open Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Arch Café, located in the Gateway Arch Visitor Center Lobby, is open daily, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. and post-Labor Day to Memorial Day Weekend, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Location: Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis
- Website: gatewayarch.com
- Phone: 877-982-1410
- Social: Instagram • Facebook • Twitter
