A guide to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

Quick insights

• The St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) has two terminals that are a mile apart.
• There is a parking garage near each terminal as well as five parking lots which can be reached via free airport shuttle.
• Airport guidance suggests arriving at STL at least 2 hours prior to domestic flights and 3 hours prior to international ones.

STL is the busiest airport in Missouri and serves the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The airport—commonly known as Lambert Field or simply Lambert—was named for Albert Bond Lambert, a prominent St. Louis businessman and aviator. In 1911, he became the first St. Louis resident to hold a pilot’s license.

Today, the airport serves millions of passengers annually with flights to more than 80 non-stop domestic and international destinations. Read on to learn more about how to navigate to and from STL and what to expect when traveling through this airport.

Navigating to and from STL

STL is 14 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis and provides non-stop service to airports across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. It is located on the north side of Interstate 70 between I-270 and I-170.

There are several ways to get to and from the airport, including:

• Public transportation: The airport is connected to the MetroLink, a 46-mile rail system serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. There are Metrolink stations at both airport terminals.
• Taxis: Taxi zones are located near door 14 in Terminal 1 and door 12 in Terminal 2. Of note, all taxis are subject to an Airport Use Fee per pickup.
• Rental cars: There is a free shuttle service that takes passengers to all rental companies which are located in off-airport facilities. The shuttle services both terminals.
• Rideshare: There are two rideshare pick-up zones. They are located near door 6 on the ticketing level of Terminal 1 and near door 12 in Terminal 2.

Parking at STL

STL has seven parking lots with varying features and price points:

• T1 garage: An attached garage within walking distance of Terminal 1
• T2 garage: An attached garage within walking distance of Terminal 2
• Lots A, B, C, D and E: Long-term lots accessed via a free shuttle that runs 24 hours a day

You can reserve parking at the airport via the SuperPark website. In addition, the STL airport website displays current availability at each lot on its homepage.

There are also free cell phone lots by each terminal:

• T1 Cell Phone Lot: 10985 Lambert International Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63044
• T2 Cell Phone Lot: 9837 Air Cargo Road, St. Louis, MO 63134

You can view a map of parking and cell phone lots at STL.

STL map

The STL website features airport maps—for Terminal 1 and Terminal 2—to help passengers locate security checkpoints, restrooms, curbside check-in, shops, restaurants and more. In addition, travelers can check their flight status on the STL website.

STL terminals

There are two terminals at STL. Terminal 1 contains Concourses A and C while Terminal 2 houses Concourse E. All international arrivals without border clearance are processed in Terminal 2.

The STL terminals are not connected and are situated more than one mile apart. To navigate between terminals, travelers can use STL’s free terminal shuttle, which runs 24 hours a day. The shuttle ride time is approximately 10 minutes, and shuttles are scheduled to pick up passengers every 8-15 minutes.

Security at STL

There are three security checkpoints at STL—two in Terminal 1 and one in Terminal 2.

STL security checkpoint hours as of June 2025 are as follows:

• T1 serving A Gates: Open from 4:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• T1 serving C Gates: Open from 3:45 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• T2 serving E Gates: Open from 3:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Note that security hours are subject to change.

The TSA recommends passengers arrive at the airport 2 hours prior to their scheduled boarding time for domestic flights and 3 hours prior for international flights.

Getting through airport security faster

Security screening wait times can vary, but there are Trusted Traveler Programs (TTPs)—namely TSA PreCheck^® and Global Entry— designed to help expedite the security and passport screening processes.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers expedited security screenings at STL. There are designated TSA PreCheck lanes, as well as Global Entry kiosks, at STL. Passengers in those lanes typically do not need to remove light jackets, shoes, belts or jewelry during screening. There is also a TSA PreCheck enrollment center in Terminal 1 on the ticketing level.

Of note, some credit cards offer reimbursement for TTP application fees when the card is used to pay the fee.

Things to do at STL

For those who have some time to spend at the airport before hopping on their flight, there are dozens of food, beverage and shopping options that contain a mix of local favorites and national chains.

Parents traveling with children may want to check out the St. Louis International Play Port. This transportation-themed educational play exhibit features a kid-sized plane, air traffic control tower and a kid-sized MetroLink light rail train. It is located near gate C3 in Terminal 1.

Art also abounds throughout the airport thanks to the Lambert Art & Culture Program. The STL art collection includes a mix of visual and performing arts, with exhibition areas in both terminals. Terminal 1 houses the Kling Family Gallery, which is a dedicated exhibition space located close to the C Concourse exit.

In summary

STL airport—commonly referred to as Lambert Field—is the busiest airport in Missouri. It serves the greater St. Louis area and can be reached via Interstate 70.

There are two terminals at STL which are a mile apart, but passengers can travel between them via free airport shuttle. There are seven parking lots on site, and travelers can reserve a parking spot ahead of time.

The airport has three security checkpoints and provides access to expedited screening processes via TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Airport guidance suggests passengers arrive 2 hours ahead of their departure time for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights.