# Gateway Arch: 2 Days at the Arch, Old Courthouse and Riverfront

Source: https://driftkin.app/trips/gateway-arch-2-day-arch-courthouse-and-riverfront · Fact-checked against official sources · Updated 8 Oct 2026

**Quick answer:** This is a 2-day Gateway Arch National Park itinerary. Day 1: The Arch, the Courthouse and the Riverfront; Day 2: River views, sculpture and St. Louis classics. Best months: April to June and September to October. Difficulty: easy. Budget: $$.

A walkable St. Louis weekend built around the tram, the museum and the Mississippi

Ride the tram 630 feet up the Gateway Arch, tour the Old Courthouse where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for freedom, and walk the Mississippi riverfront. Day two adds Citygarden, a Hill hot salami sandwich and Ted Drewes custard. Budget tier is an estimate; lodging and dining prices vary.

- National park: Gateway Arch, MO
- Length: 2 days
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Budget: $$

## Highlights

- Timed tram ride to the top of the 630-foot Arch
- Free Museum at the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse (Dred Scott case)
- Grand Staircase, riverfront and Captains' Return statue
- Citygarden sculpture park
- Hot salami at Gioia's on The Hill and a Concrete at Ted Drewes

## Why visit Gateway Arch

St. Louis is not a place you hike into. It is a place you walk into, and the park is a compact green ribbon between downtown and the Mississippi. Gateway Arch National Park is small, but it packs three stories into a few walkable blocks: Thomas Jefferson's vision of a continental nation, the city's role as the jumping-off point for westward expansion, and the Old Courthouse, where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom.

This two-day plan takes the park at an unhurried pace. Day one is all park. You begin beneath the Arch while the grounds are quiet, drop down the Grand Staircase to the levee, then ride the tram 630 feet up. The free museum sits underneath, and across the street the Old Courthouse tells the Scott story in the building where the case was heard. The afternoon slows down with a walk through the Explorer Garden and a look at the Eads Bridge, which is the oldest bridge still standing on the Mississippi.

Day two widens the lens. You start with the Captains' Return statue and the riverfront trail, walk a few blocks west to Citygarden's sculptures (a suggested next stop from the park), then drive out of downtown for two St. Louis food traditions: the hot salami sandwich at Gioia's on The Hill and a Concrete at Ted Drewes on Route 66. Day two needs a car or rideshare.

Some logistics shape the trip more than at a typical park. The tram needs a timed ticket that can sell out; the museum and the Old Courthouse are free and unticketed; and everyone entering the Arch complex passes through a security checkpoint. Food stops are the Arch Cafe for a fast lunch on day one and Broadway Oyster Bar for a sit-down dinner with live music.

## Gateway Arch 2-day itinerary, day by day

### Day 1: The Arch, the Courthouse and the Riverfront

Day one stays inside the park's compact footprint. You start under the Arch and on the levee, ride the tram, spend the middle of the day in the museum and the Old Courthouse, then finish with a garden walk, the Eads Bridge, Cajun food and a dusk stroll by the ponds. Everything is within a mile of the hotel, so you can walk it all.

#### Stand directly beneath the Arch (8:15 AM)

Start where the photos are taken from and then ignore the camera for a minute. Walk up to the base of the Arch and look straight up the stainless-steel curve, where 630 feet of steel narrows into a sliver against the sky. You can even lie on the lawn beneath it. Morning is the calmest time on the grounds, before the tram lines start to form. The grounds are open daily from early morning until late evening, so this stop needs no ticket.

- Time needed: About 20 minutes

Place: Directly below the Gateway Arch · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/places/directly-below-the-gateway-arch.htm

#### The Riverfront and the Grand Staircase (8:35 AM)

Drop east from the Arch onto the Grand Staircase and gentle ramps that lead to the Mississippi. The riverfront was once the bustling heart of the city and is still one of the best places to watch river traffic. Look for the brass Flood of 1993 marker on the staircase, which shows how high the water once climbed. Then climb back up (5-20 minutes is suggested, depending how hard you want to push it) and walk to the Visitor Center's west entrance, facing Fourth Street, to clear security before your tram time.

