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Major city · United States

St. Louis CountySt. Louis County, Missouri

Base in Clayton or the Delmar Loop for 2 nights with a car; skip the county if you have no car — buses are slow and sparse.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Dec–Feb (ice and cold)
Airports
STL · SUS
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

St. Louis County is the suburban half of the St. Louis area: 1877 boundaries, about a million residents, and far fewer sights than the city next door. It holds the airport, the big malls, the county seat at Clayton, and a run of parks along the Meramec River. Two nights works if you have a car and want the museums, the Loop and the green belt; without a car, stay in the city and day-trip out on MetroLink.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about St. Louis County, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or BBQ plate$10–20
  • BeerDraught beer at a bar$6–9
  • Metro or bus rideMetroLink ride$2.50–4
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum of Transportation adult entry$8
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$160
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Delmar Loop in University CityMuseum of Transportation in KirkwoodLaumeier Sculpture ParkUlysses S. Grant National Historic SiteCastlewood and Route 66 state parks
Airports
STL Lambert St. Louis International (In north county, about 14 mi northwest of downtown; MetroLink light rail runs from the terminal to the city.) · SUS Spirit of St. Louis (Charter and cargo only; not a scheduled gateway.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

St. Louis County: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C

−6°C

7 rd

Feb

7°C

−4°C

7 rd

Mar

13°C

1°C

10 rd

Apr

19°C

7°C

11 rd

May

24°C

13°C

11 rd

Jun

29°C

18°C

9 rd

Jul

32°C

21°C

8 rd

Aug

31°C

20°C

7 rd

Sep

27°C

15°C

7 rd

Oct

20°C

8°C

8 rd

Nov

13°C

2°C

8 rd

Dec

6°C

−4°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. County buses are slow, sparse and infrequent, so plan on driving unless your day sits on the MetroLink line — the Delmar Loop, downtown Clayton and the Galleria are the useful stops. MetroLink is fast and frequent between the airport, Clayton and the city. A 2-hour MetroLink transfer ticket from the airport costs $4.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

St. Louis city (Forest Park, Gateway Arch)

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

MetroLink from Clayton or the Loop, or 15–20 min by car

The city holds most of the region's sights; treat the county as your bed, the city as your day.

St. Charles, Missouri

go

Door to door: About 45 min

I-70 northwest by car, about 30 min from the airport

Historic Main Street on the Missouri River; easy half-day with a car.

Ferguson

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

I-270 or MetroLink to the North Hanley area, then a short drive

A north-county town with its own history; go for a specific reason, not as a sight.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Clayton

County seat and business district; hotels, coffeehouses and upscale dining, walkable core, MetroLink nearby. Best all-round base.

Delmar Loop / University City

Storefronts, music venues, bookstores and restaurants on one street; MetroLink stops at the Loop. Best for food and evenings.

West County (Frontenac, Ladue, Chesterfield)

Two upscale malls and highway access; needs a car for everything.

Kirkwood

Small-town downtown with shops and an Amtrak station; good for families and the Museum of Transportation.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$150US$300
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160US$640
MetroLink airport transfer ticket (2 h)2 × US$4US$8
Rental car, one day1 × US$60 · add fuel and parkingUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$104
Trip total≈ US$286 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,142

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before sales tax. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Deli sandwich or BBQ plate$10–20
Draught beer at a bar$6–9
Museum of Transportation adult entry$8
Grant's Farm parking$15
Six Flags St. Louis gate price$53
MetroLink ride$2.50–4

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

St. Louis County is mostly suburban and calm; the usual US city cautions apply. Lock the car, keep valuables out of sight, and check which part of north county you are in after dark.
  • Uber cannot pick up at STL airport, though it can drop off; use the taxi rank or MetroLink instead.
  • Six Flags St. Louis and Hidden Valley are seasonal; check opening dates before you build a day around them.
  • Some listed restaurants and small attractions close or change hands; confirm hours the day before.
  • Summer heat and humidity are real; carry water on the river-bluff trails.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

St. Louis CountySt. Louis County, Missouri

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in St. Louis County; consulates and embassies sit in Washington, DC and Chicago. Check your own country's list.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • STL airport → Clayton, MetroLink: about $4 for a 2-hour transfer ticket
  • STL airport → Clayton, taxi: $35–50
  • Rental car, one day: from about $60 plus fuel and parking

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for St. Louis County. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Dec–Feb (ice and cold) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources