Busch Stadium Parking Guide | St. Louis Cardinals

Greetings Baseball Fans and Ballpark Nerds; below is your complete, detailed and helpfully illustrated Busch Stadium parking guide!

Plenty of great tips here for St. Louis Cardinals game parking, whether you’re looking to keep it simple, go cheap, find an easy exit, or even patronize local establishments.

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Busch Stadium Parking Guide: Table of Contents

Kind of Official Cardinals Parking
Downtown Lots + Garages
7th Street Lots + Local Establishments
Metered Street Parking (+ Free Parking Options)
St. Louis Parking Apps To Use
Some Extra (+ No Less Important) Busch Stadium Parking Tips

Before anything else, here’s my most important Busch Stadium parking tip: book your spot beforehand. My favorite app for this of course is SpotHero. You can choose the ideal spot based on price or shortest walk (and I’m about to help you with that), with a customer rating and photos for each location.

Never Drive To Busch Stadium Without A Plan…

Book Your Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!

Ready? Grab your coffee and let’s get started:

Extra bonus: keep an eye on your car from the upper deck!

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #1) Cardinals Parking.

The Cardinals feature a map on their website listing what they call official lots, which basically means you have to follow their rules; no tailgating, exit the lot before an hour after the game, and don’t leave any pets in the car among other things.

As you can see, Cardinals parking includes Lots A, B, and C, the All-Star lot, and the One Cardinal Way Garage (part of the One Cardinal Way apartment complex). Aside from the Cardinal Way garage, these are all surface lots located southwest of the ballpark, at the home plate entrance. (They are also close to the popular Stan Musial statue entrance at third base.)

Well I was gonna park here, but the “A” parking must be better. Maybe the cones are in better condition.

The Cardinals allow (and encourage) you to buy a parking pass through them with your game ticket (you’ll need the MLB Ballpark app). There’s no cash for payment on game day. They also provide helpful directions and a stadium access map.

Lot B is the closest, and is generally reserved for VIP ticket holders with premium seating. Lot A is also very close, and won’t let you in without a pass. Lot C and the All-Star Lot are basically the same lot, and it’s by far the largest. You’ll likely end up there, so if you arrive later it could be a much longer walk.

The view of the game from your apartment might not be great, but game day parking is not a concern.

The Cardinal Way garage is close to the center field entrance. More importantly, it’s right there at Ballpark Village for your pre-game meal or drink. You’re allowed to enter three hours before game time, but honestly, I would want to arrive earlier, more on that in a bit.

Cardinal Way’s garage empties slowly after the game, but you can easily get to Spruce Street and onto I-55 south or I-44 west. Or stay on Broadway for the I-64/U.S. 40 west ramp. Slow, but simple. It’s also a covered garage, if you prefer that.

The entrance is on South Broadway Street, which is one-way, so approach from the north.

“Meet me at the Tums ad” might not have the same ring as “Meet me at Stan”, but both are equally convenient.

Two other nearby surface lots aren’t operated by the Cardinals; these are the “Cardinal Lot” across Broadway, and the “Stan The Man” lot on the third base side near Stan’s statue. Both are available on SpotHero, and I strongly suggest you book ahead.

The Cardinal Lot is pricey, but it’s very close with an easy exit onto I-44 and I-55. That said, some Googlers complain about the poor security and condition of the lot. The Stan The Man lot is also in this price range, but might be a better choice if you have concerns.

You don’t actually have to cross this highway to get to your car.

The Cardinals official lots and Cardinal Way garage are best when you want to keep it simple with a short walk; say if you’re bringing the family and aren’t familiar with downtown. But they’re also the most expensive, and often the slowest to exit after the game.

They might be out of capital Gs, but St. Louis is still helpful with the signage.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #2) Downtown Lots + Garages

Busch Stadium does not lack at all for satellite parking nearby. You have a wide variety of options, especially when you book in advance. If you’re looking for something cheaper with an easier exit, one of these would be a better choice.

