If you’re looking for an affordable family getaway, St. Louis is hard to beat. This Midwestern city is packed with family-friendly attractions, and bonus: Many of the best experiences are free or don’t cost very much. Families can visit a zoo, explore museums, play in one of the nation’s largest urban parks and discover hands-on attractions without breaking the bank.

In addition to St. Louis’s free attractions, the city has plenty of affordable things to do, from riding to the top of the Gateway Arch to exploring the famous City Museum and the St. Louis Aquarium. Add that to the wide range of family-friendly restaurants, and your vacation plans have been figured out!

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, St. Louis is a great place for families looking for a budget-friendly destination. Here is what to do and experience in the Gateway City.

 WHAT TO DO IN ST. LOUIS → 

Get Lost in the City Museum

It’s part museum, part playground, part giant work of art. But in whole, the City Museum is unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. Located inside a former shoe factory in downtown St. Louis, this museum is like a collection of recycled materials, oddities and chaos all rolled into into an adventurous museum for all ages.

Around every corner, you’ll find something to see, experience and explore. Kids and adults alike can crawl through tunnels, squeeze into caves, and race down slides that weave in and out of the museum. You can also scale structures, run around a skateless skatepark, wander through a surreal forest, and step into a circus. For a fun thrill, climb aboard a school bus suspended high above the city streets, or take a spin on the rooftop Ferris wheel beside a vintage airplane.

Enjoy the Attractions at St. Louis Union Station

The first train rolled into St. Louis Union Station in 1894. The last one departed in 1978. Today, this historic landmark has been reimagined as one of the city’s most exciting entertainment destinations.

A big attraction at the St. Louis Union Station is the St. Louis Aquarium, which opened in 2019. It is where you will find dozens of exhibits that will open your eyes to the wild underwater world, from local Missouri river habitats to the depths of the ocean.

You can pack an entire day of family fun into just this one place. Soar 200 feet above the city on The Wheel for skyline views, test your balance on the indoor Ropes Course, get lost in the Mirror Maze, strike a pose at Selfie Express, play mini golf, ride the carousel, and discover even more adventures around every corner.

Go Up to the Top of the Gateway Arch

No trip to St. Louis is complete without seeing the Gateway Arch. Standing 630 feet tall, it’s the tallest arch in the world and the city’s most recognizable landmark.

At Gateway Arch National Park, you can ride a tram to the top in just four minutes. From there, enjoy specacular views of downtown St. Louis on one side, and the Mississippi River on the other.

After your ride up and down the Arch, spend some time exploring the Museum at the Gateway Arch. Through six interactive exhibit areas, the museum tells the stories of the Native Americans, explorers, pioneers and settlers who helped shape the American frontier.

Cruise Aboard the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch

For a completely different perspective of the Gateway Arch, book a ride aboard the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. These paddlewheel-style boats cruise along the Mississippi River, letting you take in views of the Gateway Arch, downtown St. Louis and the riverfront. Along the way, you’ll learn about the river’s important role in shaping St. Louis and the nation’s westward expansion. The daytime 1-hour cruises are popular with families, but 2-hour dinner and specialty cruises are also available.

Explore the Free Attractions of Forest Park

Honestly, you could spend your entire vacation exploring Forest Park. And best of all, most of it is free! This park is home to three major museums, a zoo, incredible outdoor spaces, a nature playground designed with kids in mind and lots more. Forest Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and it’s an amazing place to visit when you’re in St. Louis. Here’s what you’ll find inside this 1,300-acre park.

• The Saint Louis Zoo is a must-see, with more than 14,000 animals from around the world. A favorite stop is Sea Lion Sound, where an underwater viewing tunnel lets you watch sea lions and seals swim overhead.
• Families will love the Saint Louis Science Center, where hands-on exhibits make learning fun. It’s where you can explore ecosystems, discover how the human body works, watch live science demonstrations, dive into the history of video games and see a giant T. rex statue.
• For younger visitors, the Nature Playscape is the perfect place to burn off energy. This outdoor play area was designed with kids in mind, and has plenty of things to climb, balance on, build with, splash and explore. Kids can play with and use natural elements inspired by the park’s landscape, such as logs and boulders. It’s a great way to connect with nature through play.
• Art lovers should make time for the Saint Louis Art Museum, which features a huge collection, ranging from ancient times to more recent works.
• The Missouri History Museum showcases the stories, people and events that shaped St. Louis and the surrounding region. Families with young children will also love the incredible kids’ area inside this museum. Lots of opportunities for pretend play!

Visit The Magic House

Families with young children: This place is for you! The Magic House is a great place for kids because there are so many opportunities for hands-on play, with lots of exhibits designed to engage young minds.

