$1–3 bus mainly used by STL airport workers
MetroBus Route 49 Lindbergh runs from St. Louis Lambert’s Terminal 1 bus bays along Lindbergh Blvd, mostly serving people who work near the corridor rather than typical visitors. Local transit folks on r/stlouis say 49 makes sense if your job or home is directly on Lindbergh, otherwise it’s a detour.
The bus stops at Terminal 1 near the MetroBus/MetroLink area and also serves Terminal 2 via signed airport bus bays, so check the digital signs for “49 Lindbergh.” Standard MetroBus local fare runs about $1–3 depending on passes and discounts, and you pay as you board using cash or a Metro Transit fare product.
Route 49 connects Lindbergh Blvd to other MetroBus lines and often works as a link between the airport and routes heading deeper into north or south St. Louis County. Regulars mention they commonly pair 49 with MetroLink at North Hanley or another bus rather than using 49 as their only leg to or from STL.
Rush hour matters here: commuters report that morning and late-afternoon peaks offer noticeably better frequency, while off-peak and evening gaps can stretch into long waits if you miss a trip. r/stlouis riders also warn that traffic lights and congestion on Lindbergh can push real-world travel times well past the printed schedule, especially in the 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. windows.
Comfort isn’t the selling point. Some users note that 49 often pulls older buses with harder seats and more worn interiors compared with newer vehicles seen on other MetroBus routes. That’s fine for a short 10–20 minute hop to a nearby job site along Lindbergh, but it’s not great if you expected a smooth, suitcase-friendly ride across the metro.
Most locals on transit forums say visitors with luggage should stick to MetroLink from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 unless their destination is literally on Lindbergh Blvd. Use 49 only if you’ve checked the schedule for your exact flight time and your final stop lines up cleanly with the route.
Tip: Before you commit, pull up the current 49 timetable on metrostlouis.org, compare it to your arrival or shift time at STL, and build in at least one extra scheduled bus as a backup in case traffic on Lindbergh slows everything down.