The Gateway Arch National Park may be the smallest National Park you will probably ever visit, and currently the only America Urban National Park, but it’s one not to be missed! The park is situated in the centre of St Louis, creating a beautiful city centre. A city centre you will not forget in a hurry!
If you are driving the famous historic Route 66, St Louis probably is where you spend your first night, after leaving the windy city, Chicago. On your stop, make sure you take some time to enjoy the Urban National Park, before hitting the Mother Road again.
If you’re planning a visit to St Louis and not driving Route 66, you will probably have more time on your hands. As much as the Gateway Arch National Park is a highlight in the city, I’ve heard St Louis has so much more to offer, so do check it out!
On our visit, I was driving Route 66, so our visit was short and sweet. We spent the night and then had a little potter around in the morning, before jumping back in the car onto Route 66. Therefore, we only had time to explore the Gateway Arch National Park and not the rest of the city.
Where to Stay
Staying in St Louis can be quite pricey, especially if you want to be in centre, and even more so if you want to be within walking distance of the National Park. We stayed at the Drury Plaza. A lovely hotel, but it wasn’t cheap, but cheaper than quite a few in the area. On top of our hotel stay, there was a charge for parking too. But on the positive side, the Gateway Arch National Park was within very short walking distance, and our hotel had a balcony with views of the city all lit up at night, which was pretty incredible! As it was our honeymoon on our trip, we got a free room upgrade with a view of the arch, which was spectacular!
When looking where to stay, I would recommend staying in Downtown St Louis or Forest Park. One area I would avoid staying in is the northern part of the city, near the St Louis Lambert International Airport.
What to See and Do
The Gateway Arch is one of the most impressive arches you will ever see, and America’s largest monument! It towers 630 feet above the city, marking the gateway into the Wild West. And if that isn’t impressive enough, you can actually go inside the arch, right to the very top!
If you are not interested in having a ride to the top of the arch, you can visit the museum, have a potter around the gardens, visit the old Courthouse, have a walk along the banks of the River Mississippi, or even take a boat trip on the River Mississippi.
Even though the park is only a small park, there’s still a bit to see and do!
For more information on the park, please head to their website: https://home.nps.gov/jeff/index.htm
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Further Reading
My book, How I Tamed the Wolf, Living with Lupus is available on Amazon via this link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09M73X2JQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MWAF58981F0VVMNRV1WN
Other travel guides you may like:
Chicago – 48 Hours in Chicago
Miami – https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/miami/
New York – https://livingwiththewolf.co.uk/new-york/
