Stays in St. Louis
St. Louis pairs a walkable downtown riverfront around the Gateway Arch with a business district in Clayton and a large urban park system anchored by Forest Park. Hotels range from historic downtown buildings to pool-and-hot-tub properties near Union Station and the airport.
Stays in St. Louis split naturally between the historic downtown core along the Mississippi riverfront, where the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse sit within walking distance of most hotels, and quieter alternatives in Clayton, the Delmar Loop, and Forest Park's West End. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport sits northwest of downtown, a twenty-to-twenty-five-minute drive from most riverfront hotels and closer still from properties in Florissant. Travelers splitting time between the Arch grounds, Forest Park's museums and zoo, and a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium will find downtown the more practical base, while families prioritizing free parking and a pool often do better a short drive out.
St. Louis in numbers
Drury Plaza Hotel Louis At Union Station
2,100 reviews
Five minutes from the Aquarium at Union Station
Check availabilityWhy guests love itDrury Plaza at Union Station is one of the easiest family bases in St. Louis. The St. Louis Aquarium is a five-minute walk, so you can spend a morning there and be back for a rest without a car. Free hot breakfast keeps costs down, and the indoor pool and hot tub work in any season, which helps in cold Missouri winters. A 9.2 rating from about 2,100 guests is reassuring. Parking is extra, so budget for it.
Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis At The Arch
3,696 reviews
One minute from the Old Courthouse, breakfast included
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFew downtown hotels are this convenient for families: the Old Courthouse is a one-minute walk, and the Gateway Arch grounds are just beyond it. The complimentary hot breakfast covers mornings before sightseeing, and the indoor pool and hot tub give children a reliable treat after a day outdoors, whatever the weather. A 9.2 score from nearly 3,700 reviews shows consistent service. Parking costs extra, so walking everywhere downtown makes the most sense here.
Moonrise Hotel
2,669 reviews
Outerspace theming and a rooftop bar in the Delmar Loop
Check availabilityWhy guests love itChildren usually love the outer-space theme of this boutique hotel on the Delmar Loop, and the street outside is lined with shops and restaurants for an easy dinner. Parking is free, a real plus in St. Louis, and pets are welcome. The Saint Louis Zoo, in Forest Park, is about eight minutes away by taxi, making it a good base for a family day there. The rooftop bar is best enjoyed by the adults.
The West End
298 reviews
Kitchens and a hot tub near the Cathedral Basilica
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe West End sits in the St. Louis neighbourhood of the same name, between downtown and Forest Park, and some rooms have a kitchen, which makes a longer family stay more practical. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, known for its mosaic interior, is a seven-minute walk, an easy morning visit. The hot tub suits a quiet evening, and Retreat Gastropub is a nine-minute walk for dinner. Parking is paid, so I would budget for it.
Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Louis Downtown
2,337 reviews
All-suite rooms two minutes from the Convention Center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itEvery room at the Embassy Suites St. Louis Downtown is a suite, which I find makes the biggest difference for families: a separate living space instead of everyone around one bed. The free made-to-order breakfast is cooked each morning, and the indoor pool gives children a swim whatever the weather. The National Blues Museum is a two-minute walk. Pets are accepted, parking is paid, and 2,337 reviews give it 8.6.
Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center
1,014 reviews
City-view rooms by the Convention Center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFamilies can reach the National Blues Museum in four minutes on foot, and the Gateway Arch grounds and Busch Stadium are within a short walk or taxi ride, which keeps sightseeing days simple. Rooms are airy, and a higher-floor room with a city view adds interest for children. There is no pool listed, so families who need one may prefer another downtown hotel. Parking costs extra, and the airport is about twenty minutes by taxi.
St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
9,483 reviews
A converted 1894 train station with a nightly light show
Check availabilityWhy guests love itSt. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton occupies a converted 1894 train station, and the nightly 3D light show in the building is the moment children remember. The outdoor pool adds a swim in warmer months, and the gastropub keeps dinner simple. Pets are welcome. Breakfast and parking cost extra, and the airport is about twenty-four minutes by taxi. Guests rate this 4-star hotel 8.6 across 9,483 reviews, a long and steady record.
