Outdoors Forest Park & the Central West End
Forest Park
An outdoor spot in Forest Park & the Central West End, free to visit and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Late morning Jan 1.
Why go
1,300-acre park from the 1904 World's Fair, with Art Hill sloping down to the Grand Basin's fountains.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Forest Park & the Central West End, alongside 3 sights and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Saint Louis Art Museum, 0.5 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Forest Park
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Late morning Jan 1
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Forest Park & the Central West End. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Saint Louis Art Museum
Free museum in the 1904 World's Fair Palace of Fine Art at the top of Art Hill.
Sight · 0.5 mi straight-line - 2Blueberry Hill
Delmar Loop restaurant and bar from 1972, full of pop memorabilia, where Chuck Berry played for years.
Food · 1.6 mi straight-line - 3Central West End
Neighborhood of brick mansions and private streets, with cafes and bars along Euclid Avenue.
Sight · 1.6 mi straight-line - 4Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Early 1900s cathedral whose domes and chapels are covered in one of the world's largest mosaic collections.
Sight · 1.6 mi straight-line - 5Pappy's Smokehouse
Memphis-style barbecue counter in Midtown, known for dry-rubbed ribs that often sell out.
Food · 3.3 mi straight-line - 6Grand Hall at Union Station
Barrel-vaulted 1894 lobby of the old train station, now a bar with a light show projected on the ceiling.
Drinks · Downtown St. Louis & the Arch · 4.2 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Forest Park is a stop on our St. Louis New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
When to go: weather by month, based on Downtown St. Louis & the Arch
Our climate figures for Forest Park & the Central West End come from nearby Downtown St. Louis & the Arch. Average daily highs in Downtown St. Louis & the Arch run from 39°F in January to 88°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Forest Park itself, we suggest: Late morning Jan 1.
Modelled monthly averages for Downtown St. Louis & the Arch from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Downtown St. Louis & the Arch weather by month (covers Forest Park & the Central West End).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Forest Park, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 38.63890, -90.28460
- Destination
- Forest Park & the Central West End, Missouri
Forest Park: quick answers
How much time do you need at Forest Park?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Forest Park. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Forest Park?
Our pick: Late morning Jan 1. Insider tip: Start at the top of Art Hill and walk the loop around the Grand Basin.
Is Forest Park free?
Yes, we list Forest Park as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Forest Park?
Forest Park appears on St. Louis New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Forest Park to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Forest Park & the Central West End.
Plan Forest Park & the Central West End
Lists & regions
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.