St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Also known as: Lambert Airport, St. Louis Airport, Lambert Field.
Private transfer from STLSee pricesSee pricesAbout 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.
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Book a transfer from STLMetroLink 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.
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 commonly assigned here: Southwest Airlines
Airlines and destinations
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.