The Best Areas to Stay in St Louis, MO
The Best Areas to Stay in St Louis, MO

Best Areas to Stay in St. Louis, Missouri

Where to Stay in St. Louis – A Guide to the “Gateway to the West”

St. Louis is the most populated city in Missouri. Located along the Mississippi River, on the Illinois border, this major city is famous for playing a key role played a key role in the development of blues and jazz, its iconic Gateway Arch, and its love of baseball. In this post, we will explore the best areas to stay in St. Louis, MO.

The largest city in Missouri is especially renowned for its city parks and gardens and world-class museums dedicated to everything from arts and science to music and sports.

Some of the main tourist attractions in the heart of St. Louis include the iconic 630-ft. Gateway Arch, City Museum, Busch Stadium, Citygarden Sculpture Park, the National Blues Museum, St. Louis Union Station, and the historic Laclede’s Landing neighborhood. See accommodation in Downtown St. Louis.

Further west lies the expansive Forest Park, a beautiful urban green sprawl known as “The Heart of St. Louis.” Its grounds and surrounding districts are home to several of the most important cultural attractions in the city, such as the Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, The Jewel Box, the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Science Center, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, and the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. See accommodation in the Forest Park area.

The Midtown section is home to the Saint Louis University, as well as the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. See accommodation in Midtown St. Louis.

Other unmissable attractions in town include the Missouri Botanical Garden and Tower Grove Park.

Because of its geographical location, St. Louis, like most of Missouri, has a damp subtropical climate. The summers are hot and humid, with average temperatures typically hovering around 77 – 97 °F (25 – 36 ºC). On the other hand, winters can be really cold. Low temperatures in January can reach 25 °F (-4ºC). Light snowfalls are common November through February. The best time to visit St. Louis and avoid extreme temperatures is during the spring and early summer (April to July) or during the fall.

To get to St Louis by air, the city is served by the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Located about 14 miles (23 km) northwest of the city center, this major air hub offers a wide range of connections to several domestic destinations in the United States and a few international routes, mainly to Canada and the Caribbean.

Additionally, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, located 21 mi (33 km) east of downtown St. Louis, offers a handful of domestic connections.

St. Louis is also very well-connected by train. Inter-city services depart from the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center downtown and include the Lincoln Service to Chicago and the Missouri River Runner to Kansas City. The Texas Eagle connects St. Louis to San Antonio and Los Angeles. See train schedules, routes & fares. Likewise, St. Louis has excellent long-distance bus connections to many destinations in the Midwest. See bus schedules, routes & fares.

St. Louis offers several public transportation options to get around the city, including two light rail lines operated by MetroLink and several city bus routes. Additionally, St. Louis has local taxis, mobile applications, and car rental offices.

The best area to stay in St Louis is around Forest Park. This area is home to the city’s main cultural and tourist attractions and is well-connected via light rail to Downtown and other districts worth visiting. See accommodation near Forest Park.

Other great options when choosing the best location in St. Louis include Downtown, The Loop, Midtown, and the Tower Grove Park area.

Keep reading to find out more about the best areas to stay in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Best Location in St. Louis, Missouri: A Quick Guide

Below, you’ll find a list of the best areas to stay in St. Louis depending on your travel style and what you may be planning to do during your trip. Keep reading below to find all the specific information you need about each particular area mentioned here.

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The Best Areas to Stay in St. Louis, Missouri

Forest Park is the most prominent urban park in St. Louis.

Locates 3 miles west of downtown St Louis and covering over 1,300 acres, this expansive garden dates back to 1876 and is St. Louis’s most important cultural and recreational area.

Since its founding, Forest Park has hosted major events in the city, including the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904 and the 1904 Olympics.

Forest Park is also home to St Louis’s Museum Quarter. Several city landmarks, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center, are located within the park.

On the park’s southern edge lies the 90-acre Saint Louis Zoo, considered one of the best zoological gardens in the United States.

The area around the park is home to several mid-range and luxury hotels.

There are several ways to get from Forest Park to other city areas via bus and metro. Light rail system stops Forest Park-DeBaliviere, Central West End, and Skinker are located within a 0.5 mi radius of the park.