You can see the full list of parking options on this helpful page from KSDK. I’m not covering them all, but I will mention a few that I or others in town might recommend for different reasons (click on the links to see their Google Maps location):

“Just do a quick loop around, only takes about a half hour.”

Stadium East + Stadium West Garages. There are two very large multi-level garages on the north side of Clark Avenue, on either side of the ballpark. These are very convenient for a short walk to the game and Ballpark Village. They’re popular with fans, but they cost about the same as the Cardinals lots.

Multiple forum dwellers complain about the time it takes to exit these garages, but I did read one recommendation to park on a higher level and closer to the exit to make it easier.

If no one’s looking you can change the letters to say “LIL BAKLAVA GLERP”, but don’t do that.

Ballpark Village. There is a surface lot on the other side of Cardinal Way from the ballpark, putting you right at the entrance of Cardinals Nation and Ballpark Village. It costs about the same as the Cardinal Way lot, and is great for pre-game activity and easily finding your car afterward. There’s charging stations here if needed.

You can park here at any time of the day and pay by the hour, unfortunately you can’t escape the event rate that way; daily parking must exit before 6:00 PM. So it’s best to enter after the event rate kicks in.

I’m hungry…for someone to park my car!

Incidentally, there’s also valet parking at the Salt + Smoke restaurant in the Village; if money is no object and you’re in for that full VIP game day experience, that might be worth a go. Live! by Loews offers convenient parking, but the price is higher than most.

I’m telling, you, there’s a sporting event in St. Louis today!

Enterprise Center/City Hall. The home of the NHL’s Blues is a viable option for Cardinals game parking, so long as there’s nothing going on there. They have the sizable Kiel Center garage and several surface lots across the street.

The Blues’ home is about a ten minute walk along Clark Avenue to the ballpark; you can take the Metrolink to the Civic Center station after the game. Parking is cheaper than Cardinals lots, and after the game it should be a fairly easy exit onto I-64.

The best part is, if you get a ticket, you don’t have to go far to pay it.

City Hall’s lot is just east of the Enterprise Center and slightly closer to Busch, and parking here is the same price. There are also EV charging stations at the City Hall lot.

The walk to the ballpark from the Enterprise Center and City Hall passes by Tin Roof, a popular live music establishment with some great drink specials.

No cash accepted. Like anyone carries $30 cash on them. Heh heh, that’s classic.

There are two street lots west of the ballpark a couple of blocks away; the City Block 426 and the 10th and Spruce lots. Actually, there’s several lots in this area, but I like these two for their convenience; they’re within sight of the ballpark just a couple blocks away, and a bit cheaper.

These two and others nearby are operated by St. Louis Parking; you can book online through their site or with the ParkMobile app. They’re small lots and don’t take cash; again, I’d book in advance. 

The Midwestern tavern is in the path to Busch from here. A cool sports bar with an excellent Sunday brunch as I can personally speak to. Say hello to Kendra and Zack for me.

And they’re helpfully painted Kiener Green.

Kiener East + Kiener West Garages. The Kiener garages, like the Stadium garages, are two east and west buildings. They are north of Kiener Plaza, and less than a ten minute walk to Ballpark Village and Busch. Best of all, they’re about half the price of the Stadium lots.

I used the Kiener East garage in my research mission, and I was very happy with it. It’s not far, significantly cheaper, and you can park there all day and visit the Arch if you want. With the time it takes to walk there, you shouldn’t have much of a delay getting out.

The East garage is also right at Chili Mac’s Diner, if you’d like to try a classic St. Louis eatery.

With a helpful illustration of reasons to park here.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #3) 7th Street Lots + Local Establishments.

I mentioned Chili Mac’s Diner, Tin Roof and The Midwestern as destinations that could influence your parking choice. In this section I’ll gloss over lots south of the ballpark, some of which are located at worthwhile establishments.

As you get further south in the Soulard section of St. Louis, there are multiple taverns that will give you a ride to the game; I’ll cover those in a future post. (Be sure to sign up for the newsletter!)

What is this “cash” of which you speak?