- Time needed: 5-20 minutes for the staircase itself; extra time for the levee views

Place: The Riverfront · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/places/the-riverfront.htm

#### Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch (9:30 AM)

The Arch's trams are compact capsules that carry you up inside the legs to a narrow observation deck 630 feet up. Visitors are asked to allow 45 to 60 minutes for the full experience, including a pre-boarding exhibit. On a clear day the deck looks down on the Old Courthouse, the river and the Illinois side. Tickets are timed and, according to the concessioner, sometimes sell out, so book at gatewayarch.com before you go. Everyone passes a security checkpoint at the Visitor Center's west entrance; the concessioner advises at least 15 minutes for screening. The legs themselves are exit-only.

- Reservation needed
- Best time: Clear mornings
- Time needed: 45-60 minutes

Place: Tram Ride to the Top (Gateway Arch) · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Visitor center 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily in the regular season; last tram departs one hour before closing · https://www.gatewayarch.com/

#### Museum at the Gateway Arch (10:30 AM)

Directly below the Arch, the free museum walks through about 200 years of westward-expansion history with a focus on St. Louis's role. It is designed to be flexible: browse for 20 minutes before a tram, or read every panel. Look for the Building the Arch exhibit with its models of the grounds and the structure, and the large brick mural outside the Tucker Theater honoring the people behind the monument. If you want the backstory, the 35-minute documentary Monument to the Dream runs on timed, ticketed showings.

- Time needed: Flexible; film adds 35 minutes

Place: Museum at the Gateway Arch · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Visitor center and museum 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily in the regular season · https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/explore-the-museum-under-the-gateway-arch.htm

#### Lunch at the Arch Cafe (11:45 AM)

The simplest lunch is inside the Visitor Center: the Arch Cafe needs no ticket and keeps you on schedule for the Old Courthouse without re-entering security. It is open 9 AM to 4 PM during regular hours and 9 AM to 6 PM during extended hours, so the late-morning lunch slot works in either season. Menu details are on gatewayarch.com.

Place: Arch Cafe (Gateway Arch Visitor Center) · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Regular hours 9 AM - 4 PM; extended hours 9 AM - 6 PM · https://www.gatewayarch.com/

#### Dred and Harriet Scott Statue (12:45 PM)

Cross Fourth Street to the Old Courthouse lawn and pause at the statue of Dred and Harriet Scott, placed in honor of their fight for their family's freedom. It sets up the next stop, because the Scotts' suit was heard inside the building behind it. The Arch is framed in the background from here.

- Time needed: 15 minutes

Place: Dred and Harriet Scott Statue · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/places/dred-and-harriet-scott-statue.htm

#### Old Courthouse and the Dred Scott case (1:00 PM)

The domed courthouse is the reason St. Louis is part of the national park. It is the location of the first two trials of the Dred Scott case, where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom. The courthouse hosted more than 300 suits for freedom in all. Inside, modern exhibits cover the U.S. court system and the Scotts, and the rotunda's painted ceiling is worth a slow look upward. Admission is free and no ticket is needed.

- Time needed: About 60-90 minutes

Place: Old Courthouse · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day · https://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/och.htm

#### Explorer Garden and North Gateway (2:45 PM)

Walk north along the paved paths to the Explorer Garden, planted mostly with native species to support pollinators; it is designed to bloom from February to October and sits where a concrete parking garage once stood. It is the park's quiet corner, with flat rocks for resting and a drinking fountain. Plants here include some that Native peoples used and Lewis and Clark described in their journals. On the way you pass the Catenary Curve Wayside, which explains the curve of the Arch with a tactile model.

- Best time: Spring through early fall
- Time needed: 30-45 minutes

Place: Explorer Garden · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/places/explorer-garden.htm

#### Eads Bridge (3:35 PM)

Just north of the garden, the Eads Bridge is a stop for the engineering-minded. It is an architectural wonder with a fascinating history: the first bridge across the Mississippi at St. Louis, built in 1874, and the oldest bridge still standing on the river. Admire the arched steel spans from the riverfront, then head to the hotel for a rest.

- Time needed: 30-40 minutes

Place: Eads Bridge · Eads Bridge, St. Louis Riverfront, St. Louis, MO 63102 · https://www.nps.gov/places/eads-bridge.htm

#### Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch (4:30 PM)

A convenient base for a walking trip: the hotel's official site puts it one block from the Arch, at 2 South 4th Street. It lists a free hot breakfast daily, a free early-evening food and drink reception, an indoor pool and covered parking for a fee. Check-in is at 3 PM. Take a break here before dinner.

Place: Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch · 2 S 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Check-in 3 pm, check-out 11 am (official site) · https://www.druryhotels.com/locations/st-louis-mo/drury-plaza-hotel-st-louis-at-the-arch

#### Dinner at Broadway Oyster Bar (6:00 PM)

A short ride or roughly half-mile straight-line trip south of the Arch, this Cajun and Creole spot pairs a menu of Gulf oysters, crawfish, shrimp and catfish with live music. Its own site lists kitchen hours of 11 AM to 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and to 11 PM Friday and Saturday, and says live music runs twice nightly except Fridays. Expect a lively room rather than a quiet dinner.

Place: Broadway Oyster Bar · 736 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Kitchen Sun-Thu 11 AM - 10 PM, Fri-Sat 11 AM - 11 PM; bar daily 11 AM - 1:30 AM (official site) · https://www.broadwayoysterbar.com/

#### Evening at the Reflection Ponds (7:45 PM)

End the day with a slow loop by the ponds north and south of the Arch. Visitors are invited to use all five senses here. Grounds stay open until 11 PM, so you can watch the light fade on the steel with no ticket. Sunset falls at a different time each month, so check the time for your dates.

- Best time: Dusk
- Time needed: 30 minutes

Place: Reflection ponds (north and south of the Arch) · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/a-moment-of-reflection.htm

### Day 2: River views, sculpture and St. Louis classics

A gentler second day. Walk the north riverfront first, pick up Citygarden on the way back into downtown, then head west for two St. Louis food institutions: a hot salami sandwich and a frozen-custard Concrete.

#### The Captains' Return (9:15 AM)

Begin on the north riverfront with the 22-foot bronze of William Clark, Meriwether Lewis and Lewis's dog Seaman. It was installed in 2006 for the bicentennial of the expedition's return, then moved higher on the riverfront in 2016 to protect it from flooding.

- Time needed: 20 minutes

Place: The Captains' Return · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/places/the-captains-return.htm

#### Stroll the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (9:35 AM)

Visitors are pointed to the historic riverfront trail for easy movement along the Mississippi. It is a flat, paved outing rather than a hike, good for watching barges and getting a different angle on the Arch. The grounds have about five miles of paved trails in all. Distance for this stretch is not published, so it is treated as a walk of your own length.

- Time needed: 30-60 minutes

Place: St. Louis Riverfront Trail · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · Hours: Gateway Arch grounds: daily 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM · https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/move-along-the-mississippi-river.htm

#### Citygarden Sculpture Park (10:40 AM)

The suggested next stop past the Old Courthouse is Citygarden, a sculpture park a few blocks west. It is free, open sunrise to 10 PM daily according to its own site, and works well as a low-effort art break. Its Children's Spray Plaza runs only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The rules include leashed dogs, no climbing on sculptures and no bikes or scooters.

- Time needed: 45-60 minutes

Place: Citygarden · 801 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63101 · Hours: Sunrise to 10 PM daily (official site) · https://www.citygardenstl.org/

#### Hot salami lunch at Gioia's Deli on The Hill (12:00 PM)

Drive out to The Hill, about 5.7 road miles (roughly a 10-minute drive) from Citygarden; day two needs a car or rideshare, for Gioia's Deli. Its site lists The Original Hot Salami Sandwich made with fresh sausage sliced to order, available in regular and large sizes (prices in meta, as of 2026-09-29). The Hill location is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and closed Sunday. On a Sunday, use the Pappy's option instead.

Place: Gioia's Deli (The Hill) · 1934 Macklind Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 · Hours: Mon-Sat 10 AM - 4 PM; closed Sunday (official site) · https://www.gioiasdeli.com/

#### Frozen custard at Ted Drewes (Route 66) (1:15 PM)

Finish with a Concrete, the custard treat the shop says is so thick you can turn it upside down, with more than 30 toppings. The Chippewa location, about 3.2 road miles (roughly 8 minutes' drive) from Gioia's, is listed as open year-round, 11 AM to 10:30 PM daily. The business says it has run since 1929 and is a Route 66 landmark. After this, you have the afternoon free; consider the riverboat cruise from the options list before heading home.

Place: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (Chippewa) · 6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO 63109 · Hours: Daily 11 AM - 10:30 PM (official site) · https://www.teddrewes.com/

## Where to stay in St. Louis

### Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch

A larger convention-style hotel at 315 Chestnut Street, in the downtown blocks near the Arch. Amenities and rates were not verified from the official site, which blocked automated access, so check hyatt.com before booking.