Best location in St Louis - Forest Park
Best location in St Louis – Forest Park
Accommodation around Forest Park - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Accommodation around Forest Park – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in St Louis:

  • Forest Park
  • Museum District
  • Saint Louis Zoo

2. The Loop

The Delmar Loop, called simply “The Loop,” is an entertainment, cultural, and food district located in University City, on the western edge of St. Louis.

The area gets its name from a streetcar turnaround, or “loop”, which used to be located in the district.

This lively area of town is known for its music venues like The Pageant, a legendary live-music theater with frequent shows by local and international artists.

The St. Louis Walk of Fame, located on Delmar Boulevard, features brass plaques commemorating famous St. Louisans such as Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, and Tina Turner.

The Loop is the place to go in St Louis if you’re looking for local and international cuisine. Additionally, some of the best cocktail bars and clubs in the city are located in this area.

MetroLink Red Line station Delmar Loop is located on the east end of the area and connects the Loop to other districts of St. Louis including Downtown, Forest Park, and Central West End.

Best area to stay in St Louis for nightlife - Delmar Loop
Best area to stay in St Louis for nightlife – Delmar Loop
Accommodation in The Loop - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Accommodation in The Loop – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in St Louis:

  • Best area in St. Louis for nightlife
  • St. Louis Walk of Fame
  • The Pageant music venue

3. Downtown St. Louis

Downtown Saint Louis is the beating heart of St Louis.

Here, you can live the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a night of cocktails in some of the best bars and nightclubs.

Downtown is home to the famous Gateway Arch, as well as several shopping centers, such as the Westport Plaza, which houses the best boutiques and fashion stores in St. Louis.

Downtown Saint Louis is the most touristy area in town.

It holds more than 200 annual events. It is also home to fast food venues and several attractions.

Downtown Saint Louis is well-connected to other areas by all means of public transport, including bus, metro and train.

Downtown is the best area to stay in Saint Louis for those who want to be surrounded by shops, live music and the main attractions of the city.

Best areas to stay in St. Louis - Downtown
Best areas to stay in St. Louis – Downtown
Accommodation in Downtown St. Louis - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Accommodation in Downtown St. Louis – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in St Louis:

  • Central location
  • Great nightlife
  • Best area for sightseeing
  • Best area to stay without a car
  • Good public transport connections
  • Historic buildings

4. Midtown &  Saint Louis University

Midtown and the area surrounding the University of Saint Louis are excellent areas to stay in St. Louis for their location and historic attractions.

In this district, you’ll find the Museum of Contemporary Art, the “Fabulous Fox” theater, the Moto Museum, and, of course, the University of Saint Louis, giving the area a mix of university and historical environment.

Other attractions in the area include the elegant Central West End, a small neighborhood within Midtown, which is full of vintage shops, cafes, galleries, and restaurants and is considered the hipster area of Saint Louis.

To move through Midtown Saint Louis and the University to other neighborhoods of the city, you can use the several metro stations and bus stops in the area.

Best areas to stay in Saint Louis - Midtown
Best areas to stay in Saint Louis – Midtown
Accommodation in Midtown St. Louis - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Accommodation in Midtown St. Louis – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in St Louis:

  • St. Louis University
  • Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Hipster area

5. Around Tower Grove Park

Tower Grove Park is located four miles southwest of Downtown St Louis.

This Victorian-era, 289-acre park is one of the most beautiful green spaces in St. Louis.

Directly north of Tower Grove lies the expansive Missouri Botanical Garden. These world-class gardens are home over 6.6 million specimens and are considered the second most important in the US, behind New York’s.

Both parks host many events and large festivals throughout the year, including the St. Louis LGBT Pride celebrations, as well as the Japanese Festival and the Chinese Culture Days.

The districts around Tower Grove Park and the Botanical Gardens are some of the oldest in St. Louis and offer quiet, tree-lined streets and victorian mansions.

This area is connected to the rest of St. Louis by the city’s bus system.

Best location to stay in St Louis, MO - Around the Botanical Garden
Best location to stay in St Louis, MO – Around the Botanical Garden
Accommodation around Tower Grove Park - Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area
Accommodation around Tower Grove Park – Click on the map to see all available accommodation in this area

Why is this a recommended area to stay in St Louis:

  • Botanical Garden
  • Tower Grove Park
  • Quiet area

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