National park · Missouri

Gateway Arch

Home to the 630-foot stainless-steel Gateway Arch, Eero Saarinen's monument to Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase and the westward expansion; the grounds also include the Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was first argued.

Entrance
$19 timed entry reservation - location
Hours
9:00AM - 6:00PM daily Gateway Arch Visitor Center, Museum, and Ride to the Top
Established
1935
Region
Great Plains & Heartland
Gateway Arch
Photo: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, NPS · Public domain
The Gateway Arch patch

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History

Gateway Arch National Park commemorates the Louisiana Purchase and the westward movement of American explorers. It also serves as a historical site for the Dred Scott case, marking significant events in American history related to civil rights and governance.

Key events

  1. The Gateway Arch, completed in 1965, is the tallest monument in the United States at 630 feet.
  2. The park was initially designated as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial before being redesignated in 2018.
  3. The memorial was largely developed through the efforts of civic booster Luther Ely Smith, who proposed the idea in 1933.

Trails

  • Gateway Arch Loop 1 mi · Easy
  • North Pond Loop 0.5 mi · Easy
  • South Pond Loop 0.5 mi · Easy
  • Riverfront Trail 2.5 mi · Easy
  • Mississippi Greenway 12.5 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · Gateway Arch Visitor Center, Museum, and Ride to the Top

9:00AM - 6:00PM, every day

The Gateway Arch is open year-round, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Summer Hours (9am-6pm, Sunday through Thursday and 9am-8pm Friday and Saturday) run the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend and are the primary visitor season. During Regular Hours (the day after Labor Day through Friday before Memorial Day) we are open from 9am to 6pm. Around the holidays we occasionally have extended hours.

Entrance fees

  • Timed Entry Reservation - Location $19

Fees and hours as of September 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Fall. Comfortable 50-70°F temps, smaller crowds, beautiful foliage
  • Spring. Pleasant weather, gardens blooming, outdoor activities ideal
  • Winter. Fewest crowds, lowest prices, indoor exhibits
  • Summer. Longest hours, all activities open but busiest and hottest

Wildlife

Migratory birdsSquirrelsRabbitsVarious songbirdsButterfliesHawksCardinalsBlue jays

Nearby patches

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