Place: Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch · 315 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/stlrs-hyatt-regency-st-louis-at-the-arch

### Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch)

A more moderate option at 333 Washington Ave, under a mile from the Arch per listing sources. Listings mention complimentary hot breakfast, an indoor pool and paid on-site parking; the Hilton site blocked automated access, so confirm details at hilton.com.

Place: Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch) · 333 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102 · https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stldthx-hampton-st-louis-downtown-at-the-gateway-arch/

## Where to eat in St. Louis

### Pappy's Smokehouse

A BBQ alternative for lunch, especially on Sunday when Gioia's is closed. The restaurant's site lists dry-rubbed ribs smoked over apple and cherry wood, plus pulled pork, brisket and burnt ends. It warns that it may sell out, so call if going later. It is closed Tuesdays. It sits about 2 road miles (roughly 5 minutes' drive) from Citygarden.

Place: Pappy's Smokehouse · 3106 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63103 · Hours: Mon 11-4, Tue closed, Wed 11-4, Thu 11-6, Fri-Sat 11-7, Sun 11-4 (official site) · https://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/

## More options near Gateway Arch

### Riverboat sightseeing cruise on the Tom Sawyer

The concessioner runs roughly hour-long sightseeing cruises aboard the Tom Sawyer, a replica 19th-century paddle-wheeler. It boards from the historic cobblestone levee on the riverfront, reachable through the park or via Chouteau Avenue; the riverboats are south of the Arch and tickets are sold in the Visitor Center. Cruise times and prices are not published in the sources used; check gatewayarch.com. The pin is the park's riverfront point, not the boarding dock.

- Time needed: About an hour

Place: Riverboats at the Gateway Arch · 11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102 · https://www.gatewayarch.com/experience/riverboat-cruises/

## Gateway Arch travel tips

**Current conditions (as of 2026-09-29)**
- The park alerts feed returned no active alerts for the park. The park conditions page lists a security checkpoint for all visitors (no weapons, including pepper spray and fixed-blade knives).
- Regular (winter) hours run from the day after Labor Day 2026 through 2027-05-31: Arch visitor center and museum 9 AM - 6 PM daily; last tram departure one hour before closing. Old Courthouse 9 AM - 5 PM. Grounds 5 AM - 11 PM.
- Closed Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026), Christmas Day (2026-12-25) and New Year's Day (2027-01-01).
- Tram tickets: fares vary by rider and date. The 'A View From the Top' page lists adults 16+ from about $12, children 3-15 from $8 and pass holders from $9; the park conditions page cites a range of $11-$19 (as of 2026-09-29). The ticket includes a $3 entrance-fee share, waived for America the Beautiful pass holders, who get a discount on up to four tickets. Verify current prices at gatewayarch.com. The museum and Old Courthouse are free. Film: $7 adults, $3 children 3-15, $4 pass holders (as of 2026-09-29).
- Parking: the park does not run its own lot. A preferred-parking rate of $11 for 5 hours is listed at Stadium East Garage (200 S Broadway), pre-purchased at iparkit.com/TheArch, as of 2026-09-29. On Cardinals home-game dates it must be bought by 11:59 PM the day before.
- Arch Cafe: 9 AM - 4 PM in regular hours and 9 AM - 6 PM in extended hours; the current season is regular hours.
- Riverboat cruises typically run March to November; check current schedules.

**Planning**
- Day 2 needs a car or rideshare (Citygarden to Gioia's is about 5.7 road miles; Gioia's to Ted Drewes about 3.2).
- Book the tram in advance; it sells out. Arrive at the west entrance (facing Fourth Street) with time for security; the concessioner suggests at least 15 minutes.
- The Arch legs are exit-only.
- MetroLink light rail: exit at 8th and Pine or Laclede's Landing and follow signs for about a 10-minute walk.
- Sunday: Gioia's is closed; use Pappy's (closed Tuesday). Pappy's may sell out early.
- Tuesday: Pappy's is closed.
- The itinerary is timed for a base in the hotel one block from the Arch; skip the hotel step and it still works.
- Photos are park images; restaurants and hotels have none.

