# St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

> St Louis, US · 14 mi (22 km) northwest of downtown St. Louis

Web: https://airport.flights/airport/stl
JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/stl.json

## Facts

- **IATA**: STL
- **ICAO**: KSTL
- **Timezone**: America/Chicago
- **Runways**: 4
- **Terminals**: 2
- **Passengers**: 15.9M/yr
- **Hub for**: Southwest Airlines
- **Official site**: https://www.flystl.com/

## Overview

## Welcome

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) might be mid-sized, but it excels in showcasing local flavor right in the terminal. Named after aviation pioneer Albert Bond Lambert, it sits just 14 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis. With icons like Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, local breweries, and neighborhood diners, STL offers a slice of the city's culture you can savor without leaving the airport. The on-site MetroLink station also makes transit to downtown notably efficient and budget-friendly.

## At a glance

Serving approximately 15.9 million passengers annually, STL is a hub primarily for Southwest Airlines. It boasts four runways and two terminals, ensuring smooth operations even with its compact size. It's located conveniently close to St. Louis attractions, making it a preferred starting point for both leisure and business travelers. Though facilities are slightly dated compared to newer airports, the focus remains on delivering local taste and efficient transit.

## Terminals & layout

St. Louis Lambert International Airport consists of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1, home to airlines like American and Alaska, features 45 gates and a concentration of eateries at the A-gates that capture the essence of St. Louis. Terminal 2 handles the bulk of Southwest flights and international charters, with 37 gates available. Travelers often note the absence of airline lounges, choosing instead to relax at spots like Vino Volo in Terminal 1.

### Terminals

- **Terminal 1:** Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines; 45 gates.

- **Terminal 2:** Southwest Airlines, British Airways, and charter flights; 37 gates.

## Getting to and from the city

The MetroLink provides a straightforward connection to downtown St. Louis. Fares range from $2 to $3, and the typical trip to downtown takes about 35 minutes. For more direct service, rideshares like Lyft and Uber cost around $25 to $30. Taxis are similarly priced for the 20 to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic. Public transit enthusiasts prioritize the MetroLink for its reliability over the often congested Interstate 70.

### Transport options

- **MetroLink (Red and Blue lines):** $2-3, 30-35 minutes to downtown.

- **Rideshares:** Lyft and Uber, $25-30, 20-30 minute drive.

- **Taxi service:** Airport to downtown, comparable pricing and time to rideshares.

## Traveller essentials

For parking, STL offers various choices ranging from the affordable Lot D at $10 per day to valet parking at $30. Cell phone lots at both terminals are free for those waiting for arrivals. Travelers note that signage for ground transport can be confusing, so it's advised to allow extra time when planning transfers.

## Dining & shopping highlights

STL's dining landscape is a feast for those looking to indulge in local specialties. In Terminal 1, the A-gates host Ted Drewes and Mike Shannon's Grill, alongside a Dunkin' Baskin Robbins combo spot. Terminal 2 is catching up with options like Schlafly Beer, Pepe's Cantina, and the soon-to-open Shake Shack.

### Restaurants

- **Terminal 1:** Ted Drewes [A15], Mike Shannon's Grill [A8–A14], Budweiser Brew House [A6].

- **Terminal 2:** Schlafly Beer Bar & Grill [C1/C2], Casa de Tres Reyes, Three Kings Public House.

## Lounges

There's no presence of major airline lounges within STL. Instead, travelers opt for the Wingtips Lounge in Terminal 2 at a day rate of $38. The USO Missouri Lounge in Terminal 1 provides a comfortable space for military members and their families.

## Insider tips

- **Insider:** Schlafly's taproom in Terminal 2 [C1/C2] is an unexpected gem, offering breakfast from 5 a.m. onward.

- **Time:** MetroLink is often faster than driving downtown, especially during Interstate 70 rush hour.

- **Avoid:** Don't wait until you're at C-gates in Terminal 2 for food; options get sparse.

- **Local:** Vino Volo near Terminal 1 [A4] offers a quieter spot with flatbreads and wine flights.

- **Money:** Secure cheaper snacks from vending machines near A4 in Terminal 1 instead of overpriced eateries.

- **Quiet:** Midtown Cafe [Terminal 1] serves quality coffee, avoiding the Starbucks rush.

- **Local:** Ted Drewes stand by A15 in Terminal 1 is a must-visit for an authentic St. Louis treat.

## Terminals (2)

- **Terminal 1** — 45 gates · Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines
- **Terminal 2** — 37 gates · British Airways, Charter flights (some international arrivals), Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines

## Dining (68)

- **2nd City Coffee** — Terminal 1 · Coffee · Grab-and-go · $
- **4 Hands Brewing–Peacemaker Lobster and Crab** — 2
- **4 Hands / Peacemaker** — Terminal 2 · bar-restaurant · $$
- **4 Hands Peacemaker (Peacemaker Lobster & Crab / 4 Hands Brewing)** — Terminal 1 · Seafood & craft beer · $$
- **Applebee’s Grill & Bar** — Terminal 1 · Casual dining/American · $$
- **Auntie Anne’s** — 2 · Local · Snacks · $
- **Baskin-Robbins Dunkin' Donuts** — 1
- **Budweiser Brew House** — 1 · Local · Bar · $$
- **Burger King** — 2
- **California Pizza Kitchen** — Terminal 1 · Pizza · Casual dining · $$
- **Casa de Tres Reyes** — 2 · Local · Mexican · $$
- **Chili's** — Terminal 2 · Tex-Mex · Casual dining · $$
- **Crushed Red** — 2
- **Crushed Red Pizza Kiosk** — Terminal 2 · self-serve kiosk · $$
- **Dunkin'** — Terminal 1 · Coffee & donuts · Grab-and-go · $
- **Dunkin’ (E38)** — Terminal 2 · coffee shop · $
- **Eugo** — Terminal 1 · Smoothies & juice · Healthy · $
- **Great American Bagel** — 2
- **Grounded** — 1
- **Grounded in St. Louis** — Terminal 1 · Coffee & café · Casual · $$
- **Ice Cream Bar** — Terminal 1 · Dessert/Ice cream · $
- **Jamba** — 2
- **Jetbox Market** — Terminal 1 · Market · Grab-and-go · $$
- **Laclede's Landing Bar & Grill** — Terminal 1 · American · Bar & grill · $$
- **Lindbergh Bistro** — Terminal 1 · American · Sit-down · $$
- **Lindenwood Pub** — Terminal 1 · Bar · $$
- **Max & Erma's** — Terminal 1 · American · Casual dining · $$
- **Midtown Café** — Terminal 1 · Café/Quick service · $$
- **Midtown Café – Concourse E** — Terminal 1 · Café/Quick service · $$
- **Midtown Cafe** — 1 · American · Casual Dining · $
- **Midtown Specialty Coffee** — 1
- **Mike Shannon's Grill** — 1
- **NASCAR Drafthouse** — 1
- **On the Go** — Terminal 1 · Grab-and-go · Convenience · $
- **Panda Express** — 2
- **Pei Wei** — 2 · Chinese · Fast Casual · $$
- **Pizza Studio** — 1 · Local · Pizza · $
- **Schlafly Beer Bar** — Terminal 2 · Pub · Local beer · $$
- **Schlafly Beer Bar & Grill** — 1 · Local · American · $$
- **Schlafly Tap Room** — Terminal 1 · Pub · Local beer & food · $$
- **Shake Shack** — 2
- **St. Louis Bread Co. (Panera Bread)** — Terminal 1 · Bakery-café · Fast casual · $$
- **St. Louis Brewmasters Tap Room** — Terminal 1 · Bar · $$
- **Starbucks** — 1
- **Starbucks** — 2
- **Starbucks – Concourse C** — Terminal 1 · Coffeehouse · $$
- **Starbucks (E16)** — Terminal 2 · coffee shop · $$
- **Starbucks – Ticketing Hall** — Terminal 1 · Coffeehouse · $$
- **Steak 'n Shake** — 2
- **Subway** — Terminal 1 · Fast food/Sandwiches · $
- **Sweet Indulgences** — 1
- **T.G.I. Friday’s** — Terminal 1 · Casual dining/Bar & grill · $$
- **Taste of St. Louis** — Terminal 1 · Local specialties/Quick service · $$
- **Ted Drewes Frozen Custard** — 1 · Dessert · American · $
- **Ted Drewes Frozen Custard – A15** — Terminal 1 · Frozen custard vending · $
- **Ted Drewes Frozen Custard – C15** — Terminal 1 · Frozen custard vending · $
- **Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Vending (E10)** — Terminal 2 · vending · $
- **Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Vending (E20)** — Terminal 2 · vending · $
- **The Local** — Terminal 2 · Bar & grill · Local flavors · $$
- **The Pasta House Co** — 1
- **The Scoop** — Terminal 1 · Ice cream & snacks · $
- **Three Kings Public House** — 2
- **UFood Grill** — Terminal 1 · Healthy · Fast casual · $$
- **Urban Chestnut** — 2
- **Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen** — Terminal 1 · Pizza/Italian fast casual · $$
- **Vino Volo** — 1
- **WOW American Eats** — Terminal 1 · American/Quick service · $$
- **Yolklore** — Terminal 1 · Breakfast/Brunch · $$

