Gateway Arch National Park Tourism Statistics

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At a glance

  • Gateway Arch National Park is an urban national park in St. Louis, Missouri, that tells the story of America's westward expansion and the part St. Louis played in it.
  • At just 192.83 acres within its official boundary, it is the smallest national park in the United States1.
  • Its centerpiece is the 630-foot stainless steel Gateway Arch.2
  • The park was formerly known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.2

How many people visit Gateway Arch National Park each year?

About 2.21 million people visited Gateway Arch National Park in 2025, making it the 15th most visited of the 63 US national parks.3 The park has drawn over 2 million visitors each year since 2023.4

  • The 2025 total was down 13.8% from the year before.4
  • In 2019, before the pandemic, the park drew 2.06 million visitors.4
  • COVID-19 cut that to 486,021 visitors in 2020, a 76.4% drop.4
  • Visits recovered to 1.15 million in 2021 and 1.62 million in 2022.4
  • In 2023, the park welcomed 2.42 million visitors, up 49.7% on 2022.4
  • Visits rose another 5.8% to 2.56 million in 20244.
Annual visitors to Gateway Arch National Park (2017–2025)Recreation visits1M2M3M1,398,1882,016,1802,055,309486,0211,145,0811,618,7742,422,8362,563,0522,209,028201720182019202020212022202320242025YearVisitors
Annual visitors to Gateway Arch National Park, 2017–2025.

How many people have visited Gateway Arch National Park in 2026 so far?

Gateway Arch National Park recorded 2.04 million visitors from January to September 2026, according to preliminary National Park Service counts.5

  • Visitation is up 6.1% on the same period of 2025, when the park recorded 1.93 million visitors.5
  • July was the busiest month of 2026 so far, with 548,100 visitors, up 10.5% from July 2025.5
  • These figures are preliminary; the National Park Service finalizes each year's counts by the end of the first quarter of the following year.6 October will be added once the month's count is complete.
Preliminary National Park Service recreation visits, January to September 2026; October will be added once the month's count is complete.5
Gateway Arch National Park visitors by month, 2026 vs 2025
Month2026 visitors2025 visitorsChange
January69,53055,940+24.3%
February80,64364,747+24.6%
March206,555216,702-4.7%
April202,812179,579+12.9%
May242,439227,381+6.6%
June274,906277,953-1.1%
July548,100496,115+10.5%
August236,277246,139-4.0%
September181,397161,180+12.5%
January–September total2,042,6591,925,736+6.1%

How many people visited Gateway Arch National Park in 2025?

  • Gateway Arch National Park welcomed 2.21 million visitors in 2025.4 That was 13.8% fewer than in 2024 but 7.5% more than in 2019, before the pandemic.

How many people visited Gateway Arch National Park in 2024?

  • The park had 2.56 million visitors in 20247, up 5.8% on 2023 and 24.7% above its pre-pandemic total in 2019.4

How much do visitors spend in Gateway Arch National Park?

Visitor spending at Gateway Arch National Park has topped $150 million a year since 2023, after passing $200 million in 2018 and 2019.8

  • In 2024, visitors spent $185 million, 8.5% more than in 2023.8
  • Visitors spent $208 million in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.8
  • Spending fell to $49.6 million in 2020, recovered to $126 million in 2021, then dipped to $112 million in 2022.8
  • It then jumped 51.8% to $170 million in 20238.
Annual visitor spending at Gateway Arch National Park (2017–2024)Total visitor spending, USD$50M$100M$150M$200M$250M$135,922,000$202,652,645$208,187,809$49,610,588$126,069,414$112,076,446$170,178,031$184,598,60620172018201920202021202220232024YearVisitor spending (USD)
Annual visitor spending at Gateway Arch National Park, 2017–2024.

How much did people spend visiting Gateway Arch National Park in 2024?

  • Visitors spent $185 million in 20247, up 8.5% on 2023.8
  • The biggest share, $74.5 million, went on lodging.8

Visitor spending breakdown

  • Lodging took the largest share of visitor spending in 2024, at $74.5 million (40.4%).8
  • Restaurants came next with $37.8 million (20.5%), followed by recreation at $33.6 million (18.2%).8
  • The rest went on gas, retail, transportation, groceries and camping.8
Visitor spending by category at Gateway Arch National Park (2024)USDLodging · 40%Restaurants · 20%Recreation Industries · 18%Gas · 7%Retail · 6%Other · 7%
Visitor spending by category at Gateway Arch National Park, 2024.

Can you camp at Gateway Arch National Park?

The National Park Service has recorded zero overnight stays at Gateway Arch National Park every year since 1981, with no tent, RV or backcountry campers counted in the park.9

  • Park visitors spent $881,609 on camping in the surrounding region in 2024, about 0.5% of total visitor spending.8
  • Camping was the smallest of the eight visitor spending categories, far behind lodging at $74.5 million.8

How long does it take to visit the Gateway Arch?

  • The tram ride to the top of the Arch takes about 4 minutes, and visitors stay in the observation area for around 8–10 minutes before riding back down.10
  • The full Tram Ride to the Top experience, including the pre-boarding tour, lasts 45–60 minutes.2
  • Each tram carries 40 passengers and moves 200 to 225 passengers an hour when running near capacity.10

What are the busiest and quietest months at Gateway Arch National Park?

