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STLKSTL

St. Louis Lambert International Airport

St. Louis, US

Airportist Score

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Security

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STLKSTLNormal

St. Louis Lambert International Airport

St. Louis, United States · North America

Solid mid-size US airport with quick security and local food charm but penalized by split terminals requiring shuttle and only basic lounge options.

Airportist Score

6.8/ 10

Solid

Ease of use6.2
Comfort & amenities6.5
Food & retail7.3
Ground access7.8
Reliability6.7
Lounges6.9

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare STL with another airport

Arrive

Security

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Cheapest

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All airports Official site

STLKSTLNormal

St. Louis Lambert International Airport

St. Louis, United States · North America

Solid mid-size US airport with quick security and local food charm but penalized by split terminals requiring shuttle and only basic lounge options.

Airportist Score

6.8/ 10

Solid

Ease of use6.2
Comfort & amenities6.5
Food & retail7.3
Ground access7.8
Reliability6.7
Lounges6.9

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare STL with another airport

Typical security
18 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
20-30 min
Uber / Lyft
Cheapest to city
MetroLink Red Line
$ · 30-40 min
Lounges
3
2 rated worth it
On time
77%
of departures
Terminals
2

12 photos

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

SUSSpirit of St Louis Airport
St Louis
26 km
CPSSt. Louis Downtown Airport
St Louis
27 km
ALNSt. Louis Regional Airport
Alton
32 km
BLVMidAmerica St. Louis Airport
Belleville
53 km
GREGreenville Airport
Greenville
87 km
SARSparta Community-Hunter Field Airport
Sparta
89 km

SUSSpirit of St Louis Airport
St Louis
26 km
CPSSt. Louis Downtown Airport
St Louis
27 km
ALNSt. Louis Regional Airport
Alton
32 km
BLVMidAmerica St. Louis Airport
Belleville
53 km
GREGreenville Airport
Greenville
87 km
SARSparta Community-Hunter Field Airport
Sparta
89 km

STLGuide

STLGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 90-120 min early domestic

Security is usually fast outside peaks; 2 hours covers check-in and the free terminal shuttle if needed.

Early mornings (5-7am) and evenings are quickest; holiday or PreCheck outages can push waits higher—check MyTSA/flystl.com live.

Terminal

Confirm terminal before parking or drop-off

T1 (A/C) and T2 (E/Southwest) are not walkable airside; free shuttle every 8-15 min takes ~10 min.

Wrong terminal means re-clearing security after shuttle—use MetroLink between stations as free alternative if timed right.

Food

Hit Ted Drewes for the local win

Skip generic chains for Ted Drewes frozen custard (A and C gates) or Schlafly/4Hands local beer and eats.

T2 has Shake Shack and Pasta House options; Vino Volo and Budweiser Brew House elevate T1 beyond basics.

Status

Check live TSA and shuttle tracking

flystl.com shows real-time security waits and Super Park shuttle locations; MetroLink is reliable but watch evening safety.

On-time hovers ~77%; weather or hub connections elsewhere drive most delays—Southwest volume can cascade in T2.

Live conditions

Right now at STL

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Southwest flyers (dedicated T2)
Cheap public transit to downtown
Local St. Louis food tastes
Quick security most days

Watch out for

Split terminals with no airside link
Limited quality lounges (Wingtips mediocre)
MetroLink evening safety concerns reported
Garage parking pricey (~$31/day)

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

6.2

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.5

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.3

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.8

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

6.7

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

6.9

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

15,303,756

Terminals

2 active terminals

On-time departures

77%

Typical security

18 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for STL.

Updated Sep 14, 2026

Two terminals about a mile apart (T1: A/C concourses; T2: E mainly Southwest); free shuttle is the only connection
Southwest dominates T2; American, Delta, and United in T1
Official CY2025: 15,303,756 passengers (7,646,449 enplaned / 7,657,307 deplaned), down from 15,946,730 in 2024
Three TSA checkpoints (two in T1, one in T2); PreCheck available
MetroLink at both terminals; rail single ride last published $2.50, 2-hour airport pass $4
Local food standouts: Ted Drewes frozen custard, Schlafly, Budweiser Brew House

13 official sources

https://www.flystl.com/
https://www.flystl.com/parking-transportation/
https://www.flystl.com/tsa-security/
https://www.flystl.com/faqs/
https://www.flystl.com/shop-and-dine/
https://www.aa.com/web/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/stl-club.html
https://wingtipslounge.com/STL/
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/lambert-st-louis-international/stl3-wingtips-lounge-st-louis
https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/wingtips-lounge
https://missouri.uso.org/stl-1
https://www.metrostlouis.org/metrolink/
https://www.wateratairports.com/topic/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-stl/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_Lambert_International_Airport

Full guide

Explore the STL guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
St. Louis Lambert International Airport, the St Louis city center, and 2 other airports in the city
City center2 other airports
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / LyftCheapest: MetroLink Red Line
View Getting There
Lounges
3 lounges with access rules, hours, and verdicts. 2 rated worth it.
American Airlines Admirals ClubUSO St. Louis (James S. McDonnell)
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Take free terminal shuttle (Exit 12 T1 to Door 10 T2, every 8-15 min, ~10 min ride) only if connecting—re-clear security after
13 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Ted Drewes Frozen CustardMetroLink stations
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
5 spots3 free or refill
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

🌤️22°C / 72°F

Security wait times

A current security estimate is not available. Check the official airport site or MyTSA before travel.

Official airport site TSA screening guide

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 15:39 CDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Oct 21, 20:39 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.