St. Louis is the 'Gateway to the West' and a turnaround port for Upper and Lower Mississippi cruises. Riverboats dock on the riverfront right beneath the Gateway Arch.
River cruise ships tie up along Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard on the riverfront, at the foot of the Gateway Arch grounds.
The grounds start across the street.
630 feet up — book a time slot.
Forest Park's free museums are 15 minutes by car.
Riverfront landing.
| Cruise line / ship | Typical berth / arrival | Dock or tender |
|---|---|---|
| American Cruise Lines, Viking & river ships | St. Louis riverfront, below the Gateway Arch | 📍 Docked |
Typical arrangements only — your ship's berth is confirmed in the daily planner.
These typical arrangements are retained from the supplied port guide and have not all been independently reverified. Map links are location searches, not live ship assignments. Confirm the berth, tender landing and boarding arrangements for your sailing. Read this port’s researched access notes →
✈️ Airport: St. Louis Lambert (STL) — about 20–25 min
🚐 Getting to the ship: Taxi, rideshare or MetroLink light rail.
🏨 Where to stay: Downtown near the Arch.
St. Louis is a river-cruise port — none of our eight featured ocean lines sail here. River cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Columbia rivers are run by lines such as American Cruise Lines and Viking.
Melody can help with river, Great Lakes and small-ship cruises too — just ask.
Compare access requirements for this port before booking an excursion →
The shore excursions most worth your time in St. Louis.
Tours booked through Viator, Cruise Travellers' excursion partner. Check the operator’s written return-to-ship policy; a guarantee is not assumed.
These are sightseeing suggestions. Distances and walking difficulty labels do not establish a step-free route. Read the port-specific access notes before choosing a route.
Arch, Old Courthouse and Laclede's Landing.
Best time: April–June and September–October. Warm, 70–85°F / 21–29°C.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F / 4°C | 24°F / -4°C | 9 |
| Feb | 45°F / 7°C | 28°F / -2°C | 8 |
| Mar | 56°F / 13°C | 37°F / 3°C | 11 |
| Apr ⭐ | 67°F / 19°C | 47°F / 8°C | 11 |
| May ⭐ | 76°F / 24°C | 57°F / 14°C | 12 |
| Jun ⭐ | 85°F / 29°C | 66°F / 19°C | 10 |
| Jul | 89°F / 32°C | 71°F / 22°C | 9 |
| Aug | 88°F / 31°C | 69°F / 21°C | 8 |
| Sep ⭐ | 80°F / 27°C | 61°F / 16°C | 7 |
| Oct ⭐ | 69°F / 21°C | 49°F / 9°C | 8 |
| Nov | 56°F / 13°C | 38°F / 3°C | 9 |
| Dec | 44°F / 7°C | 28°F / -2°C | 9 |
⭐ = best months to visit. Approximate long-term averages — check the forecast before you sail.
Airport to downtown.
About 15 minutes.
Arch and downtown.
Prices are typical ranges and change — confirm before you ride.
Other port guides close to St. Louis.
Tours, prices, transport fares and pier assignments change. Always confirm with the operator, your cruise line and your ship's all-aboard time before relying on anything here.
Gateway Arch riverfront — start of Upper Mississippi cruises, blues and BBQ.
Gateway Arch’s museum is a different access proposition from the tram ride: the ride excludes mobility devices and requires independent stair use.
Published sources reviewed October 17, 2026. This is desk research, not an on-site access audit. Access can change with the ship, berth, equipment and operating conditions.
Wheelchair-accessible alternative to the tram
The operator describes its facilities as wheelchair accessible except the Tram Ride to the Top, and lists assistive listening, captions and audio description for museum exhibits and the film. Choose those experiences separately from the inaccessible tram ride.
No wheelchairs or scooters; 96 steps required
The tram’s code says wheelchairs and scooters cannot go to the top and passengers must independently manage ninety-six steps in six flights. It is unsuitable if you cannot leave your device and meet that requirement.
Planning suggestion: Choose the museum, film and grounds with a west-plaza drop-off if the tram’s physical requirements do not suit you.
Detailed access-planning questions · Save these arrangements in your day plan
Discuss my access needsTurn the interests in this guide into a private shore-day brief. These are ideas to discuss with Melody, not confirmed bookable products.
Before booking, request the named operator, inclusions, vehicle specification, entry tickets, cancellation terms and a written return plan. Private access, special entry and availability must be confirmed.
Request a Curated Ashore proposal Book a consultationSave a personal checklist on this device, then print it or share your brief with Melody. Times are your inputs in ship time; this tool does not calculate travel times or guarantee return.
Plans stay in this browser when storage is available. Email opens your own mail app; nothing is submitted automatically.
Confirm piers, fares, transfers, admission, tour duration and assistance with your cruise line and the relevant operator. Weather tables are inherited indicative averages, not a forecast. Report a correction.
