One-way Greyhound fares from St. Louis can dip under $40
Greyhound doesn’t leave from STL Terminal 1 or 2; it runs out of the downtown Greyhound station at 430 S 15th St, near the Enterprise Center. This is the ultra-budget, car-free option for longer hops to places like Memphis, Indianapolis, or Kansas City when Amtrak or regional flights don’t line up or are too expensive.
To get from STL airport to Greyhound, ride MetroLink from Terminal 1 or 2 to Civic Center, which usually takes about 35–40 minutes with a single $3 fare. From Civic Center station, it’s roughly a 5-minute walk south along 14th/Clark to the Greyhound building. Build at least a 90-minute cushion between your flight arrival and scheduled bus departure; regulars go even fatter on the buffer because of delays.
Schedules on this corridor drift a lot; riders talk about 30–120 minute delays being normal. Buses can also be overbooked, especially Friday evenings and around holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Check the Greyhound app or website the morning of your trip and again two hours before departure; people report schedule changes posting same-day with minimal announcements in the station.
The STL Greyhound station itself is basic and worn, with mixed reviews on cleanliness. Overnight or late-night (after roughly 10 p.m.) waits get the most complaints; several riders say the area feels sketchy and they avoid departures that hit downtown between midnight and 5 a.m. Daytime crowds lean more commuter and student; overnight sees more layovers and people trying to sleep in the chairs.
Food options at the station are thin and often closed by 8 or 9 p.m.; vending machines run out or break. Regulars bring their own snacks and a refillable bottle, then top up water at the airport or MetroLink station fountains. For comfort, a light blanket or hoodie and a small travel pillow help on 5–8 hour runs to cities like Nashville or Oklahoma City.
On the return, aim to hit STL airport at least 3 hours before a domestic flight and 4 hours before international, especially if your bus is scheduled after 6 p.m. A delayed Greyhound plus TSA lines at Terminal 1 is a bad combo; it’s cheaper to sit airside with Wi‑Fi than to rebook a missed flight.
How to use Greyhound from STL in 6 steps
- 1. Book your Greyhound ticket online or in the app, and choose daytime arrivals/departures at the St. Louis station when possible.
- 2. Land at STL, then follow signs to MetroLink at Terminal 1 or 2 and buy a $3 one-way ticket to Civic Center station.
- 3. Ride MetroLink about 35–40 minutes to Civic Center, then walk 5 minutes to the Greyhound station at 430 S 15th St.
- 4. Arrive at the Greyhound station at least 45–60 minutes before scheduled departure, more on Fridays or holidays.
- 5. Keep the app open to watch for gate or time changes, and board as soon as your route is called to avoid getting bumped on crowded runs.
- 6. On the way back, schedule your bus to reach downtown St. Louis at least 4 hours before your flight, then reverse the walk-and-MetroLink sequence to return to STL.
One practical tip: if Amtrak from Gateway Station (0.3 miles east of Greyhound) is within $20–30 of your bus fare for the same route, locals say take the train and skip the overnight wait at the bus station.