## Lounges (4)

- **American Airlines Admirals Club** — Terminal 1 · Admirals Club membership, Eligible American Airlines premium cabin, Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald on qualifying itineraries, Day pass $79 · $79
- **James S. McDonnell USO Lounge** — Terminal 1 · Active duty military, Guard and Reserve, Military retirees and families (with eligible ID)
- **USO Missouri** — 1 · Terminal 1, military lounge · :X
- **Wingtips Lounge** — 2 · Terminal 2, independent access · $38

## Shops (46)

- **Airport Wireless** — Terminal 1 · Electronics
- **CNBC News** — Terminal 1 · News & business specialty
- **CNN Newsstand** — 1
- **Discover St. Louis** — 1
- **Discover St. Louis** — 2
- **Duty Free Americas** — 2
- **Explore St. Louis** — Terminal 1 · Souvenirs & apparel
- **Four Seasons Essentials** — Terminal 1 · Travel convenience
- **Gadget Tree** — Terminal 1 · Electronics accessories
- **Hudson** — 1 · Travel Essentials
- **Hudson** — 2 · Travel Essentials
- **Hudson Booksellers** — 1
- **Hudson Booksellers** — 2
- **Hudson News – Concourse A** — Terminal 1 · News & convenience
- **Hudson News – Concourse C** — Terminal 1 · News & convenience
- **InMotion** — 1
- **InMotion** — 2
- **InMotion Entertainment** — Terminal 1 · Electronics
- **iStore** — Terminal 1 · Electronics & Apple accessories
- **Kidsworks** — Terminal 1 · Toys & children’s gifts
- **KidWorks** — Terminal 1 · Toys & kids' gifts
- **Lambert Marketplace** — Terminal 1 · Marketplace/Convenience
- **Life is Good** — Terminal 1 · Lifestyle apparel & gifts
- **Lindbergh Market** — Terminal 1 · Market & convenience
- **Metropolitan Gallery** — Terminal 1 · Art & gifts
- **Natalie’s Candy Jar** — Terminal 2 · Candy
- **Paradies Lagardère** — 1
- **Paradies Lagardère** — 2
- **PGA Tour Shop** — Terminal 1 · Golf apparel & accessories
- **Relay** — Terminal 1 · News & books
- **Simply Books** — Terminal 1 · Bookstore
- **St. Louis Blues Authentics** — Terminal 1 · Sports apparel & memorabilia
- **St. Louis Cardinals Clubhouse** — Terminal 1 · Sports apparel & memorabilia
- **St. Louis International News** — Terminal 2 · News & convenience
- **St. Louis Market Place** — Terminal 2 · convenience & gifts
- **St. Louis Sports** — 1
- **St. Louis Sports** — 2
- **Stars of St. Louis** — 1
- **Sweet Indulgences** — 1
- **Tech Interaction** — 2
- **Tech On The Go** — 1 · Electronics
- **Tech On The Go** — 2 · Electronics
- **The Fashion Avenue** — Terminal 1 · Apparel & accessories
- **The Scoreboard** — Terminal 2 · Sports apparel & gifts
- **The Souvenir Shop** — Terminal 1 · Souvenirs & gifts
- **The Spirit of St. Louis** — Terminal 1 · News & gifts

