Explore St. Louis on a Budget: Weekend Getaway Ideas

Every year, my husband and I embark on an exciting tradition of exploring a new aquarium destination, and this year, we chose St. Louis! Our adventure to St. Louis turned out to be one of my absolute favorite weekend getaways ever. We explored numerous attractions and, surprisingly, spent less than we usually do on such trips! I'm thrilled to share the details of our weekend for anyone considering this adventure with your significant other, family, or friends.

Friday:

• St. Louis Arch National Park (~$20 pp): We kicked off our weekend at one of the city’s top spots—the Arch National Park. If you haven’t been, it’s way more than it seems. When I told my husband we were heading to the top, his face was priceless as he asked, "how?" This place is unique, and there’s a museum to check out if you get there before your ride to the top.

  • Know Before You Go:

    • There’s "airport-like" security when you enter, so watch what you bring.

    • Grab a national park stamp book and start your collection here! We love collecting NP stamps!

    • You’ll have a set time to get in the pods for the ride up. If you’re claustrophobic, think it over. We got lucky with a pod to ourselves (just the two of us), but they can pack up to 5 people in there, and it’s a tight fit.

    • Once at the top, you don’t have unlimited time before the next group arrives, so you’ll need to head back down.

    • There’s also a cafe inside the Arch, but it wasn’t great for lunch. I’d suggest eating somewhere else if you can.

• St. Louis Science Center (FREE): This was a highlight of our trip, great for both adults and kids! We could’ve spent even more time there, but we stayed till closing. There are tons of areas to explore like dinosaurs, earth science, a game area (hello nostalgia!), a planetarium connected by a sky bridge, and more!

  • Know Before You Go:

    • Give yourself plenty of time, especially with kids, because there are lots of hands-on stations.

    • There are some ticketed extras you can buy like the Omnimax theater, planetarium show, simulator flights, and more!

• Seamus (pronounced SHAY-mis) McDaniel's Irish Pub: We loved the drinks, food, and vibe here. They usually have Guinness on tap (though they were out when we visited), perfect for fans like my husband.

  
  

Saturday:

• St. Louis Aquarium (~$25 for adults): This was our main reason for visiting, as I mentioned previously. While some reviews claim the aquarium isn't worth the money or call it "small," we found it to be an absolutely incredible place! The secret to enjoying aquariums is to take your time and truly immerse yourself in everything they offer. One of the coolest exhibits, in my opinion, was The Doctor Fish. You can dip your hands in, and these fascinating fish will surround them. It might either give you a delightful thrill or you might absolutely love it! They also featured many other captivating exhibits like Shark Canyon, Global Rivers, The Deep, Confluence Gallery, and more! We had a fantastic time at the Animal Encounter show, where they showcased unique animals you don't typically see, like an armadillo!

  • Know Before You Go:

    • They offer awesome combination packages with the 3D shows and The SkyWheel nearby to help you save!

    • We went early in the day, and it wasn't too crowded.

    • There is a timed entry for your visit.

    • You can get your parking ticket stamped in the gift shop for a discounted rate of $5 for parking!

These are the awesome doctor fish!

• Union Station: It was extremely rainy when we visited Union Station, but the attractions I was able to see that it offered was awesome! Union Station is where the Aquarium, SkyWheel, food locations, and other things are located. It also had carnival style games setup for its winter themed area. The first time I ever visited St. Louis, this was just being built and it is a wonderful addition to the city.

• SkyWheel (~$20 for adults): We did enjoy the SkyWheel, but it was extremely cold and rainy with only a few groups in line and it seemed like it took forever to get on there. It is a good view when you get up there and the pods are heated. They do have packages available to do attractions together in the Union Station area, but we did not take advantage of this and paid for the tickets separately.

• Landry's Seafood: This was a little bit more of an upper scale dining venue compared to what we are used. The food was good, but not amazingly great for the prices. They had a typical menu for a seafood location: lobster, salmon, steak, shrimp, etc. I would recommend it if you are looking for a location to eat at the Union Station. There was also another restaurant we wanted to try, but we didn’t: The Train Shed. Also, if you are in

• City Museum (~$20 for adults/children, they do offer add ons like rooftop access and the pinball garage that we did not do, and you can come after 5 pm on weekends for a small $2-3 dollar discount): If you're looking for an off-the-wall, unforgettable adventure, make sure the City Museum in St. Louis is on your travel list. Housed in a former shoe factory, this 10-story playground is like stepping into a surreal, climbable work of art. It's part museum, part jungle gym, and part imagination explosion—where you can crawl through tunnels made of rebar, slide down a 10-story spiral chute, explore whimsical caves, and even board a real airplane suspended on the rooftop. Designed by artists using reclaimed materials, every inch feels alive with creativity and curiosity.

  • Know Before You Go:

    • Wear athletic like clothing and tennis shoes (there is a lot of climbing, caves, slides, etc.)

    • The nearby parking costs between 10-20 dollars.

    • You will need ample amount of time to explore and there are NO maps. It all trying to find things on your own! I challenge you to find: the 10 story slide, the Ferris wheel, the mirror room, and the world's largest pencil!

    

    

    

    

    

• The Improv Shop ($5-10): This was a very inexpensive, and unexpected stop on our weekend journey. We were looking for a late night activity, and found super cheap tickets to an improv session. We had never been to a show of this sort, so we decided to try it out. They had a full bar, and some side snacks, but they did not have a full menu, so I would recommend eating before going.

  

• Imo's Pizza (pronounced with a short i sound like in the word pit): When you google search "must eat places in St. Louis" you will find "Imo's Pizza." The hotel we stayed at also advertised it heavily as a place to eat. It is a St. Louis classic, known for its thin, cracker-like crust, tangy sauce, and gooey Provel cheese. The pizzas are cut into squares and you can get it loaded with toppings like sausage and bacon. Love it or hate it, it’s a must-try local favorite—especially when paired with toasted ravioli (also a St. Louis must try).

• Hollywood Casino: If you are casino fan, this was a nice little pit stop that was actually right in Downtown St. Louis. We really enjoyed it, and it is where we had hit our biggest jackpot yet (disclaimer: that does not mean you will have the same luck :) )

Sunday:

• St. Louis Zoo (FREE): If you're headed to St. Louis, do yourself a favor and carve out a day for the zoo —because not only is it amazing, but it's completely free to get in. That’s right, zero dollars. It is home to over 16,000 animals and feels more like a world-class adventure than a budget-friendly attraction. Compared to some of the local zoos around me (Cincinnati and Louisville), I would rank it higher on the list with the variety of animals and the exhibits. You can wander through immersive exhibits like the polar bear’s icy habitat, get up close to big cats, elephants, sea lions, penguins, and so much more without spending a dime. While general admission won’t cost you, there are a few extras like the train ride, sea lion show, and stingray touch pool that have small fees (totally worth it if you want to enhance your visit). Parking in the official lot runs around $15, but you can often find free parking elsewhere in the park if you don’t mind a short walk.

Final Thoughts

St. Louis truly surprised us in the best way. From the breathtaking views atop the Arch to the hands-on fun at the Science Center, the underwater magic of the Aquarium, and the wild beauty of the Zoo—this city offers something for everyone. Whether you're a couple looking for a unique weekend escape, a family seeking affordable adventures, or just someone who loves discovering hidden gems, St. Louis delivers.

The best part? So many of the experiences were either free or budget-friendly, making this trip feel like a win all around. Our annual aquarium getaway tradition keeps getting better, and St. Louis has officially earned a spot in our hearts as one of our favorite stops yet.

If you've been thinking about visiting—this is your sign. Go for the fish, stay for the memories.