## Gateway Arch trip FAQ

**How many days does this Gateway Arch itinerary take?**

2 days to cover Gateway Arch National Park. Day 1: The Arch, the Courthouse and the Riverfront; Day 2: River views, sculpture and St. Louis classics.

**When is the best time for Gateway Arch?**

The best months are April to June and September to October.

**What are the highlights of this Gateway Arch itinerary?**

Timed tram ride to the top of the 630-foot Arch; Free Museum at the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse (Dred Scott case); Grand Staircase, riverfront and Captains' Return statue; Citygarden sculpture park; Hot salami at Gioia's on The Hill and a Concrete at Ted Drewes.

**Where should you stay for Gateway Arch?**

This itinerary suggests Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch and Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch). Check current rates and availability before you book.

**Where should you eat on this Gateway Arch trip?**

Places this itinerary uses or suggests include Arch Cafe (Gateway Arch Visitor Center), Broadway Oyster Bar, Gioia's Deli (The Hill) and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (Chippewa). Opening hours change, so confirm before you go.

## Sources

- [National Park Service: nps.gov/jeff](https://www.nps.gov/jeff/index.htm)
- [NPS: Directly below the Gateway Arch](https://www.nps.gov/places/directly-below-the-gateway-arch.htm)
- [NPS: Flood of 1993 Marker](https://www.nps.gov/places/flood-of-1993-marker.htm)
- [NPS: The Riverfront](https://www.nps.gov/places/the-riverfront.htm)
- [NPS: Rise to the West](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/rise-to-the-west.htm)
- [Gateway Arch (concessioner) official site](https://www.gatewayarch.com/)
- [NPS: Gateway Arch alerts and conditions](https://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/conditions.htm)
- [NPS: A View From the Top](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/a-view-from-the-top.htm)
- [NPS: Explore the Museum under the Gateway Arch](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/explore-the-museum-under-the-gateway-arch.htm)
- [NPS: See Monument to the Dream](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/see-monument-to-the-dream.htm)
- [NPS: Visit the Brick Mural](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visit-the-brick-mural.htm)
- [NPS: Gateway Arch Visitor Center](http://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/index.htm)
- [Gateway Arch official site](https://www.gatewayarch.com/)
- [NPS: Gateway Arch hours](https://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/hours.htm)
- [NPS: Dred and Harriet Scott Statue](https://www.nps.gov/places/dred-and-harriet-scott-statue.htm)
- [NPS: Old Courthouse](https://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/och.htm)
- [NPS: Old Courthouse](https://www.nps.gov/places/old-courthouse.htm)
- [NPS: Catenary Curve Wayside](https://www.nps.gov/places/catenary-curve-wayside.htm)
- [NPS: Explorer Garden](https://www.nps.gov/places/explorer-garden.htm)
- [NPS: Explore with Lewis and Clark](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/explore-with-lewis-and-clark.htm)
- [NPS: Eads Bridge](https://www.nps.gov/places/eads-bridge.htm)
- [Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch](https://www.druryhotels.com/locations/st-louis-mo/drury-plaza-hotel-st-louis-at-the-arch)
- [Broadway Oyster Bar official site](https://www.broadwayoysterbar.com/)
- [Broadway Oyster Bar hours](https://www.broadwayoysterbar.com/hours.html)
- [NPS: A Moment of Reflection](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/a-moment-of-reflection.htm)
- [NPS: The Captains' Return](https://www.nps.gov/places/the-captains-return.htm)
- [NPS: Carve Your Own Path](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/carve-your-own-path.htm)
- [NPS: Move Along the Mississippi River](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/move-along-the-mississippi-river.htm)
- [Citygarden: Visit](https://www.citygardenstl.org/visit)
- [Gioia's Deli official site](https://www.gioiasdeli.com/)
- [Ted Drewes official site](https://www.teddrewes.com/)
- [Pappy's Smokehouse official site](https://www.pappyssmokehouse.com/)
- [Riverboats at the Gateway Arch](https://www.gatewayarch.com/experience/riverboat-cruises/)
- [Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch](https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/stlrs-hyatt-regency-st-louis-at-the-arch)
- [Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown](https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stldthx-hampton-st-louis-downtown-at-the-gateway-arch/)

Distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic; toll amounts are estimates. Confirm opening hours, fees, permits and closures with the park or business before you go.

Plan this trip in the DriftKin app: https://driftkin.app/trips/gateway-arch-2-day-arch-courthouse-and-riverfront