Missouri · National Park
Gateway Arch: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
The National Park Service data we checked on Oct 26, 2026 lists no entrance fee for Gateway Arch, though parking, tours, camping or reservations can still cost money. Entry costs a DIY visitor nothing, so a tour price pays for transport and guiding. July is busiest, with 22% of 2025 recreation visits.
Free to enter, so the tour is about transport
The NPS lists no entrance fee here, so a tour price is almost entirely transport, guiding and any permits. Check the park fee page for parking, camping or reservation fees.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Timed Entry Reservation - Location | $19 | Prices vary by date of visit. Begin your tour with an interactive pre-boarding experience featuring 60s-inspired animation and Gateway Arch trivia. Then, be transported 630 feet to the top of Arch for exhilarating views. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Gateway Arch via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Pass math
- There is no listed entrance fee here, so a pass saves nothing at this park. It only matters for other parks on your trip.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. July had 22% of the year; January was the quietest month, with about 11% of the busiest month’s visits.
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 55,940 |
| February | 64,747 |
| March | 216,702 |
| April | 179,579 |
| May | 227,381 |
| June | 277,953 |
| July | 496,115 |
| August | 246,139 |
| September | 161,180 |
| October | 76,905 |
| November | 100,690 |
| December | 105,697 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
The NPS alert feed had no active alerts for Gateway Arch when we checked on Oct 26, 2026.
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
The Gateway Arch is open year-round, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Summer Hours (9am-6pm, Sunday through Thursday and 9am-8pm Friday and Saturday) run the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend and are the primary visitor season. During Regular Hours (the day after Labor Day through Friday before Memorial Day) we are open from 9am to 6pm.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Astronomy
- Biking
- Boat Tour
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Dining
- Food
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Park Film
- Picnicking
- Road Biking
- Shopping
- Stargazing
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Gateway Arch?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for Gateway ArchQuestions
Is there an entrance fee for Gateway Arch?
The NPS data we checked on Oct 26, 2026 lists no entrance fee. Other fees may apply, so confirm on the park’s fee page.
When is Gateway Arch busiest?
July had the most recreation visits in 2025 (22% of the year). January had the fewest, so July drew about 8.9 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.