About this Location

Facility Overview

St. Louis Aquarium Parking encompasses the dedicated official surface parking lots serving the historic St. Louis Union Station entertainment complex in Downtown West St. Louis. Situated directly adjacent to the south and west entrances of Union Station, this facility offers expansive, paved open-air surface parking specifically designed to handle high-volume family traffic, event crowds, and daily visitors. Because it is a level open-air lot with no overhead barriers or restrictive ceiling clearances, it effortlessly accommodates standard passenger cars, large family SUVs, full-size pickup trucks, and high-roof conversion vans that cannot fit into standard downtown underground or multi-level garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned at the epicentre of the Union Station entertainment district, parking here places visitors mere steps from some of St. Louis\'s most popular family, cultural, and sporting attractions:

St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station: Located directly on-site, providing effortless 1-to-3 minute walking access straight to the ticket lobby and exhibits.
The St. Louis Wheel & Union Station Plaza: Immediate walking access to the 200-foot observation wheel, carousel, outdoor mini-golf, mirror maze, and the nightly fire and light lake shows.
CITYPARK (St. Louis CITY SC Stadium): Located just two blocks north along 20th Street, roughly a 5- to 7-minute walk (approx. 0.3 miles), making this lot a premier choice for MLS matchday parking.
Enterprise Center & Stifel Theatre: Home to NHL St. Louis Blues hockey, major arena concerts, and Broadway shows, located approximately 4 blocks east along Clark Avenue (approx. 8 to 10 minutes on foot).
St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton: Direct access for hotel guests, conference attendees, and Grand Hall lounge visitors.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Drivers can access the Union Station parking facilities smoothly via major downtown arterials including 18th Street, 20th Street, Market Street, and Clark Avenue. The lot\'s layout features wide driving lanes and multiple entry and exit points equipped with automated barrier gates to facilitate smooth egress, even during peak aquarium hours or after major stadium events. The facility benefits from immediate highway connectivity, sitting just off Interstate 64 (I-64/US-40) with rapid links to Interstate 55 and Interstate 44. For public transit travelers, the Union Station MetroLink light rail station sits directly on property, connecting passengers to Forest Park, the Gateway Arch, and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Spacious, fully paved open-air surface lot with generous vehicle turning space.
No vertical clearance limitations, ideal for lifted trucks, roof-racks, and oversized vans.
Designated accessible (ADA) parking spaces located near main pedestrian walkways and ticketing entrances.
Automated self-service entry and exit payment terminals accepting all major credit and debit cards.
Integration with mobile parking applications and online pre-booking platforms for guaranteed event-day spots.
Bright night illumination, perimeter fencing, and frequent on-site security patrols.

Ideal For

Families and tour groups visiting the St. Louis Aquarium, The Wheel, and Union Station attractions.
Soccer supporters attending St. Louis CITY SC matches at nearby CITYPARK.
Blues hockey fans and concertgoers heading to Enterprise Center or Stifel Theatre looking to avoid inner-downtown congestion.
Visitors staying at the Union Station Hotel or dining along the Market Street corridor.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During peak weekend afternoons, school holidays, and concurrent CITY SC home soccer matches, parking demand increases significantly. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early or pre-purchase parking passes through official Union Station or verified partner booking platforms. Keep your parking ticket with you, as validation or automated kiosks inside the station pavilion may offer accelerated checkout before returning to your vehicle. When attending evening events, entering via 20th Street or Clark Avenue typically provides the fastest post-event turnaround toward I-64 westbound on-ramps.