The Ultimate STL Airport Guide

St. Louis Lambert International Airport, famous as STL or Lambert Field, is the main airport serving St. Louis City. The airport is around 15 miles away from the downtown area. With an average yearly passenger traffic of close to 16 million, the airport is the busiest in Missouri. If you’re flying out from STL Airport for the first time, it can get a little confusing to navigate the terminals.

There’s nothing to be worried about. Our STL Airport guide will help you easily navigate the airport.

STL Airport History

• The airport was launched as a balloon launching base called Kinloch Field in the 1890s.
• Missouri Aeronautical Society and Major Albert Bond Lambert leased around 170 acres of farmland as St. Louis airfield. Lambert built the first hangar on the property.
• In 1923, it became known as the Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field. Lamber bought the field in 1925 and added a terminal and hangars.
• The City of St. Louis leased the airport in 1928 for $1. Later, in 1928, Lambert sold the airport to the city.
• The airport was renamed Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport in 1930.
• A new terminal was designed and completed in 1956.
• Terminal expansion happened in 1965. The airport was renamed Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in 1971.
• Later, the size of the airport increased, and another runway was added.
• The airport became a Trans World Airlines hub by 1999.
• In 2016, the airport adopted its present name, putting “St. Louis” at the beginning to highlight its location.

Where Is STL Airport?

The airport is located at 10701 Lambert International Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63145. STL currently has two terminals (1 and 2) and five concourses with a total of 54 gates.

STL Airport Parking & Transportation

You can get onsite STL Airport parking in the T1 and T2 Garages, Lots A, B, C, D, and E. The long-term lots offer free shuttle service throughout the day. STL also has a Cell Phone Lot located at each terminal.

However, if you’re looking for the lowest STL Airport parking rates, then it is best to book parking at any of the offsite lots nearby. Reserve via GlobalAirportParking.com to ensure guaranteed, safe, and cheap STL parking.

How to get to STL Airport

These are some ways by which you can get to the airport.

Driving

• From Downtown St. Louis: Drive through I-44 and continue on I-70 W. Take exit 236 towards STL Airport. Turn right on Air Flight Drive to access the terminals.
• From Springfield: Drive through I-55 S till exit 20B to join on I-270 W to Kansas City. Drive via the right two lanes to use exit 26A for I-70 S to St. Louis Airport. Then, use exit 7B to join on I-70 W to Kansas City. Then take exit 236 to the airport and turn right on Air Flight Drive towards the terminals.

Public Transit

• MetroLink: Metro Transit operates the MetroLink light rail system, which has 38 stations. The station at Terminal 1 is at Exit Door 1, and the Terminal 2 station is at Exit Door 12.
• Bus: MetroBus and Greyhound are the bus services that connect to the airport.

Taxi

There are exclusive taxi zones located in each terminal. Ideally, a taxi from downtown St. Louis to the STL Airport will cost between $35 and $50.

Rideshares

Uber and Lyft are the rideshare services that serve St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Both terminals have exclusive pickup zones. On average, an Uber ride from downtown to the airport will cost around $37, whereas a Lyft ride will cost around $41. The ride fare can vary based on the car type, time of the journey, traffic conditions, etc.

STL Airport Amenities

These are some of the amenities you can find at St. Louis Lambert International Airport terminals.

• Wi-Fi
• Service animal relief areas
• Chapel
• Children’s play area
• Lactation suites
• Currency exchange

Hotels near STL Airport

There are some hotels located near St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

STL Airport Lounges

These are the lounges at the airport.

STL Airport Shops and Stores

These are some of the restaurants and shops you can find at STL Lambert Airport.

For the complete list of shops and restaurants, visit the official website of STL Airport.

Lost and Found

• You must contact the TSA Lost and Found at 314-595-0423 if you lost your item in the security area.
• If you lose anything inside the aircraft, you must contact the respective airline.
• For any items lost anywhere else on the airport property, you must contact the St. Louis Airport Police Department at 314-890-1370.

TSA PreCheck

The airport features PreCheck lanes at all three security checkpoints. There is also an enrollment center on the ticketing level at Terminal 1.

Destinations near STL Airport

• Missouri History Museum
• Saint Louis Art Museum
• Gateway Arch National Park
• Forest Park
• City Museum
• Tower Grove Park
• Saint Louis Zoo
• Missouri Botanical Garden
• National Museum of Transportation
• Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

Common Queries on STL Airport