Gateway Arch National Park Protocols

Gateway Arch National Park is committed to operating in a responsible manner while continuing to honor our nation’s history and serve the American public. The safety of staff and visitors is the park’s number one priority.

Gateway Arch FAQs

Following guidance from National Park Service related to Covid-19 community levels, as of 1/2/2023 masks are currently encouraged but not required inside Gateway Arch National Park facilities. Masks guidelines may change based on Covid-19 community levels.
The Gateway Arch Visitor Center, Museum at the Gateway Arch, Tram Ride to the Top, Documentary Movie, The Arch Store and the Arch Café are currently open for visitor access.

The Old Courthouse remains unavailable at this time.
  • Tickets are required for the Tram Ride to the Top and Documentary Movie experiences and can be purchased online at gatewayarch.com or by calling 877-982-1410. Tickets are subject to availability based capacity. It is strongly recommended to reserve your tickets in advance.
  • For individuals needing assistance with making reservations, contact the call center at 877-982-1410 or staff members will be able to assist in the Arch Visitor Center during facility hours of operation.
  • Entrance to the Arch visitor center and museum is free, and tickets are not required for these experiences.
Contact our Call Center at (877) 982-1410 to reschedule for a future date.

To be eligible for a refund, you must contact us with more than 24 hours in advance of your scheduled activity. With less than 24 hours notice, only a ticket voucher for a future date will be issued. If your scheduled event has already passed, refunds or vouchers will not be granted. If you complete your ticketed experience, you are no longer eligible for refunds or exchanges.
The entire tour takes on average 45 minutes to an hour. First, your tour guide will lead you through an interactive multimedia experience prior to boarding the tram. Once on the tram, it is a 4 minute ride to the top and a 3 minute ride back down. Guests will be limited to under 10 minutes at the top of the Arch. Please follow tour guide announcements.
It is the Gateway Arch National Park’s goal to protect visitors and employees.

  • Modifications to the Tram Ride to the Top (see next question).
  • Plexiglas barriers at ticket/order counters and the security checkpoint.
  • Disinfecting and sanitizing of public spaces and surfaces.
  • Hand sanitizing stations located throughout the Arch facility.
  • Established queuing lines for the Arch Visitor Center ticket counter, security checkpoint, and Tram Ride to the Top.
  • Employee safety and disinfecting training.

    For the health and safety of others, please choose another time to visit if: 
    • You are experiencing COVID-like symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and/or loss of taste or smell.
    • You had close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
    • You are self-isolating or self-quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19.
    • It is our goal to maintain the novelty of the Tram Ride to the Top experience while enforcing social distancing and health and safety guidelines.

  • Tram riders may be assigned to tram cars that include riders outside of their party.
  • Floor markers to encourage social distancing.
  • Time limit in Arch observation deck (no more than 10 minutes).
  • Periodic disinfecting and sanitization of tram car surfaces, seats and handrails as well as surfaces and windows in the observation deck.
    • Visitors must enter the Arch at the monument’s west entrance plaza, which faces Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse. Visitors can exit the Arch at the west entrance or at the Arch legs. (The Arch legs are designated as exits only at all times.) Exiting via the Arch legs provides a great opportunity for photo ops with the monument and direct access to the park grounds.
    The National Park Service has made adjustments to the flow of security screening to support physical distancing guidelines. Plexiglas barriers have been installed at the screening area, and the National Park Service will routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and screening equipment.
    Much of museum experience remains the same, with the National Park Service implementing more frequent sanitizing and disinfecting of museum exhibits. Accessibility features, such as Braille and large-text exhibit descriptions, are available for those with disabilities and will be disinfected and sanitized throughout the day.
    Yes, the Arch Café is open during Gateway Arch operating hours, offering their full menu of food and beverage items. Plexiglas barriers have been installed at order counters, and a queuing line has been established through the café to ensure directional flow of café goers.
    Yes, The Arch Store is open during Gateway Arch operating hours. Plexiglas barriers have been installed at order counters, and a queuing line has been established through the store to ensure directional flow of store goers. The store has also reduced the number of merchandise displays to support physical distancing guidelines.
    The Old Courthouse remains unavailable at this time.

    Personal Liability Statement

    Although Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District has taken certain safety precautions related to your visit to the Gateway Arch and Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, every visitor is responsible for his or her personal safety and that of children or others under their supervision. In consideration for Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District providing access to the Gateway Arch and Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, visitors (a) agree to comply with our policies and instructions, including those on signage, (b) understand and agree that the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has recently infected individuals in the St. Louis area, that it is contagious and that it can spread to persons in any number of ways, (c) agree that they assume responsibility for any injury (including personal injury, disability or death), illness, damage, loss claim, liability, or expense arising out of or related to COVID-19 experienced or contracted in connection with a Gateway Arch and Riverboats at the Gateway Arch visit, (d) that they waive and release all claims against Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District and their respective commissioners, officers, employees, volunteers and agents relative to the foregoing matters, even if the claim is alleged to be the fault of or alleged to be caused by the negligence of Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District, or its respective commissioners, officers, employees, volunteer or agents, and (e) that they agree that the Gateway Arch and Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are legally entitled to sovereign immunity regarding to any such claims.