Is Harvest Hosts worth it for a Gateway Arch trip?

Yes, Harvest Hosts is well worth it for a Gateway Arch trip. Without camping available in the park, most RVers have to find a place to stay, at least for one night. Missouri has 0 Harvest Hosts locations.

Gateway Arch National Park RV Camping

Known as the Gateway to the West and America's smallest national park, Gateway Arch National Park covers 91 acres in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. While it was first protected by the National Park Service in 1935, it wasn't until 2018 that it received its current name. Popular attractions include Explorer Garden, the Old Courthouse, Luther Ely Smith Square, the Museum at the Gateway Arch, and Eads Bridge. While you won't see typical national park wildlife like elk, bears, deer, and moose, animals that call the park home include coyotes, squirrels, raccoons, mallards, blue jays, white-tailed deer, and the Virginia opossum. Although Gateway Arch is one of the more challenging national parks to visit if you're RV camping, it's well worth parking your rig and exploring on foot. Harvest Hosts has plenty of locations within an hour of the entrances where you can park your RV overnight at a working farm, brewery, or distillery.

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Gateway Arch National Park RV Camping Guide

When to Go

Gateway Arch National Park incorporates many more indoor spaces into its experience than other national parks. Since it's open year-round, you can easily visit one or more buildings in the winter as well as the summer. The national park grounds stay open from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m., and only close on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The Old Courthouse opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m., with the same holiday closures as the park. The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch typically run cruises from March through September, though some private cruises last into the end of the year. Many people visit from February through October to see the blooms at the Explorer Garden. If you do arrive during a busy season, add in about 15 minutes to get through security, which is required for entrance to the Arch facility. In busy seasons, tram tickets will also go quickly, so plan ahead.

Know Before You Go

Timed-entry reservations and park entrance fees aren't required to enter Gateway Arch National Park. Most areas are free to the public, excluding the trams that take you all the way to the top of the Arch, which is 630 feet tall.
Park at the Stadium East Garage and receive a discounted rate if you're visiting Gateway Arch National Park. Check the Cardinals game schedule to account for any additional traffic in the area. The MetroLink light rail also takes visitors to the park via the 8th and Pine or Laclede's Landing stops.
The Old Courthouse last served justice in 1930. Today, you can tour the four new museum galleries and the restored historic courtrooms. It's considered part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and there's no entrance fee required.
Although Gateway Arch doesn't have traditional hiking trails, it does offer five miles of walking paths. Exploring the Museum at the Gateway Arch with your kids can also add to your step count.
Pets are allowed on the grounds of Gateway Arch National Park and the Riverfront Cruise, provided they're leashed at all times. Only service animals are allowed in the Gateway Arch Visitor Center and the Old Courthouse.
Dick Bowser created the tram system that takes visitors up to the top of Gateway Arch. The first tram ride occurred in 1967. As the tram car ascends, it rotates roughly 155 degrees on a pivot.
On any given day, the Gateway Arch tram can carry at least 3,500 people up to the top of the Arch and back in the span of eight hours. In a 14-hour day, those numbers jump to around 11,000 people.

Nearby Attractions

Spend a day or two in St. Louis to visit must-see attractions like Citygarden, the 16-mile Great Rivers Greenway, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, and the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Plan to spend some time at Forest Park, one of the largest in the nation, and even bigger than Central Park. Here, you'll have access to the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Zoo, Science Center, and the Saint Louis Art Museum. As you make your way toward southern Missouri, it's worth spending a few nights at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park to see views of the St. Francois Mountains.

Where to Camp

Inside the park. Gateway Arch National Park does not offer in-park camping. Its relatively small size and location make it more challenging to find RV camping nearby, especially if you drive a bigger rig.

Tips on reserving a campsite. Since you can't camp within park boundaries, it's best to find a hub nearby where you can park your RV for the day, or several days, depending on how long you stay. Transportation options to the park include walking, biking, riding the light rail, or driving in via your tow vehicle.

Camping outside the park with Harvest Hosts. Since RV camping in Gateway Arch National Park isn't available, RVers must seek accommodations elsewhere in the surrounding areas. Nearby RV park sites may be convenient, but they may also cut into your camping budget if you don't shop around.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can you sleep in your RV in Gateway Arch National Park?

No, you cannot sleep in your RV in Gateway Arch National Park. There are no campgrounds within the park, as it sits in the eastern part of downtown St. Louis. Onsite parking is unavailable for both passenger cars and RVs.

Where can I camp in an RV near Gateway Arch National Park?

RV camping near Gateway Arch National Park may be available in the surrounding area, such as at the Cahokia RV Parque. Harvest Hosts has many locations within an hour of the entrances. Travel back in time with this vintage drive-in theater retreat in Belleville, Illinois, or learn something new at an artisan woodworking workshop retreat in Ferguson, Missouri.

Do you need a reservation to enter Gateway Arch National Park?

No, you don't need a reservation to enter Gateway Arch National Park. You don't have to pay a park entrance fee, either. If you purchase a tram ticket to travel up the arch, you will need to arrive by a certain time to board a tram up to the top.

What are the RV length limits in Gateway Arch National Park?

Since Gateway Arch National Park doesn't offer camping on the grounds, there are no RV length limits. In addition, parking isn't available on-site, so RVs are subject to any length restrictions where they can find a legal parking spot.