st louis arch riverboats

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Riverboats at the Gateway Arch

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Gain a new perspective while cruising the Mighty Mississippi. With a variety of sightseeing, dinner, and specialty outings to choose from, a riverboat cruise makes a unique and relaxing way to experience the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis.

Available March through November. Cruise dates and times vary. Located on the St. Louis Riverfront below the Grand Staircase of the Gateway Arch.

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Additional information.

Rolling on the River: Gateway Arch Riverboat Cruises

No visit to the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis is complete without a riverboat tour of the Mississippi! Step back in time as you board the Becky Thatcher or Tom Sawyer and take a tranquil tour of the riverfront.

Before interstate highways crisscrossed the nation, people did their luxury traveling by train and steamboat. St. Louis was a bustling river town in the 1800’s with hundreds of steam powered paddlewheelers docked on riverfront! There’s a cool display of what St. Louis looked like back then at the Arch’s new museum –be sure to check it out on your next visit.

Riverboat Cruise at the Arch

The riverboats can take your family on a hour long tour of the riverfront –there’s a sightseeing cruise running every day from March to November.

But if you want to make it really special–book a dinner or brunch cruise! The Becky Thatcher is set up with a double decker dining room and takes visitors on a two-hour tour of the riverfront while you dine on a delicious buffet.

Brunch on the Riverboat Becky Thatcher

Sunday Brunch Cruises are a great way to celebrate Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Of course you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy a wonderful weekend at the Arch with your family! There’s one or two brunch cruises scheduled every month the boats operates. Check out their current schedule under “specialty cruises” here.   There’s also dinner cruises, dancing cruises, and a couple cruises up to see the lock and dam where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet!

What’s included with my ticket?

Your brunch ticket includes a buffet full of scrambled eggs, blintzes, French toast, sausage, prime rib, stuffed chicken, veggies, pasta, dessert, and coffee, iced tea, orange juice, milk and chocolate milk. Soft drinks, beer and cocktails are available at the bar for an extra charge.

What to Expect on your Riverboat Brunch Cruise

First, you’ll want to reserve your spot early by getting tickets online . Tickets are $45 for adults, $18 for kids 3-12 and free for little ones under 2. 

The boats are docked at the foot of the Gateway Arch. Stop by the ticket office to pick up your tickets by 12:30 — the boat leaves promptly at 1pm!

Then you’ll come aboard and be directed to your seat. Unlike the sightseeing tours, the Brunch Cruise has reserved indoor seating with white linen table clothes. Tables are located by the windows, so you can enjoy the whole cruise from the comfort of the cabin, or pop upstairs to watch from the observation deck. 

The food might be served buffet style, but you’ll also get a friendly waiter to serve your drinks and clear the plates. Don’t worry about standing in line either, the serving staff dismisses diners by table so the buffet isn’t overwhelmed.

And while you wait, enjoy a little Dixieland music!

Where do I park?

Best Photos of the Arch are Here

If you’re looking to get a postcard photo of the Gateway Arch, a riverboat cruise is where to be! You can also get a pretty cool one from the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park over on the East Side, but you don’t need to worry about pesky power lines messing up your shot here. ( Here’s a few more ideas for great photos with the Arch! )

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Riverboats at The Gateway Arch

50 South L.K. Sullivan Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63102

TripAdvisor Rating:

No air-conditioning, unfavorable music and 1 working mens bathroom.

Got on the boat and the first thing I noticed was fans going. Unfortunately that's all we had even after we were served our salads and drinks and ship took off. I asked the question about the air and...

I don’t ever write reviews but this was exceptionally awful from start to finish. The address given to board was at least 1/2 a mile walk away from where our Lyft dropped us off at (we typed it in...

Mississippi Diner Riverboat Cruise

This river cruise is probably one of the worst we have taken in the US. First we were told the cruise was 7PM and we could board 30 minutes early. When we arrived at 6:30PM we found that the cruise...

Cruises: Mar.-Nov., 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

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News Release

Riverboats at the gateway arch kick off 60th season.

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Contact: Madeline Slattery , 314-384-6777

Last updated: March 1, 2024

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11 North 4th Street St. Louis, MO 63102

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Riverboats at the Gateway Arch

50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd St. Louis, MO 63102 United States

( ??.? miles from you)

Call: 877-982-1410

Treat Yourself

Night Time Fun

Authentic Local Experience

Why You Should Go...

The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch – Tom Sawyer a replica 19th-century paddlewheel riverboat – transports riders back to when steamboats ruled the Mighty Mississippi.