## Parking (17)

- **Cell Phone Lot** — Surface lot · $0/hr · Short drive from terminals
- **T1 Cell Phone Lot** — $0/day, /1/hr · next to terminal
- **T2 Cell Phone Lot** — $0/day, /2/hr · next to terminal
- **Lot A** — Long stay · $18/day, $2/hr · next to terminal
- **Lot B** — Long stay · $13/day, $2/hr · next to terminal
- **Lot C** — Long stay · $11/day, $2/hr · next to terminal
- **Lot D** — Long stay · $10/day, $2/hr · next to terminal
- **Lot E** — Long stay · $25/day, $2/hr · next to terminal
- **Super Park Covered (long-term covered parking** — /2/day, /2/hr
- **Super Park Lot A** — economy parking · $18/day, /2/hr
- **Super Park Lot B** — economy parking · $13/day, /2 5/hr
- **Super Park Lot C** — economy parking · $11/day, /2/hr
- **Super Park Lot D** — credit card only parking · 7/day, 7/hr
- **Super Park Lot E** — economy parking · $25/day, 25/hr
- **Terminal 1 Garage** — short-term parking · $28/day, /2 5 /4 10/hr
- **Terminal 2 Garage** — short-term parking · $29/day, /2 5 /4 10/hr
- **Valet Parking** — Valet · $30/day, $3/hr · next to terminal

## Ground transport (19)

- **Airport Taxi** — taxi · 20-30 min (airport to downtown by car, typical reported range)
- **Greyhound** — Bus · 30-60 min
- **Greyhound intercity buses** — coach
- **Hotel & Off-Airport Parking Shuttles** — Shuttle · 5-20 min to nearby hotels and parking lots · $0 (usually included with hotel or parking) · Every 10-30 min
  Pickup for authorized hotel and parking shuttles is at the ground transportation zones outside each terminal.
- **Hotel shuttles** — bus · 5-20 min (hotel area, typical reported wait/ride) · $0 (typical for airport hotels with shuttle)
- **Lyft** — rideshare · 20-30 min (airport to downtown by car, typical reported range)
- **MetroBus Route 34 Earth City** — bus · $1-3 (standard MetroBus local fare range)
- **MetroBus Route 49 Lindbergh** — bus · $1-3 (standard MetroBus local fare range)
- **MetroBus Route 49 (North Lindbergh)** — Bus · About 35-45 min to various city stops · $2.00 · Every 30-60 min
  Buses pick up outside the terminals in the ground transportation area.
- **MetroLink Blue Line** — light rail · $2-3 · Every 12-20 min (varies by time/day)
- **MetroLink Red Line** — light rail · 30-35 min (Airport to downtown) · $2-3 · Every 12-20 min · roughly 4:00-24:00
- **MetroLink** — Train · 20-30 min · $2-3 · Every 12-20 min · roughly 4:00-24:00
- **Rental car shuttle** — bus · 5-10 min (terminal to rental facility ride) · $0 (included with rental)
- **Rideshare – Lyft** — Rideshare · 20-30 min to downtown · $25-45 · On demand
  Lyft drivers meet passengers at the airport’s signed rideshare pickup areas near the terminals.
- **Rideshare (Lyft, Uber)** — Rideshare · 20-30 min (airport to downtown by car, typical reported range)
- **Rideshare – Uber** — Rideshare · 20-30 min to downtown · $25-45 · On demand
  Uber pickups occur at designated rideshare zones signed near each terminal’s arrivals level.
- **Taxi from STL** — Taxi · 20-30 min to downtown · $35-50 · On demand
  Taxis queue outside the baggage claim level of both terminals in designated taxi stands.
- **Taxi Service** — Taxi · 20-30 min (airport to downtown by car, typical reported range)
- **Uber** — rideshare · 20-30 min (airport to downtown by car, typical reported range) · 25-30

## Insider tips

- _Insider_: Schlafly's taproom in Terminal 2 [C1/C2] is an unexpected gem, offering breakfast from 5 a.m. onward.
- _Time_: MetroLink is often faster than driving downtown, especially during Interstate 70 rush hour.
- _Avoid_: Don't wait until you're at C-gates in Terminal 2 for food; options get sparse.
- _Local_: Vino Volo near Terminal 1 [A4] offers a quieter spot with flatbreads and wine flights.
- _Money_: Secure cheaper snacks from vending machines near A4 in Terminal 1 instead of overpriced eateries.
- _Quiet_: Midtown Cafe [Terminal 1] serves quality coffee, avoiding the Starbucks rush.
- _Local_: Ted Drewes stand by A15 in Terminal 1 is a must-visit for an authentic St. Louis treat.