South of Busch on 7th Street (Old Route 66) are numerous surface lots, with plenty of spaces, cheaper prices (compared to Cardinals parking), and proximity to local establishments.

The big selling point of 7th Street lots is the easy out onto I-64 west and I-55 north into Illinois. If you’re coming from that direction these are a good option. One caveat; many of these are cash only.

According to Jeremy at 4 Hands Brewery (more about them in a minute), there are folks will drive you to the ballpark in a golf cart for tips. The lot at 810 S 7th Street has a Google review claiming this.

Welcome Cardinals fans who save on beer and parking!

If you like your pre- or post-game party, there are a few popular establishments that either offer their own parking or are close to sizable lots.

Paddy O’s is easily the most prominent; they’re just steps away from the ballpark with slightly cheaper parking and game day food and drink specials. They include a coupon with your parking for a free beverage, so you have plenty of incentive to park here. Cash or credit too which is nice.

If they go through this much trouble decorating the building, you know they mean it.

The Paddy O’s people also offer the “Lime Lot” on the opposite corner of 7th and Cerre. You can’t miss it, it’s nicely decorated as you can see.

This is a sizable lot at a similar price, it’s well lit with cameras, and it also includes the complimentary beverage. Important to be hydrated in this town.

Paddy O’s keeps the party going after the game, but you have to be over 21 after the 7th inning.

If you squint, it almost looks like it’s Kilroy’s ballpark.

Kilroy’s is also on 7th and is a short walk to the ballpark; they also have their own lot. Kilroy’s is popular for their burgers, beer selection, and college bar vibe. You might find some specials on game days here too. It’s not a long walk.

Fleur STL, formerly the Eat Rite Diner, doesn’t have its own lot, but there is plenty of parking across Chouteau Street. This joint is popular for both breakfast and burgers. It could be a great option for a pre-day game meal, and it’s about a ten minute walk from Busch.

Because four hands are better than two when it comes to quality beer.

The 4 Hands Brewery is about a 15-minute walk; but they do offer very cheap parking, and that includes a token for your first beer. They have Happy Hour specials, and it’s a very easy exit; the walk to Busch is about 15 minutes. 4 Hands is a great spot for craft beer loving Cards fans, with solid burgers and skee-ball too.

As Jeremy, their digital marketing manager, tells me, it’s a 16 oz. walk to the ballpark. There might be the aforementioned golf carts around to help.

The Old Rock House is a live music joint with plenty of events happening. According to their website, you can park for free on Cardinals game nights in the lot behind their building. This is an unpaved space though, and I expect you’d need to be early and at least buy a drink inside.

Ballpark E-Guides thinks of these things, so you don’t have to.

Finally, one more key tip about parking on 7th, Broadway, or nearby:

Coming from the south lots you can easily use Gate 1 of the ballpark. This is advantageous for two reasons: first, you can get cheap dogs, snacks and drinks (which you can bring into the ballpark) from T-Dawg’s cart across the street. Second, Gate 1 is a much lesser used entrance. That could be key on a giveaway night.

All parking should be contactless, actually. But this is a nice bonus.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #4) Metered Street Parking (+ Free Spots).

Like with most downtown ballparks, you can find a great deal of street parking near Busch Stadium, especially west of the ballpark closer to City Hall and Union Station.

On weekdays, they’re mostly used by people who work in the area, so your timing matters. I recommend arriving around 5-5:30.

As I write this, meters are active Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and free on Sundays and holidays. There is supposedly a two-hour limit during enforcement times. (You can check here to see if that’s changed.)

Sunday is your day to beat The Man! (Not Stan The Man, just The Man.)

If you’re comfortable parking on the street downtown, it can be a great deal; feed the meter until 7:00 PM and park for just a few bucks. Needless to say it’s a free parking opportunity for Sunday games, but I suspect you’d have to be early to nail a good spot.

Keep in mind the holidays too, free parking on July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Juneteenth.

With over 20,000 zones, you’re bound to find something.