Hampton Inn St. Louis-Downtown (At the Gateway Arch)
2,262 reviews
Indoor pool and an Irish pub near the Arch grounds
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHampton Inn St. Louis Downtown at the Gateway Arch serves a free hot breakfast every morning, which gets families out the door quickly for a day near the Gateway Arch. The indoor pool gives children a swim in any season, and the National Blues Museum is a five-minute walk for parents curious about the city's music history. An Irish pub on site makes dinner easy, pets are accepted, and parking costs extra. Guests rate it 8.6 from 2,262 reviews.
Clayton Plaza Hotel
1,936 reviews
Two pools and fifteen meeting rooms in Clayton
Check availabilityWhy guests love itClayton Plaza Hotel gives St. Louis families a lot to work with: two pools, free breakfast and a casual restaurant and bar on site. It sits in Clayton, a nine-minute taxi ride from the Saint Louis Art Museum, an easy cultural outing, and about fourteen minutes by taxi from the airport, which helps on travel days. The fifteen meeting rooms show its business side, but the pools keep children happy. Guests rate it 8.4 from 1,936 reviews.
Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station
2,532 reviews
Free parking and a pool near Union Station
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFree hot breakfast, free parking and an indoor pool with a hot tub are the practical trio I would point families to at the Pear Tree Inn near Union Station. The pool works in any season, and parking without a fee is unusual this close to downtown St. Louis. The Gateway Arch is an eight-minute taxi ride, and Syberg's On Market is a minute's walk for dinner. Pets are accepted. A score of 8.4 from 2,532 reviews is solid.
Angad Arts Hotel St. Louis, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
1,401 reviews
Murals and three bars in the arts district
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAngad Arts Hotel is an unusual choice for families, but it works for those with older children who enjoy art. The building is covered in murals, the Contemporary Art Museum is a six-minute walk, and the Grand Center district holds theatres and galleries close by. Some rooms have kitchens, worth requesting for a longer stay. There is no pool, and breakfast and parking cost extra, so families with young children may prefer a downtown hotel near the Arch.
The Cheshire
2,148 reviews
British-inspired rooms four minutes from Forest Park
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Forest Park entrance is a four-minute walk away, and the park holds the Saint Louis Zoo, free to enter and an easy full day with children. Breakfast is included, the outdoor pool covers warm afternoons, and parking is free on site. The Britain-inspired decor gives this 4-star hotel real character, and pets are welcome. The airport is about seventeen minutes by taxi, and 2,148 reviews average 8.2.
21c Museum Hotel St Louis
935 reviews
A free contemporary art museum built into the hotel
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFew hotels keep children curious the way 21c does: the public spaces double as a contemporary art museum, so a walk to breakfast becomes a small gallery visit. Breakfast is free, and the indoor pool and hot tub give families an easy evening plan. City Museum, the climbable playground of salvaged objects that St. Louis children love, is a six-minute walk away. Pet-friendly rooms are available. More than 900 guests rate the stay 8.2.
Courtyard by Marriott St Louis Downtown West
986 reviews
A coffee shop and gym on downtown's western edge
Check availabilityWhy guests love itDistance is the main question here: the Gateway Arch and the riverfront are a short taxi ride away rather than a walk, so plan transport for each outing. The on-site coffee shop and restaurant simplify early starts and tired evenings, and pet-friendly rooms help if the family dog travels too. Parking is charged separately. Families who want to walk to the Arch or Union Station's aquarium may prefer a more central downtown hotel.
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark
5,844 reviews
High-rise rooftop views two minutes from the Old Courthouse
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFamilies timing a St. Louis trip around a Cardinals game will find this high-rise hard to beat on location, with Busch Stadium close by and the Old Courthouse a two-minute walk away. The indoor pool gives children something to look forward to after a day downtown, and the rooftop bar suits parents once the kids are settled. Breakfast costs extra, so budget for it. Over 5,800 guests rate the stay 8.0, a strong signal for a hotel this size.
Aloft by Marriott St. Louis Cortex
558 reviews
Indoor pool and patio in the Cortex district
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAloft St. Louis Cortex stands in the Cortex innovation district, and its indoor pool is the feature that matters most to children, whatever the Missouri weather. Parents get a contemporary bar and a patio for the evening. Missouri Botanical Garden is a seven-minute taxi ride away, a good family outing, and the airport is about twenty minutes by taxi. Pets are accepted, parking costs extra, and guests rate it 7.8 from 558 reviews.
