Facility Overview

The Metro Park and Ride at Sunnen Station, situated at 39 Sunnen Drive in the historic inner-ring suburb of Maplewood (St. Louis County), is an official transit-oriented surface parking facility operated in coordination with Metro Transit Saint Louis. Serving the MetroLink Blue Line, this well-planned suburban park-and-ride lot features 96 paved, open-air vehicle stalls laid out with wide driving aisles and clearly demarcated stall striping. The open-air layout provides unrestricted vertical clearance, meaning high-profile vehicles, full-size pickup trucks, passenger vans, roof-box-equipped SUVs, and commercial service vehicles can enter and maneuver with complete headroom confidence without the height barriers typical of downtown parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

While nestled quietly in the Sunnen Business Park within Maplewood, this facility serves as one of the most convenient transit gateways in Greater St. Louis. Drivers can leave their cars parked in a calm neighborhood setting and take the adjacent MetroLink light rail directly into key sports, entertainment, medical, and collegiate epicenters. Downtown Maplewood’s celebrated dining, craft brewing, and boutique corridor along Manchester Road—featuring hot spots like Schlafly Bottleworks, Strange Donuts, and Side Project Brewing—is within a 5-minute drive or a short 15-minute walk. By stepping onto the MetroLink Blue Line platform, drivers enjoy direct, traffic-free rail transit to several premier regional destinations:

• Downtown Clayton Business District: Approximately 8 to 10 minutes north via light rail, providing fast access to Saint Louis County government offices, financial headquarters, and luxury dining.
• Washington University in St. Louis & Forest Park: Roughly 10 to 12 minutes away by train, offering simple transit to university campuses, the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, and The Muny.
• Cortex Innovation Community & BJC Medical Center: Reach the Central West End and Barnes-Jewish Hospital complex in about 14 minutes without paying steep hospital parking deck fees.
• Downtown Sports & Arena Hubs: Approximately 20 to 25 minutes direct to Enterprise Center (NHL St. Louis Blues), CITYPARK (MLS St. Louis CITY SC), Busch Stadium (MLB St. Louis Cardinals), and the America's Center Convention Complex.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility provides straightforward vehicular ingress and egress via Sunnen Drive, which connects seamlessly to South Hanley Road, Laclede Station Road, and Manchester Road (Route 100). Commuters approaching from Interstate 44 or Interstate 64 (US-40) will find local arterial routes swift and rarely bottlenecked, offering an effortless detour into the lot. The facility sits adjacent to an at-grade rail crossing on Sunnen Drive, providing immediate foot access to the Sunnen MetroLink Station side platforms. Egress after major regional events is remarkably smooth; while downtown highway ramps often suffer massive gridlock, drivers returning to Sunnen Station can exit their vehicle stalls and reach primary roadways within seconds.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Complimentary Daily Commuter Parking: Surface parking is provided free of charge for daily MetroLink transit riders during transit operating hours.
• ADA Accessible Stalls & Pathways: Designated disabled parking bays are positioned adjacent to zero-step, ramped walkways leading directly to the rail boarding platforms.
• Direct Light Rail Access: Positioned steps from the Sunnen MetroLink Blue Line platform with covered passenger waiting canopies and ticket vending machines.
• Dedicated Kiss-and-Ride Turnaround: Features an integrated passenger loading and drop-off loop for quick commuter handoffs.
• Unrestricted Overhead Headroom: Fully open-sky surface parking accommodates standard cars, utility vans, and oversized sport utility vehicles without vertical height limitations.
• Safety & Illumination: Outfitted with high-output perimeter light poles and periodic security monitoring by Metro Transit Public Safety officers.
• Bicycle Facilities: On-site bike racks are available for multi-modal commuters traveling between Maplewood neighborhoods and the rail line.

Ideal For

• Downtown Sports Fans & Eventgoers: Cardinal, Blues, and CITY SC supporters looking to bypass costly stadium event parking fees and bumper-to-bumper interstate traffic.
• BJC & Medical District Personnel: Healthcare workers and university staff seeking a hassle-free, cost-effective daily transit commute along the Blue Line.
• Clayton & Downtown Office Commuters: Professionals desiring a reliable, predictable commute into high-density office districts.
• Concert & Theater Attendees: Visitors attending shows at Stifel Theatre, Enterprise Center, or The Muny in Forest Park.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Park Free, Pay Transit: Parking at the Sunnen lot is complimentary for transit users, but valid MetroLink transit fare (purchased via the Transit app, Gateway Card, or on-platform ticket kiosks) is mandatory prior to stepping onto train platforms.
• Day-Use Only: Unlike Shrewsbury-Lansdowne or Brentwood I-64 stations, Sunnen does not maintain designated multi-day or overnight long-term spaces; do not leave vehicles overnight to avoid ticketing or towing.
• Game Day Timing: With roughly 96 parking stalls, this lot is smaller and quieter than regional mega-lots, but it can fill quickly during weekend baseball games or major playoff matches; consider arriving 45 to 60 minutes prior to match starts.
• Rail Crossing Awareness: Sunnen Drive crosses the tracks at grade right beside the lot entrance; obey crossing arms, warning signals, and speed limits when approaching the parking gates.