In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Ferguson
Skip Ferguson as a tourist destination: no sights, high crime, and a 30-min drive from St. Louis. Only go if you have a specific reason (visiting someone, local event).
Ferguson is a low-income St. Louis suburb with no tourist attractions. The 2014 protests and ongoing racial tension make it a place to avoid for casual visits. If you must go, keep it to a short daytime stop and exercise caution.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (hot and humid), Dec–Feb (cold)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 · Mid $80–150 · High $150+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
Get in
By air
- STL · St. Louis Lambert International Airport
- About 15 min drive; no direct public transport to Ferguson.
Typical fares
- Metro bus fare (one ride)
- $2.50 (check)
- Taxi from St. Louis airport to Ferguson
- $25–40 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Metro St. Louis bus lines serve Ferguson; a car is more practical. The North County Transit Center is the main hub.
See and do
Known for
- 2014 protests and unrest
- racial tension
- Ferguson's Brewing Company
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | Drive or Metro bus (about 30 min) | 30–45 min |
| St. Charles | Drive via I-70 (about 20 min) | 25–30 min |
Sleep
- St. Louis (downtown or Clayton)
- Better options for accommodation; Ferguson has very limited hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the bus stop? | Where is the bus stop? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- High crime rates: avoid walking alone after dark.
- Racial tension persists; be aware of your surroundings.
- No tourist infrastructure: no visitor centre, few restaurants or shops.
Ferguson has high crime rates and a history of racial tension. Avoid walking alone at night; keep valuables out of sight. The area is not recommended for solo tourists.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ferguson yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- 2014 protests and unrest
- racial tension
- Ferguson's Brewing Company
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ferguson, revision 4784117 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4784117
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Ferguson
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassies are in Washington, DC; consulates in major cities like Chicago or New York.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/ferguson). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.