Hilton Pennywell St. Louis at the Arch
2,087 reviews
A historic address minutes from the Old Courthouse
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Old Courthouse is a four-minute walk from the Hilton Pennywell, and the Gateway Arch grounds are close by, which makes it a central base for a family visit to St. Louis. I would choose it for character: a preserved historic building with period details and updated bathrooms. Pennydrop Bar + Kitchen on the ground floor keeps dinner simple. Pets are accepted. Wi-Fi and parking are both paid, and 2,087 reviews give a more modest 7.6.
Residence Inn by Marriott St. Louis Downtown
1,516 reviews
Kitchens and an indoor pool for longer downtown stays
Check availabilityWhy guests love itEvery room at the Residence Inn St. Louis Downtown has a kitchen, a real advantage for a family stretching a visit past a weekend without eating out at every meal. The free hot breakfast covers mornings, and the indoor pool works in any season for an evening swim after a day downtown. The bar handles a casual drink without leaving the building. The Gateway Arch is about seven minutes by taxi, and parking costs extra.
Hotel Indigo St. Louis - Downtown by IHG
612 reviews
Rooftop bar steps from the Old Courthouse
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHotel Indigo St. Louis Downtown suits families who like to explore on foot: the Old Courthouse is a four-minute walk, and the downtown grid makes a car optional once you have checked in. The ground-floor restaurant serves breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms help a family driving in with a dog. The rooftop bar looks toward the Gateway Arch skyline in the evening. Parking costs extra, which I would factor in before arriving by car.
HoteLumière at the Arch - A Caesars Rewards Destination
1,158 reviews
Rooftop skyline dining above a casino floor
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe casino floor is the first thing families meet at HoteLumière, so I would only book it with children if the pool and suites matter more than the setting. The pool and hot tub cover an afternoon away from the gaming, the spa suits parents, and the rooftop restaurant looks over the Arch grounds. Free parking and free WiFi help a family budget. City Museum, a classic with children, is an eight-minute taxi ride. A score of 7.0 from 1,158 reviews is modest.
Quality Inn Florissant-St. Louis
1,212 reviews
Free pool and hot tub minutes from the airport
Check availabilityWhy guests love itQuality Inn Florissant-St. Louis is a practical stop for families with an early flight or a late arrival: Lambert International is about ten minutes by public transport or twelve by taxi. Breakfast and parking are free, and the indoor pool and hot tub let children swim whatever the weather. Florissant lies north of downtown St. Louis, so I would treat it as an airport base rather than a sightseeing one.
What to expect
- Downtown riverfront hotels cluster within walking distance of the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse.
- Forest Park and the West End suit travelers prioritizing the zoo, art museum and a quieter residential feel.
- Clayton offers a business-district base with easy access to Saint Louis Art Museum.
- Properties near Florissant and the airport cut the drive to Lambert International to under fifteen minutes.
- Union Station's converted train shed adds an aquarium and a historic hotel option downtown.
- The Delmar Loop suits travelers wanting a walkable nightlife strip outside the downtown core.
Local tips
- Book downtown if the Gateway Arch, Old Courthouse and a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium are the priority, most sit within a ten-minute walk of each other.
- Choose a Florissant or airport-area hotel for an early flight or late arrival, it cuts the Lambert International drive to roughly ten to fifteen minutes.
- Visit in spring or fall for milder weather, St. Louis summers run hot and humid and winters turn cold enough to limit outdoor time.
- Free parking is common outside downtown but often a paid add-on at riverfront hotels, factor it into the daily budget.
- Forest Park's zoo and art museum are both free, making a West End or Cortex-area hotel a practical base for a family trip.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in St. Louis?
Downtown near the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse suits travelers focused on riverfront sightseeing and walkability, while Clayton, the West End or the Delmar Loop suit those prioritizing Forest Park, a business trip or a livelier nightlife strip.
What types of accommodation are available in St. Louis?
St. Louis offers downtown business hotels, historic converted buildings near Union Station and the Old Courthouse, boutique arts-district properties in Grand Center, and budget-friendly options near the airport in Florissant.
What is the best time of year to visit St. Louis?
Spring and fall bring milder temperatures and fewer crowds than the hot, humid summer months, which also coincide with peak baseball season and higher downtown hotel rates.
Where should I stay in St. Louis for the Gateway Arch?
Hotels within a five-minute walk of the Old Courthouse, including several downtown Marriott, Hilton and Drury properties, put the Gateway Arch grounds and riverfront within easy walking distance.