In about 3 weeks I am traveling to St Louis for the first time to attend my nieces wedding. One of the events our family is planning is the tram tour of the Gateway Arch. In our party we have some individuals who are insecure about being in tight confined places and some individuals who are not in the best of shape for walking up stairs. Let me know your experience going up in the tram please. And also, what else you enjoyed at the park.
Our group is also going on a riverboat tour.
I went up in the arch years ago but I don't think the car size has changed (hopefully they have a website that can tell you car size/age.) The fact is, the cars that take you up to the top of the arch are VERY small (like, "let's you and I get into an industrial size washing machine together!" OK, maybe a little bigger) I got in line with a friend who is about 5'6" and average weight, and when the door opened for us to climb into the car, she took one look in, said "no way" and left. I'm a little shorter, and I successfully made the ride up. The good news is, it's a short ride. The bad news is, you ride with at least one other person, so if it's hot, you hope it's early in the day. Also, the windows up top inside the Arch are relatively small and very thick, possibly plexiglass rather than regular glass so the view is cloudy. Bottom line - glad I did it once, would not do it again. Other people's experiences may of course be more positive.
The last time I was in St Louis I loved the grassy area below the Arch itself. I took lots of pics laying back, looking up at the sky and the Arch. I really loved the city itself, including the fabulous Art Museum a short bus ride away. When I was there they had great street art, often involving rabbits.
I really did not like the ride to the top of the arch but my son loved it. I felt too closed in. And I seem to remember you had to slightly bend over your shoulders as you could not sit up straight in the "cage" like car you rode to the top. I also did not enjoy being at the top and looking down at the ground and left almost immediately and again my son thought it was awesome. If people in your party don't like closed in places this is not for them. We did like sitting in the park area below and enjoying the river.
I did not feel claustrophobic riding up in the tram at the Gateway Arch.
Hmmm, the website says up to 5 people are allowed in the tram. I’m thinking it has to be larger than what some of you experienced in the past.
Several years ago I took my fourth grade class to St. Louis. When it was time for us to go up into the Arch, I had several parent chaperones decide not to go up. Several said they were afraid of heights. The students (4 classes, 100 children) all went up. I thought it was interesting the adults bowed out but the kids loved it. I am 5'2" and did not feel too cramped. My husband (6'1") went up during a family trip and did not say it was difficult. It was not the most comfortable ride but it did not take long to reach the top. I suppose that a person who does not like confined spaces may want to opt out.
I did this with my son in 2015 on a college trip and I do not like tight spaces nor elevators. Almost did not do this because of all the reviews I read but my son really wanted to do it (what us moms do for our kids lol). I did not find it a problem and was pleasantly surprised. There were 4-5 people in the tram.
There is a museum at the base of the arch, but I dont recall much else to do there in the park.
I've been up twice in my lifetime. The view from the top isn't that inspiring.
In Kansas City (250 miles due west of St Louis) we used to joke about building another one here so Missouri would have the world's largest croquet court.
I have been to the top of the Arch twice....the first time and the last time! On our journey to the top there were two adults and two children. We were crammed in like sardines, and it's hot and stuffy. The ride up was not smooth; as mentioned before the windows at the top are not the greatest, so your view is distorted. The day was windy, so you could feel some sway in the Arch. Never again!
Video of ride in the arch and view from the observation area. Might provide some help in deciding.
Awful lot of "flat" to look at from the top.
I'm afraid of heights but did this many years ago and enjoyed it.
I did this 20 years ago. I won't do it again. The ride was tight. The room at the top is very cramped. The view is not worth the trip.
Go to Forest Park to see the St Louis Art Museum instead. Or even better, go to the City Museum which is completely and totally unique.
The Arch trip has been covered in great detail here, but thought I’d mention a few other thoughts:
-Most museums are free in St Louis, including the zoo, Art Museum, and Jefferson Memorial (all in Forest Park).
-City Museum is fabulous as is the bbq place inside it.
-Crown Candy Company offers a unique diner expertise.
-religious highlights include the Old Cathedral near the Arch and the New Cathedral, which is home to the most mosaics in North America.
