Botanical garden and conservation campus

Missouri Botanical Garden

4.2 road mi · about 10 min

Missouri Botanical Garden is a 79-acre National Historic Landmark and plant-science campus about 4.2 road miles from Union Station, with major conservatories and gardens.

The place

About Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden is a 79-acre botanical, research and conservation institution founded by Henry Shaw in 1859. Its living collections include the Climatron conservatory, the 14-acre Seiwa-en Japanese Garden and the 1882 Linnean House alongside scientific and educational work.

The institution's own history addresses Shaw's participation in slavery, including enslaved people and his role as a bounty hunter. Responsible planning should treat that record as part of the historic landscape rather than presenting the founder only through architecture and philanthropy.

Current public hours are generally 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 and a Christmas closure. Live admission lists $16 general adult admission, $6 St. Louis resident adult admission and $4 resident senior admission; members are free. The reviewed live crawl did not expose a clear general child tier, so checkout controls rather than an inferred price.

Free parking is available in the main and overflow lots. Manual wheelchairs are free first-come, scooters cost $35 with age and ID rules, accessible parking and restrooms are listed, and trained service animals are welcome while pets are not. The access page contains a conflict: general copy calls the Garden tram wheelchair-accessible, but a current notice says wheelchair-accessible tram service is temporarily unavailable. Publish the current unavailability and call ahead.

What stands out

Enter the Climatron

Explore the geodesic conservatory's tropical plant collection under its current operating notices.

Walk Seiwa-en

Use the 14-acre Japanese garden as a major outdoor collection, subject to weather and route conditions.

See the Linnean House

Connect the 1882 conservatory to the institution's horticultural history and current displays.

Read the fuller founder history

Include the institution's documented history of Henry Shaw, slavery and bounty hunting in the visit context.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a St. Louis Union Station trip

The Garden offers a slower indoor-outdoor counterpoint after the station's holiday train, about ten minutes away before traffic. Confirm admission, weather-sensitive areas and mobility-tram status, then budget enough time for a large campus.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • HoursGenerally daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m., last entry 4:30; closed Christmas and subject to event changes.
  • AdmissionLive general adult $16; St. Louis resident adult $6 and resident senior $4; members free. Checkout controls unresolved or changing tiers.
  • ParkingFree main and overflow lots plus bike parking; current capacity and event routing can vary.
  • Mobility aidsManual wheelchairs are free first-come; scooters are $35, first-come, and require an adult rider and driver's license.
  • Tram conflictGeneral copy says the tram is wheelchair-accessible, but a current notice says wheelchair-accessible tram service is temporarily unavailable; call ahead.
  • Historic building accessTower Grove House is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.
  • AnimalsTrained service animals are welcome; pets are prohibited.
  • Visit scaleThe campus covers 79 acres; choose a route rather than assuming every collection fits one short stop.

Return to St. Louis landmark history

Add Gateway Arch National Park

Pair the gardens with the free museum and grounds at the Arch, or a separately planned tram reservation.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is Missouri Botanical Garden open?

Current public hours are generally 9-5 with last entry at 4:30. The Garden is closed Christmas and can have event changes.

How much is admission?

The live page lists $16 general adult, $6 St. Louis resident adult and $4 resident senior admission, with members free. Checkout controls changing and unexposed tiers.

Is parking free?

Yes. The Garden lists free main and overflow lots and bike parking. Event routing and capacity can vary.

Are wheelchairs available?

Manual wheelchairs are free first-come. Mobility scooters are $35 first-come with adult rider and driver's-license requirements.

Is the Garden tram wheelchair-accessible?

The page conflicts with itself: general copy says yes, but a current notice says wheelchair-accessible tram service is temporarily unavailable. Call before relying on it.

Is every historic building accessible?

No. The Garden specifically says Tower Grove House is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.

Can pets enter?

Pets are prohibited. Trained service animals are welcome under the Garden's current policy.

Do the photos show current plantings and routes?

No. The four images are dated 2006-2017 property context and do not promise current blooms, water, paths, object placement or access.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-17. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.