Outdoors · St. Louis · United States
6 best outdoor things to do in St. Louis
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo and Missouri Botanical Garden. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 14–20 hours across 5 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 14–20 hours
- Areas
- Forest Park, Shaw and Sunset Hills
Outdoors in St. Louis
Park · Forest Park
1.Forest Park
Rent a bike or walk the paved loop of about 10 km to link the museums, and stop at the Grand Basin below the art museum.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
Zoo · Forest Park
2.Saint Louis Zoo
Arrive at opening to find parking and see the animals before the heat, especially in July and August.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Iconic
Garden · Shaw
3.Missouri Botanical Garden
Walk the Japanese garden in the morning light, and visit in late spring for the azaleas and irises or in winter for the Garden Glow lights.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Park · Sunset Hills
4.Laumeier Sculpture Park
Pick up a map at the entrance and follow the woodland trail for the more surprising works.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Outdoors
- Kids
Park · Downtown
5.Citygarden
In summer, bring swimwear for children to play in the splash fountains.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Kids
- Outdoors
Landmark · North St. Louis
6.Chain of Rocks Bridge
Walk or cycle to the bend in the middle of the bridge for photos; go in daylight and with others, as the area is isolated.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Park | Forest Park and Saint Louis Zoo | Full day + 3–4 hours |
| Shaw | Missouri Botanical Garden | 2–3 hours |
| Sunset Hills | Laumeier Sculpture Park | 1.5–2 hours |
| Downtown | Citygarden | 30–45 minutes |
| North St. Louis | Chain of Rocks Bridge | 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 5 free, 1 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Forest Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Forest Park): Forest Park, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Forest Park): Saint Louis Zoo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Shaw and Sunset Hills): Missouri Botanical Garden → Laumeier Sculpture Park, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Downtown and North St. Louis): Citygarden → Chain of Rocks Bridge, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- October: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Crisp autumn days and colour in Forest Park; one of the best months to visit.
- September: highs of 27°C (81°F), about 8 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm and less humid, with some of the year's best festivals.
- August: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and humid; the Muny season ends and families make the most of the free museums.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown — The Arch, Busch Stadium and the Washington Avenue loft district
- Central West End — Sidewalk cafés, boutiques and mansions beside Forest Park
- The Hill — Italian-American neighbourhood of bakeries, delis and red-sauce restaurants
- The Loop and University City — Delmar Boulevard's music venues, diners and the St. Louis Walk of Fame
- Tower Grove and South Grand — A Victorian park and an international restaurant strip on South Grand Boulevard
- Clayton — The county seat's office towers, upscale hotels and restaurants
More of St. Louis
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in St. Louis?
Forest Park. Larger than Central Park, Forest Park covers about 525 hectares of lawns, lakes and woods and was the site of the 1904 World's Fair.
+Which of these are free in St. Louis?
Forest Park, Saint Louis Zoo, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Citygarden and Chain of Rocks Bridge.