If you’re planning to try meters, there are several street parking apps. I would have ParkLouie and ParkMobile on your phone. They cover most of the spots in downtown, and you’ll see parking zone numbers on signs wherever there’s meters. Makes street parking much easier when you can book the spot on your phone.

If you can see the ballpark for free, that’s close enough.

I’m sure there’s other spots, but the only free street parking I could find was on Lebanon Drive near 7th Street. I’m not quite sure; all I’m saying is I didn’t see meters or no parking signs there. It’s not much more than a ten minute walk to Busch. (And close to 4 Hands!)

One forum dweller suggested Chouteau Street between 1st and 2nd streets for free parking. This is also about a 10-15 minute walk, but it’s pretty desolate looking. I don’t think I’d do it.

Yes, download the app. They’re telling you twice after all.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #5) Apps You Should Have.

I’ve already mentioned most of these, but I’m going to review the essential apps you should have on your phone if you’re planning to park at Busch Stadium.

The most important is SpotHero; in fact, you should have that for parking at any sports event. SpotHero shows you multiple available spots; you can also set your own time of arrival and departure. They include price, walking distance, photos and customer ratings for each location.

SpotHero is very simple to use, and in many cases once you’ve paid there’s no machines or attendants to deal with afterward.

You’ll need the MLB Ballpark app for storing your tickets anyway, but it’s also useful for parking passes. If you’re using Cardinals lots, you should definitely buy the passes in advance.

The best part is, you don’t actually have to call anyone.

As I’ve stated, there are two apps you should have for street parking:

ParkMobile is geared to metered parking in a number of cities (and resort towns). It offers a number of useful features too, including letting you know how much time you have on the meter, and enabling you to extend your time if need be.

The ParkLouie app is also dedicated to downtown metered parking in STL. It’s powered by ParkMobile; you’d have similar features on it. I don’t know if you need both, but if I lived in St. Louis I would.

You were smart enough to read this, so you know about iParkit sooner than this inopportune time.

The Stadium East + West and Kiener Plaza garages are operated by iParkIt, and they also have an app. I booked the Kiener garage through SpotHero, so you likely might not need it. Couldn’t hurt to have it though.

So to sum up, strongly recommend SpotHero, the MLB Ballpark app, and ParkMobile on your phone. ParkLouie is fine, but you can use ParkMobile outside of St. Louis too.

It’s up to you to determine what’s valuable, but you get it.

Busch Stadium Parking Guide, Tip #6) A Few Essential Tips.

So hopefully I’ve offered some great Busch Stadium parking options, whether you want to be close to the ballpark, have an easy exit, go cheap or enjoy pre-game libations.

Here’s just a few general tips:

– I probably don’t need to tell you not to leave anything valuable in view in your car. St. Louis is like any big city, and people do tell stories online. You don’t want to give a law-avoiding individual a reason to break into your car.

– I didn’t find anything in my visit, but some garages may offer Early Bird specials, where if you arrive in the morning you can pay a small flat rate for the day. Great for making a day of Union Station/Ballpark Village/Lunch etc. Couldn’t hurt to check.

This works fairly well if all else fails.

– If you can’t arrive early, as in an hour before first pitch, consider using Metrolink; there’s plenty of free parking at train stations and it drops you off right at the ballpark. Much easier closer to game time. (More about Metrolink in a future post.)

– There are more garages than surface lots north of Busch, and there are more surface lots than garages heading south. The north side tends to have more traffic, and garages take longer to exit, but garages in theory should be safer. (They’re not always, but should be.)

– While I’ve shown here that there are quite a few affordable pre-game party options, there is no “official” tailgating to speak of at Busch Stadium. It probably happens in spots like in the 7th street surface lots, but I wouldn’t bring a grill.

You’re here! Looks like my work is done. Call back anytime.

There you are my friends, every tip I can think of for finding your ideal parking spot at the beautiful home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Getting there is half the fun!

Be sure to check out my exceptionally useful Busch Stadium seating guide too, and stay tuned for more on my Facebook page and email newsletter.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you at the Yard!