Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

Thomas Jefferson’‘s vision of the spread of freedom and democracy from "sea to shining sea" inspired Eero Saarinen’‘s masterpiece of modern design. The 630 foot stainless steel Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis’‘ role as the gateway to the West. The park is a memorial to Jefferson’‘s role in opening the West through the Louisiana Purchase to the pioneers who helped shape the history of that American West.

The Basics

Hours:

Hours

The Old Courthouse is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’‘s Day. Admission is free.

The Gateway Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day (summer hours), and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. the remainder of the year (winter hours); closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’‘s Day.

Address:

11 North 4th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102

Phone:

314-655-1700

Map

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Missouri Map

Directions

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is located in the heart of downtown St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Interstate Routes 44, 55, 64 and 70 converge near the park.

From Lambert International Airport (North)
Traveling east on I-70, take the Memorial Drive-Downtown Exit (250B). Travel through one stoplight (Pine St.), then turn left on Chestnut. Cross over the highway then turn left on Memorial Drive. Stay in the right lane and turn right on Washington Avenue. Traveling east, the garage is on the right.

From Illinois (East)
Traveling west on I-64, I-55/70 cross the Poplar Street Bridge. Take the Memorial Drive/Arch Riverfront/Convention Center Exit Only (right lane). Garage parking and the riverfront are accessible by traveling past the Arch and taking the first right onto Washington Avenue. Traveling east, the garage is on the right.

From South St. Louis
Traveling north on I-55 and I-44 (I-44 East merges with I-55 North) take the Downtown Exit (209A) and then take the Memorial Drive Exit (251C) which is the 2nd right-hand lane (the far right lane goes to Illinois). Garage parking and the riverfront are accessible by traveling past the Arch (right lane) and taking the first right (Washington Avenue). Traveling east, the garage is on the right.

From West St. Louis
Traveling east on I-40 take the Broadway Exit (last Missouri Exit-40B). At the stop sign turn left. At the 2nd stoplight (4th Street) make a left turn onto 4th and travel north to Walnut. Turn right on Walnut and travel east to Memorial Drive. Turn left on Memorial Drive. The Arch garage is past the Arch (traveling north). Turn right on Washington Avenue. Traveling east, the garage is on the right.

Climate

Summers are often hot and humid, with average temperatures in the high 80 or 90° Fahrenheit; autumn and spring are mild and pleasant; winters are rarely harsh, with average temperatures about 30° Fahrenheit.

Link to our St Louis Weather coverage for more information.

Seasons

When to Visit

Summer is high season at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Come early, or come late (the crowds are light during the evening). Make a day of it -- plan a visit to another of the city's terrific attractions. During August and September, the crowds thin out as kids return to school. Fall is a busy time due to many group tours. The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days so be sure to arrive early!

Winter is a perfect time to visit! There are no lines for the trams, no waiting for movies, and the weather is surprisingly mild. Prolonged periods of extremely cold weather are rare, and in fact, records show that the temperature doesn't get lower than 32 degrees more than 25 days throughout the winter!

When spring returns, so do the group tours. In May and early June, there are light crowds with minimal waiting. The weather is mild and the extended hours give your plans flexibility.

Normal Daily Mean Temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit)*
January - 29.3
February - 33.9
March - 45.1
April - 56.7
May - 66.1
June - 75.4
July - 79.8
August - 77.6
September - 70.2
October - 58.4
November - 46.2
December - 33.9

Average Percent of Days with Sunshine*
January - 50%
February - 52%
March - 54%
April - 56%
May - 59%
June - 66%
July - 68%
August - 65%
September - 63%
October - 60%
November - 46%
December - 53%

*Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Fees

Prices for attractions vary.

Things To Do

Whether you're passing through for the day, or planning an extended stay in the St. Louis area, there is plenty to do and see at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Follow the links to the left for all the details you may need to plan your visit.

To help get you started, here's what a typical visit may include:

Don't miss a tram ride to the top of the Arch for a stunning panoramic view of the St. Louis area.
See a screening of the film "Monument to the Dream" which details the construction of the Arch. Or take in a film at the Odyssey Theatre, which shows movies on its wide-screen, four-story tall screen.
Rent a bicycle and explore the riverfront area.
Head out onto the Mississippi River on a Riverboat Cruise.
Visit the Museum of Westward Expansion, which features an extensive collection of artifacts, mounted animal specimens, an authentic American Indian tipi, and an overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Take a helicopter ride and get a birds' eye view of the Arch!
Make a stop at one of the museum shops for a wide selection of books, videos, posters, and educational materials
Head to the Old Courthouse, which contains restored courtrooms, information on the Dred Scott case, and a museum and film charting the history of the city of St. Louis.

Security Note:
Due to security measures visitors may encounter delays entering the Visitor Center. All visitors must pass through a security checkpoint. Please keep this in mind when planning your visit. Groups should arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of their reservation time.

Guided Tours

Ranger led tours of the Old Courthouse and Museum of Westward Expansion are led everyday on varying schedules. Please check with the information desk for exact times of tours.

Self-guiding audio tours are available at the Old Courthouse bookstore for a fee.

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