Summer is high season, with the biggest crowds and longer opening hours in June and July.11 July was the busiest month of 2025.12

  1. July: 496,115 visitors12
  2. June: 277,953 visitors12
  3. August: 246,139 visitors12
  4. May: 227,381 visitors12
  5. March: 216,702 visitors12

The quietest months in 2025 were January, with 55,940 visitors, and February, with 64,747 visitors.12

Monthly visitors to Gateway Arch National Park (2025)Recreation visits by month100K200K300K400K500K55,94064,747216,702179,579227,381277,953496,115246,139161,18076,905100,690105,697JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecMonthVisitors
Monthly visitors to Gateway Arch National Park, 2025.

What are the main attractions at Gateway Arch National Park?

  • The Gateway Arch: The Arch is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide.2 Its Tram Ride to the Top takes 45–60 minutes, including a pre-boarding tour.
  • Museum under the Gateway Arch: This free museum has six interactive galleries covering more than 200 years of American history, from St. Louis's role in westward expansion to how the Arch was built.13
  • Old Courthouse: A historic courthouse tied to the Dred Scott case and the wider story of civil rights in America.14
  • Park Grounds: The 62 acres around the Arch have walking and biking paths, reflecting ponds, landscaped gardens, historical panels and access to the riverfront.2
  • Riverboats at the Gateway Arch: From March through November, riverboats run a range of Mississippi River cruises.15

Other Resources

How did COVID-19 affect Gateway Arch National Park tourism?

  • The park had 486,021 visitors in 2020, rising to 1.15 million in 2021.8
  • With pandemic restrictions in place, visitor spending fell to $49.6 million in 2020 before recovering to $126 million in 2021.8

How many people visited Gateway Arch National Park before COVID?

  • In 2019, the last full year before the pandemic, the park had 2.06 million visitors.4
  • Together they spent $208 million.8

How does Gateway Arch tourism support the St. Louis economy?

  • Tourism at Gateway Arch National Park supported 2,157 jobs in 2024.7
  • Park tourism generated $104 million in wages and salaries.7
  • Its net contribution to local economies near the park (value added) was $180 million.7
  • In all, park tourism generated $301 million in economic activity.7

Gateway Arch National Park FAQs

Is Gateway Arch the smallest national park in the US?

Yes. At 192.83 acres within its official boundary, Gateway Arch is the smallest of the 63 US national parks.1

Where does Gateway Arch rank among US national parks for visitors?

Gateway Arch was the 15th most visited US national park in 2025, with 2,209,028 recreation visits, or 2.35% of all national park visits.3

How much does it cost to visit the Gateway Arch?

The museum at the Gateway Arch is free. Tickets for the Tram Ride to the Top cost $13 to $19, and the ride can sell out on busy days, so it's worth booking ahead.2

How many people can ride to the top of the Arch each day?

Up to 6,400 people a day when the trams run extended hours at full capacity, and up to 3,840 a day during normal hours.2

How tall is the Gateway Arch?

The Arch is 630 feet (192 meters) tall, the same as the distance between its legs at ground level. That's about 63 stories.2

When was the Gateway Arch built?

Construction began on February 12, 1963, and was completed on October 28, 1965. The north tram opened to the public on July 24, 1967.2

When was Gateway Arch National Park renamed?

The park was called Jefferson National Expansion Memorial until February 2018, when a law renamed it Gateway Arch National Park.2

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References

  1. NPS Land Resource Division — National Park Service acreage report, as of 30 September 2026 · nps.gov ↑ b
  2. Frequently Asked Questions - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · nps.gov ↑ b c d e f g h i j
  3. National Park Annual Visitation · irma.nps.gov ↑ b
  4. NPS: Total visitors to Gateway Arch National Park · irma.nps.gov ↑ b c d e f g h i j
  5. NPS IRMA Stats — Recreation Visits by Month (1979 – current calendar year), Gateway Arch NP · irma.nps.gov ↑ b c d
  6. NPS IRMA Stats — Park YTD report, Gateway Arch NP (preliminary current-year recreation visits) · irma.nps.gov ↑
  7. 2024 National Park Visitor Spending Effects: Economic Contributions to Local Communities, States, and the Nation (NPS Visitor Spending Effects report series) · nps.gov ↑ b c d e f
  8. NPS Visitor Spending Effects — park results for Gateway Arch NP (visitor spending by sector and by year, VSE data API behind the NPS VSE interactive tool) · irmaservices.nps.gov ↑ b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
  9. NPS IRMA Stats — Overnight Stays by Category and Year (1979 – last calendar year), Gateway Arch NP · irma.nps.gov ↑
  10. Tram System - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · nps.gov ↑ b
  11. Operating Hours & Seasons - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · nps.gov ↑
  12. NPS IRMA Stats — monthly recreation visitors, Gateway Arch NP, 2025 (IRMA visitation data service) · irmaservices.nps.gov ↑ b c d e f g
  13. The Museum under the Gateway Arch (Gateway Arch Park Foundation / gatewayarch.com) · gatewayarch.com ↑
  14. Old Courthouse - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · nps.gov ↑
  15. Riverboat Cruises at Gateway Arch (gatewayarch.com) · gatewayarch.com ↑
  16. NPS: Gateway Arch National Park Visitor Data · nps.gov
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