The best camping near Gateway Arch National Park

A St. Louis icon since the 1960s, the Gateway Arch was reborn as one of the newest U.S. national parks in 2018. This 630-foot silver monument rises gracefully above the Mississippi River, serving as a focal point in photos of the city skyline. Built to commemorate the Westward Expansion, the Arch is now part of a 91-acre national park, encompassing a museum, the nearby Old St. Louis Courthouse, a riverfront promenade, and walking and biking trails. Take a tram to the top for unforgettable views. While you won’t find camping at the St. Louis Arch, you will find a fascinating experience, with camping and rental accommodations not far away.

1. You will not find camping at the St. Louis Arch. Public campgrounds nearby include Horseshoe Lake State Park, which does not offer reservations, and Babler State Park, which offers reservations year round.
2. Reservations for Babler State Park open 12 months in advance and can be made online on the Missouri State Parks website or by phone.
3. Campgrounds near the Arch have accommodations for both tents and RVs, with a variety of hookups and amenities offered onsite.
4. A number of private RV parks, glamping rentals, Hipcamp locations, and more are located in St. Louis and in the outlying suburbs, providing a variety of sites for all camping styles.

Gateway Arch National Park is open year round. You may find park grounds covered with a fresh layer of snow in the winter, colorful blooms in the spring and summer, and vibrant fall leaves in October. March through October is baseball season, with the St. Louis Cardinals playing home games at nearby Busch Stadium, which bring a lot of visitors to the downtown area. Winter camping may be prohibited by freezing weather and precipitation, primarily December through February. Take care if you come after heavy rains, as flooding from the Mississippi River limits access to some roadways and locales.

• Pets are welcome on park grounds but are not allowed into Gateway Arch Visitor Center or in the Old St. Louis Courthouse.
• The national park does not offer free onsite parking. Visitors will find a variety of private and public parking lots and garages nearby for a fee, as well as some metered street parking. RVs and other large vehicles should investigate options before going downtown. 
• The St. Louis MetroLink’s Laclede’s Landing station is a 10-minute walk from the Arch.
• While the park grounds are accessible for visitors with mobility issues, trips to the top of the Arch are not. Wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers are not allowed. 
• Tram tickets may be booked in advance online.
• The top of the Arch is visible from Horseshoe Lake State Park in Granite City, Illinois, a short 10-minute drive away.