Kids can conduct experiments, create art and explore the three levels of this fun place to play. Some of the popular exhibits include a three-story indoor beanstalk to climb and a kid-sized town with shops, a bank and a veterinary clinic. There are also dedicated spaces for toddlers and younger children.

Take in the Art at Laumeier Sculpture Park

Laumeier Sculpture Park is a unique (and free!) way to experience art outdoors. At more than 100 acres, the park combines open green spaces, walking trails and large-scale sculptures created by artists from around the world.

One of the great things about this park is that you can stroll through the park at your own pace, discovering dozens of artworks as you go. It’s like a seek and find adventure! Some sculptures are towering and colorful, and others blend naturally into their surroundings. The park encourages visitors to interact with some of the art, and others should not be touched and just looked at. Overall, this is a fun destination for both adults and kids, and you will definitely get your steps in!

See Animals at Grant’s Farm

Another popular family attraction in St. Louis is Grant’s Farm, a park where you will find history, wildlife and outdoor fun. This 281-acre property was once owned by President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1903, the Busch family, founders of Anheuser-Busch, purchased the property, and transformed it into a unique wildlife preserve and family estate. Today, visitors can explore the grounds and see hundreds of animals from around the world. Admission to Grant’s Park is free, but there is a fee for parking.

The experience begins with a tram ride through the park. From the tram, you’ll see bison, elk and deer roam the pastures. Inside the farm, families can meet goats, feed animals and learn about wildlife through educational animal encounters. One of the big highlights is seeing the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Adults can look forward to sampling two free Anheuser-Busch adult beverages at the biergarten, too!

Have a Big Time at the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis

Sometimes, the biggest fun comes in the smallest packages. That’s true of the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis, a unique space dedicated to the art of miniatures. Visitors can explore two floors of dollhouses, miniature furniture and intricate displays that replicate real-life scenes down to the smallest detail. Every exhibit highlights the creativity and attention to detail that go into miniature art, with many of the dioramas created by locals.

 WHERE TO EAT IN ST. LOUIS → →

City Foundry STL

City Foundry STL is the place to go to satisfy everyone and also have fun! The downtown St. Louis building used to be a renovated industrial space, but is now a gathering place that combines food, entertainment and shopping. You’ll want to hit up the Food Hall, which houses a variety of local restaurants and cuisines, everything from Korean to Cajun and Mexican to Mediterranean. It’s an easy spot for everyone in the family to find something they enjoy eating. Afterward, have some fun at one of the many entertainment centers, like Puttshack, Sandbox VR or the Museum of Illusions.

Egg

A casual yet elevated spot for a morning or mid-day meal, Egg serves up a creative menu of savory hashes, breakfast tacos, eggs Benedicts and dishes that draw on Latin and Tunisian flavors. Egg also offers many family-style dishes, like a family breakfast that includes French toast, a fruit compote and mascarpone cheese.

Hatch’d

This popular breakfast and lunch spot makes great skillets, omelets and pancakes, but it’s the California King breakfast burrito that Hatch’d is known for: a tortilla wrapped around bacon, cheddar, fries and scrambled eggs served over hash browns and smothered in house-made queso.

Telva at the Ridge

Loryn Nalic, the chef-owner of Telva at the Ridge in Webster Groves, won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest this year, so you know this St. Louis restaurant is legit. Specializing in Balkan-inspired coffee, this is a great place to visit for an open-faced sandwich for breakfast or lunch, or to enjoy a pastry on their beautiful patio.

Katie’s Pizza & Pasta

The woman-owned Katie’s Pizza & Pasta is located in the center of the St. Louis Cardinals Ballpark Village, and is a great place to grab a hand-crafted pizza, pasta, salad or their housemade meatballs. The atmosphere at Katie’s is elevated, but still approachable for families.

Taco Buddha

Specializing in inventive tacos and Mexican street food, Taco Buddha has three locations around St. Louis, each touting a great margarita menu (for the adults, of course). Come for the tacos, but stay for the chips and queso, which is a huge serving and will surely be the star of the table.

Nettie’s Pizza Den

A family-owned pizzeria, Nettie’s Pizza Den is a great restaurant for people with kids — there are toys and games available to play with while you dine. The no-fuss pizza eatery serves up naturally leavened pies, plus toasted ravioli, a St. Louis classic.

 WHERE TO STAY → 

Families will want to stay at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, a beautiful and historic hotel that is just steps away from all of the action. Located in downtown St. Louis, the hotel offers easy access to attractions like the St. Louis Aquarium, The Wheel and other Union Station experiences.

The hotel itself is part of the entertainment: There’s a free light show on the soaring ceilings of the Grand Hall at the hotel every hour, turning the historic space into a glowing, colorful display. Spacious rooms, unique dining options and family-friendly amenities make it easy to relax after a day of exploring St. Louis.