How many days · St. Louis · United States
How many days do you need in St. Louis?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
3 days is the sweet spot for St. Louis, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers the Arch, City Museum and a day in Forest Park. A third day adds the Botanical Garden, the Cathedral Basilica and dinner on The Hill; add a day for Cahokia Mounds or Missouri wine country.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 3 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.5 h (Dec) to 14.8 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo and City Museum |
| 2 days | Good | City Museum, Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village and Saint Louis Art Museum |
| 3 days | Ideal | Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and Missouri Botanical Garden |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and St. Charles |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in St. Louis add up to roughly 27–37 hours of visiting time — about 4–5 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Forest Park (Full day), Saint Louis Zoo (3–4 hours) and City Museum (3–4 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch | 2–3 hours | Downtown |
| Forest Park | Full day | Forest Park |
| Saint Louis Zoo | 3–4 hours | Forest Park |
| City Museum | 3–4 hours | Downtown |
| Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village | 3 hours | Downtown |
| Saint Louis Art Museum | 2–3 hours | Forest Park |
| Missouri History Museum | 1.5–2 hours | Forest Park |
| Saint Louis Science Center | 2–3 hours | Forest Park |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 2–3 hours | Shaw |
| Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis | 45 minutes | Central West End |
| Anheuser-Busch Brewery | 1–2 hours | Soulard |
| Soulard Farmers Market | 1 hour | Soulard |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 3 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Gateway Arch and Forest Park |
| With children | 4 days | Slower days and time for Saint Louis Zoo |
| With day trips | 5 days | Add Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and St. Charles |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.5 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.8 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining St. Louis with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | About 383 km | 3 days |
| Memphis | About 387 km | 3 days |
| Nashville | About 408 km | 3 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in St. Louis?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 3 days is more comfortable. Two days covers the Arch, City Museum and a day in Forest Park. A third day adds the Botanical Garden, the Cathedral Basilica and dinner on The Hill; add a day for Cahokia Mounds or Missouri wine country.
+Is a week too long in St. Louis?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and St. Charles.