St. Louis Aquarium
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is one of the best aquariums in Missouri. It’s also one of the best indoor kids activities in St. Louis. We love having a large interactive space for the kids to learn and play in the indoor aquarium. My kids could easily spend all day here and want to come back again the next day.
stl Aquarium eXHIBITS
My family always has a great time at the St. Louis Aquarium. We love all the interactive exhibits they have. These aquarium exhibits keep my boys busy for hours! My older son absolutely loved this educational game about sea anemones.
St. Louis Aquarium kids
My boys are all about water play so this educational stream with moveable islands, boats, and dams is always a big hit. They could spend all day at this one area if we let them!
Interactive Ocean Display
This interactive ocean display at the STL Aquarium is so neat we all loved playing with it. Moving the sand changes the landscape and where the animals can roam.
And of course the animals!
We all have a great time seeing all the different species of fish, sharks, stingrays, amphibians, and more in their huge tanks. The shark exhibit and the stingray encounter in particular are big hits with my family. At the stingray encounter you and your kids can actually pet the stingrays!
St. Louis Union Station
The St. Louis Aquarium is located in Union Station which is a big complex of restaurants, attractions, a hotel, and of course the aquarium downtown. There’s also a large Koi pond in the middle and my boys love feeding the fish. We often stay at Union Station for lunch after visiting the aquarium. My boys love The Soda Fountain because they have lots of ice cream options for dessert!
Tips & FAQs For Visiting the STL Aquarium
St. Louis Aquarium Tickets are available in advance and they do limit the number of visitors.
Do you have to make reservations to go to the St Louis aquarium?
You don’t have to make reservations to go to the St. Louis Aquarium in advance but it is recommended because they do limit tickets per time slot.
How long does it take to walk through the St. Louis Aquarium?
If you just keep walking and only stop briefly then it takes a couple hours to walk through the St. Louis Aquarium. If you bring kids with you it could be an all day activity. It’s very open and you can spend as long as you want at each activity and exhibit.
How much are St. Louis Aquarium tickets?
Adults are $25, children ages 3-12 are $18 and under 3 are free
Membership:
Annual passes for the STL Aquarium are $55 and are discounted the more you buy.
How big is the St. Louis Aquarium?
The St. Louis Aquarium is 120,000 square feet!
St. Louis Aquarium Senior Discount
The Aquarium offers a 20% discount to guests over 65, first responders, and active or retired military members.
St. Louis Aquarium Hours
St. Louis Aquarium hours are Sunday through Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday and Saturday 9am-8pm with the last admission being 1 hour before closing each day.
Aquarium Store St. Louis
The Aquarium gift shop hours are Sunday through Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday and Saturday 9am-8pm.
St. Louis Aquarium Rules
Children 12 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times.
No weapons allowed in the aquarium.
Outside food and beverages are not allowed to be brought in. There are a few places you can purchase food in the aquarium, or you can get food at one of the restaurants at Union Station.
St. Louis Aquarium Parking
There are two main parking lots at St. Louis Union Station - The West Parking Lot and the South Parking Lot - they are both the same price.
The South Parking lot is closer to the Aquarium entrance
How much is parking at the St. Louis Aquarium?
Parking is $5 at Union Station when you are visiting the Aquarium if you show your Aquarium ticket at the Explore St. Louis desk.
Food at The St. Louis Aquarium
If you know me, you know that I’ve scoped out all the best food options for you near the aquarium at Union Station. Follow on Instagram to see all my daily St. Louis foodie adventures.
Restaurants Near St. Louis Aquarium
1894 Food Café inside the Aquarium is open daily from 11am -5pm. It is the only dining option inside the Aquarium, however there are many other food options at Union Station in St. Louis
The Train Shed at Union Station is an industrial style restaurant and bar with creative cocktails and craft beers. They also host a fun holiday pop up bar at the Train Shed in the wintertime.
St. Louis Union Station Soda Fountain is a fifties style restaurant with specialty ice-cream dishes. This fun and casual dining option has boozy shakes, burgers, and is great for the whole family.
Check out my list of the best restaurants in St. Louis
Hotels Near St. Louis Aquarium
St. Louis Union Station Hotel at the Aquarium
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott St. Louis Downtown
Is the St. Louis Aquarium Worth it?
In my opinion the St. Louis Aquarium is 100% worth a visit. My kids and I love the aquarium and Union Station and could easily spend all day here.
I highly recommend visiting the St. Louis Aquarium on your next trip into St. Louis. Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time since they do sell out. They also have season passes if you live in the area. The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is one of the must-see attractions when you’re visiting our beautiful city.