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Airport Transportation

St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Also known as: Lambert Airport, St. Louis Airport, Lambert Field.

STL · KSTL · St. Louis

Airport facts

Name
St. Louis Lambert International Airport
IATA code
STL
ICAO code
KSTL
City
St. Louis
Country
United States of America
Coordinates
38.7472, -90.3614
Time zone
America/Chicago

About St. Louis Lambert International Airport

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is the main airport for St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States, and for the wider metro area across the Mississippi River in Illinois. It sits about 14 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis, between Berkeley and Bridgeton in St. Louis County, beside Interstate 70.

Southwest Airlines is the largest airline and flies the most routes. American, Delta, United, Frontier and Alaska connect St. Louis with their hubs and other US cities. International flights go to Frankfurt with Lufthansa, Toronto and Montréal with Air Canada, London Heathrow with British Airways in season, and to Mexico and Caribbean resorts.

The airport has two terminals with 54 gates. Terminal 1, under the airport's domed main building, has Concourses A and C. Terminal 2 has Concourse E, used by Southwest, and handles international arrivals. The terminals are linked by shuttle buses and by the MetroLink train. A plan to replace them with one terminal at the Terminal 1 site is under way.

From the airport, most travelers head into downtown St. Louis and Clayton, west to St. Charles County, or east into Illinois.

Airport operator, runways and traffic

Operator

City of St. Louis (St. Louis Airport Commission)

Runways

Four, including three parallel runways

Passengers per year

About 15.3 million in 2025

Gates

54, in Terminal 1 (36) and Terminal 2 (18)

Largest airline

Southwest Airlines

Arrival tips for St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Check which terminal you land at before anyone comes to meet you. Southwest flights and international arrivals without US preclearance use Terminal 2; most other airlines use Terminal 1. If you arrive from abroad, you clear US immigration and customs in Terminal 2 before collecting your bags.

From baggage claim, follow the ground transportation signs. Taxis, rideshare, hotel shuttles and pre-booked cars each have signposted pickup areas outside each terminal.

Each terminal has its own MetroLink Red Line station, Lambert Airport Terminal 1 and Lambert Airport Terminal 2. Trains run to downtown St. Louis and across the river into Illinois, and the ride between the two terminals is free. Shuttle buses also link the terminals.

Traffic on Interstate 70 and Interstate 170 can be slow at rush hour, so allow extra time if your ride is heading downtown at peak times.

St. Louis is on Central Time and changes its clocks for daylight saving.

Ground transportation

MetroLink is the easy, low-cost way downtown; a taxi, rideshare or pre-booked car suits groups, heavy luggage and the suburbs.

  • MetroLink Red Line

    Stations at both terminals, with trains to downtown St. Louis and into Illinois. Cheap and avoids traffic, but less handy with lots of luggage.

  • Taxi from St. Louis airport

    Taxis wait at the signposted rank outside each terminal. Door to door, but rush-hour traffic on I-70 can slow the trip.

  • Rideshare

    Rideshare apps pick up at the signposted zone outside each terminal. Fares rise at busy times.

  • Private transfer

    A pre-booked car meets you at your terminal, useful for families, groups and trips to St. Charles, Clayton or Illinois.

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Moving between terminals

  1. MetroLink train

    The Red Line stops at both terminals, and the ride between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is free.

  2. Terminal shuttle bus

    Shuttle buses also run between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Terminals

Terminal 1

The original domed terminal, with 36 gates on Concourses A and C, used by most airlines other than Southwest.

Terminal 2

18 gates on Concourse E, used by Southwest. All international flights without US preclearance arrive and clear customs here.

Airlines and destinations

Air Canada

Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson

Airline guide

Alaska Airlines

Puerto Vallarta, Seattle/Tacoma; Portland (Oregon) seasonal

Airline guide

American Airlines

Boston, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix; Cancún (seasonal)

Airline guide

British Airways

London–Heathrow (seasonal)

Airline guide

Delta Air Lines

Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia, Salt Lake City

Airline guide

Frontier Airlines

Atlanta, Cancún, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, and more

Airline guide

Lufthansa

Frankfurt

Airline guide

Southwest Airlines T2

Atlanta, Chicago–Midway, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, and many more

Airline guide

United Airlines

Chicago–O'Hare, Denver; Newark (seasonal)

Airline guide

Airport lounges

  • Admirals Club, Terminal 1

    American Airlines' lounge, for members and eligible American passengers.

  • Wingtips lounge, Terminal 2

    A public lounge operated by Wingtips.

  • USO, Terminal 1

    One of the largest USO centers in the country, for military personnel and their families.

Frequently asked questions

How far is St. Louis airport from downtown?

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is about 14 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis, beside Interstate 70. The MetroLink Red Line runs from both terminals to downtown, and taxis, rideshare and pre-booked cars wait outside each terminal.

Which terminal is Southwest at St. Louis airport?

Southwest Airlines uses Terminal 2, Concourse E, at St. Louis Lambert. Most other airlines use Terminal 1, with Concourses A and C. International flights without US preclearance also arrive at Terminal 2, where passengers clear customs.

How do I get between terminals at St. Louis airport?

Take the MetroLink Red Line, which stops at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2; the ride between the two is free. Terminal shuttle buses also run between them.

Can I take the train from St. Louis airport to downtown?

Yes. The MetroLink Red Line has stations at Lambert Airport Terminal 1 and Lambert Airport Terminal 2, with trains running to downtown St. Louis and on into Illinois. It is the cheapest way into the city and avoids traffic on the interstates.

Does St. Louis airport have international flights?

Yes. Lufthansa flies nonstop to Frankfurt, Air Canada to Toronto and Montréal, and British Airways to London Heathrow in season. Several airlines also fly to Cancún, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

Is St. Louis airport getting a new terminal?

Yes, a plan released in 2022 would combine both terminals into one at the Terminal 1 site, keeping the domed building and replacing the old concourses with a single 62-gate concourse. Terminal 2 would then be demolished or repurposed.

Why book with Airport Transportation?

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Is the transportation private or shared?

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Are prices per person or per vehicle?

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

How many people can a van carry?

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

How do I find you at the airport?

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

What kind of vehicles do you use?

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Do you have insurance?

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Do you provide baby seats?

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

How far in advance should I book?

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

What payment methods are accepted?

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Do vehicles have air conditioning?

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

What if my flight is delayed?

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Can I make stops during my ride?

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

Do children pay differently than adults?

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Is my reservation refundable?

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Do drivers speak English?

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Are tips mandatory?

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

What currencies are accepted?

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

Are pets allowed?

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Is there room for luggage?

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

What is included in the price?

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.

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