How to reach St Louis in less time?
A car or MetroLink is the most convenient way to move around St. Louis. While much of the city is accessible by the Metro, some regions, like Grant’s Farm, that are less frequented by tourists are more difficult to get to (if at all). Renting a car from St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the most convenient way to go to all of St. Louis’ must-see attractions, but it also comes with a price. In addition to the daily car rental price, you may expect to pay anything from $3 to $25 for parking in the downtown area. The MetroBus routes that are part of the Metro system are less convenient due to their higher trip times. You could either take a cab or rent a bike, but taxis are expensive, and cycling is dangerous in the winter.
Car
Renting a car isn’t the cheapest option, but if you want to see a lot of the city, it’s something to think about. St. Louis’s tourist-friendly signs make it easy to identify major landmarks, while kid-approved spots like Grant’s Farm and The Magic House require a car to reach. However, weekday peak hours can be extremely congested, and most on-street and public parking spots will charge you a price. Rental car counters can be found at the airport.
Metro Link
Without a car, getting about the central business district is a breeze thanks to the Metro light rail system’s two lines. The Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, and the Saint Louis Science Center are all within walking distance of MetroLink stops on both the Red and Blue lines, and the Red Line also connects with the airport. Sadly, though, neither route serves highly trafficked areas like The Hill and Soulard or outlying suburbs like Kirkwood and Grantwood Village.
Ticket vending machines are available at all MetroLink stops, from which passengers can purchase any tickets. Please validate your ticket at one of the red machines before boarding if it does not already have a time stamp. You could also use the Metro Transit app on your smartphone to purchase your ticket.
By Air
St. Louis is centrally located, thus it just takes around a three-hour flight time from most major U.S. cities. The Lambert International Airport serves the St. Louis metropolitan area and is located 13 miles from the city center. It is linked to the city center and the rest of the region by the MetroLink light rail system. Once you’ve landed in St. Louis, there are several ways to reach where you need to go.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport’s runway expansion project, which cost $2.6 billion, improved operating capacity while reducing the impact of severe weather on flights. Southwest Airlines may now offer up to 120 more daily aircraft departures. From St. Louis, you can fly direct to one of almost 250 different destinations every day. There are thirteen different airlines, including subsidiaries and charters that fly to and from St. Louis.
By Road
Amtrak is the best option if you’d prefer to take a land route to St. Louis. The trains leave daily from the Gateway Transportation Center on South 15th Street and the Kirkwood stations. The Gateway Transportation Center is located one block between a MetroLink Light Rail Station and the Historic St. Louis Union Station, and it services not just Amtrak but also Greyhound and Burlington Trailways interstate buses.
By Car
St. Louis’s well-organized system of roadways of general interest makes visiting the city’s many points of interest a breeze for visitors who bring their vehicles. From its northern terminus at the city’s airport, I-70 heads west across Missouri. Just south of the Anheuser-Busch facility in southeast Missouri, Interstate 55 makes a sharp left to the south. In St. Louis, I-64 (Highway 40) keeps going westward past Forest Park to the Missouri River. Starting in the heart of St. Louis, I-44 follows the route of the defunct Route 66 southwest to Springfield.
Bus
Metro’s bus system may be an option for getting to areas that aren’t reachable by MetroLink. To go to places like The Hill, Soulard, and Tower Grove on the Missouri or Illinois side of the Mississippi River, MetroBus is a great option. The bus system operates on more than 70 routes. Be mindful, though, that this method of transportation is slow and might not be able to get you very far.
The bus fare is $1 per person, payable only in cash. Each bus accepts cash for this fare, and an exact change is required. You may ride any bus with a Metro ticket, and the two-hour and all-day passes that cost between $3 and $5 are transferable.
Bicycle
Start your journey on two wheels. Lime, a bike and scooter-sharing company, has expanded into St. Louis. The Lime bicycles may be located and reserved with the help of a GPS finder on the related smartphone app. Simply place your bike between the curb and the sidewalk or in a public bike rack after you’re done riding. There is a minimum charge of $1 for 30 minutes (or $0.50 for students and teachers) to rent a Lime bike. Starting a new scooter session will cost you $1, with $0.15 every minute thereafter. The use of scooters is prohibited in the central business district of St. Louis.
Taxi
You can hail a cab anywhere in St. Louis and its surrounding areas, but the best places to do so are at Lambert International Airport, near the America’s Center Convention Complex, or in front of major hotels. A consultation can also be scheduled over the phone or using corresponding mobile apps. Taxi journeys typically begin at $3.50, with an additional $2.50 charge per mile. There will be a $5 surcharge for trips that begin at the airport or involve more than one person. Both Uber and Lyft can be used to get about town.
Final Words
One cannot be blind to the fact that St. Louis is primarily an automobile town. Crossing the metropolitan region by car can take more than an hour, and most major neighborhoods aren’t even connected by foot. However, this in no way negates the existence of St. Louis’s public transportation options. More than 37 million people used the MetroBus or one of the MetroLink light rail trains in St. Louis in 2018. If you’re visiting St. Louis, renting a car is your best bet for getting around the city quickly and affordably.