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North AmericaUnited StatesMissouri

St. Louis

Missouri, United States · North America

About St. Louis

St. Louis is worth a stop: 10 minutes from East Saint Louis, 12km from Cahokia Mounds.

St. Louis is a city located in Missouri, United States. With a population of 279,695, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, St. Louis sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Chicago time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add St. Louis to your route.

About St. Louis

St. Louis (officially the City of St. Louis) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while its metropolitan area, which extends into Illinois, had an estimated population of over

Read more 2.8 million. It is the largest metropolitan area in Missouri and the second-largest in Illinois. The city's combined statistical area is the 20th-largest in the United States. The land that became St. Louis had been occupied by Native American cultures for thousands of years before European settlement. The city was founded on February 14, 1764, by French fur traders Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, Pierre Laclède, and Auguste Chouteau. They named it for King Louis IX of France, and it quickly became the regional center of the French Illinois Country. In 1804, the United States acquired St. Louis as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In the 19th century, St. Louis developed as a major port on the Mississippi River; from 1870 until the 1920 census, it was the fourth-largest city in the country. It separated from St. Louis County in 1877, becoming an independent city and limiting its political boundaries. In 1904, it hosted the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as the St. Louis World's Fair, and the Summer Olympics. St. Louis is designated as one of 173 global cities by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. The GDP of Greater St. Louis was $226.6 billion in 2023. St. Louis has a diverse economy with strengths in the service, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and aviation industries. It is home to fourteen Fortune 1000 companies, seven of which are also Fortune 500 companies. Federal agencies headquartered in the city or with significant operations there include the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The city's attractions include the 630-foot (192 m) Gateway Arch, the Saint Louis Zoo, Forest Park, the City Museum, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Art Museum. Major research universities in Greater St. Louis include Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The Washington University Medical Center hosts an agglomeration of medical and pharmaceutical institutions, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital. St. Louis has four professional sports teams: the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, St. Louis City SC of Major League Soccer, and the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in St. Louis

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in St. Louis?

St. Louis offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to St. Louis?

Plan your road trip to St. Louis with Plan Your Road Trips! Add St. Louis as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is St. Louis located?

St. Louis is located in Missouri, United States, North America. The coordinates are 38.6273 latitude, -90.1979 longitude.

What is the population of St. Louis?

St. Louis has a population of approximately 279,695 people, making it a city in United States.

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Quick Information

Population
279,695
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
Missouri
Timezone
America/Chicago
Coordinates
38.6273, -90.1979

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesMissouriCity

Worth the detour from St. Louis

2 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Gateway Arch

Soaring 192-metre stainless steel catenary arch on the St Louis riverfront, the tallest man-made monument in the United States.

1 km · about 5 min drive

ancient ruins

Cahokia Mounds

The largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, featuring massive earthen mounds including 30-meter-tall Monks Mound, center of a Mississippian civilization metropolis.

12 km · about 25 min drive

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near St. Louis.

East Saint Louis

🇺🇸 United States

4 km awayPop. 27,006

Venice

🇺🇸 United States

6 km awayPop. 1,915

Cahokia

🇺🇸 United States

6 km awayPop. 14,402

Madison

🇺🇸 United States

7 km awayPop. 3,868

Alorton

🇺🇸 United States

8 km awayPop. 1,933

Centreville

🇺🇸 United States

8 km awayPop. 5,027

Washington Park

🇺🇸 United States

9 km awayPop. 3,990

Granite City

🇺🇸 United States

9 km awayPop. 29,054

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence