Commune with nature in Castlewood State Park
Although there’s a great deal of nature within day-trip distance of St. Louis—Missouri is a largely rural state—one of my go-to spots is Castlewood State Park, located in Ballwin, about 15 minutes from where I grew up. From hiking trails, to camping and fishing areas, to swimming (at your own risk—the current can be strong!), Castlewood allows you to feel way out in nature, even though you’re not far from the city at all.
How to Get Around in St. Louis
St. Louis has relatively good public transportation for a city of its size, with frequent bus service and two lines of the MetroRail light rail network. Well, it’s good within the “inner belt,” aka between I-170 and the Mississippi River downtown. If you want to get out of St. Louis, or even access places outside the urban core, you really need to have a car (or rent one if you flew in).
If I’m honest, I’d recommend you just pick up a car upon arriving at Lambert Airport, and not just because all the day trips from St. Louis I’ve suggested in this post require one. With few exceptions, having a car will make your life in St. Louis much easier. When it doesn’t—drinking in Soulard or the Grove, for example—you can simply take an Uber or Lyft.
Other FAQ About St. Louis Day Trips
Where can I go on a day trip from St. Louis?
There are as many day trips from St. Louis as there are things to do in the city. Nature-minded travelers will love hiking in Castlewood State Park, while thrill seekers will head to Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka. Love wine? Several wineries exist outside St. Louis, such as in Defiance about 30 minutes down I-70 and in Ste. Genevieve around an hour down I-55.
Where can I go swimming near St. Louis, MO?
The bad news? The closest ocean beach to St. Louis is a day’s drive away—even Lake Michigan, in Chicago, is five hours if you’re lucky. The good news? You can still swim in St. Louis. If you want to access a natural swimming area, and one that’s not muddy or dangerous, I recommend heading to Blue Spring, which is in Eminence about 2.5 hours away from St. Louis’ city center.
The Bottom Line
No matter which of these day trips from St. Louis you end up taking, one thing is for sure: Getting out of the “Gateway to the West,” at least for a short while, is the key to appreciating it. I know this perhaps more than any other major travel blogger, having spent much of my early life here. Whether you ride the rails at Six Flags in Eureka, or discover Native American history at Cahokia Mounds across the river from downtown, all these excursions round out St. Louis better than time spent in the city center alone.