Located on the St. Louis River front below the Gateway Arch, the riverboats offer a variety of themed adventures – from the one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise and the Skyline Dinner Cruise to specialty excursions like the Halloween, Fireworks, PJs and Pancakes, and more.

Enjoy some of the best views of the Arch and downtown St. Louis aboard the riverboats. The Riverboats dockside bar is also a perfect place to drink on the water and relax. Dine at the Paddlewheel Café and enjoy amazing views of the Arch while enjoying burgers, wraps, nachos, ice cream, and more.

In addition, the riverboat gift shop features a large selection of St. Louis- and riverboat-themed souvenirs and gifts from local artisans.

Located on the St. Louis Riverfront below the Gateway Arch, the riverboats offer a variety of themed adventures – from the one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise and the Skyline Dinner Cruise to specialty excursions like the Halloween, Fireworks, PJs and Pancakes, and more.

What You Should Know...

Open: Seasonally: Array

Payment: Cash, Travelers Check, MC, Visa, AMEX, Discover

Discounts: Children, Groups

Access: Wheelchair, Service Animals, Bicycle

Parking: Paid On-site, Bicycle

Available: Café, Bar, Concessions, Private Dining, Patio Dining, Kids Activities, Changing Station, Meeting/Conference Rooms, Banquet Facilities, Gift Shop

Extra Fun...

Select St. Louis Riverfront Cruises (times vary) offer special narration from National Park Service Rangers or an expert with the Missouri History Museum. Skyline Dinner Cruises are offered March through December

Advance ticket purchases are recommended and are required for certain cruises. Contact the Call Center at 877- 982 -1410 or purchase tickets in advance online.

Custom private charters are available for parties, corporate meetings, and anniversaries; a variety of sit-down or buffet selections, bar arrangements, entertainment, and décor are available.

Specialty excursions range from themed Fireworks to Halloween celebrations, PJs and Pancakes with Santa Claus, and many more.

The Tom Sawyer  was originally brought to St. Louis in 1964 to accommodate the spectators who wanted a closer look at the Gateway Arch building.

The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are a part of the oldest Mississippi River excursion boat company that has called St. Louis its home port since 1917.

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Standard Ticketing Alert: Enter the monument through the Gateway Arch Visitor Center, which faces Fourth Street and the Old Courthouse. The Gateway Arch legs are exits only. Please allow at least 30 minutes to go through security. Tickets sell out early and often, advance reservations are strongly recommended.

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Riverboat Directions

Directions the riverboats at the gateway arch.

The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are located on the riverfront’s cobblestone levee at 50 S. Leonor K Sullivan Blvd., St. Louis, MO. To access the riverfront levee parking, take Chouteau Ave. to Leonor K Sullivan Blvd.

Note: Riverfront levee parking availability is subject to weather and river conditions.

DO NOT USE GPS NAVIGATION  GPS use is NOT recommended due to recent street changes near the Gateway Arch Riverfront.

Turn-by-Turn Directions

From Illinois: I-55 South/I-64 West – Congressman William C Clay Bridge

• Take exit 40B
• Stay on far RIGHT to exit on Walnut St.
• Turn LEFT onto Walnut St.
• Turn LEFT onto S. Broadway St.
• Turn LEFT on Chouteau Ave.
• Continue EAST on Chouteau Ave. toward the riverfront mural wall
• Turn LEFT on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd at the T
• Continue NORTH on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., past Poplar St. to enter Levee Parking on RIGHT

From Illinois: Eads Bridge Heading WEST

ALERT: Eads Bridge is closed nightly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

• Continue straight across Memorial Dr.
• Turn LEFT on S. Broadway St.
• Turn LEFT on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. at the T
• Continue NORTH on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., past Poplar Street to enter Levee Parking on RIGHT

From Illinois: I-70 West – Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge

• Take the LEFT exit for N. Tucker Blvd. [will turn into Tucker Blvd.] and continue SOUTH

From Missouri: I-55 North/I-44 East

• Take exit 290C Park Ave
• Turn RIGHT onto Park Ave.
• Turn LEFT on N. Broadway St. and continue NORTH
• Turn RIGHT on Chouteau Ave.

From Missouri: I-64/40 East

• Take Exit 40 – the “Last Missouri Exit”
• Continue STRAIGHT off of the exit

From Missouri: I-70 East

Route through Downtown (NOTE: Exit 246A Broadway St. is closed until Aug. 30, 2023 due to construction, please use the below “Direct Interstate Route” when driving to the Riverboats)

• Take Exit 246A Broadway St.
• Continue SOUTH on Broadway past the stadium

Direct Interstate Route

• Continue onto I-44
• Take Exit 290C – 7th St.
• Turn RIGHT onto 7th St.