If you don’t enjoy navigating ballgame traffic and shelling out extra cash for parking at a Cardinals game, I get it. So do many St. Louis establishments, who offer shuttles to Busch Stadium as part of their fun times.

As your Certified Ballpark Advisor, I have put together this extremely helpful guide for parking at St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. But you can also park for free, enjoy a drink and a meal at a local establishment, and let them take you to the ballpark. It’s a great way to avoid traffic and save a bundle on parking, food, and drinks, which are always pricey at the ballpark.

I have here, in alphabetical order, your list of shuttles to Busch Stadium, for Cards games and other events. I’ve also created a useful map with all of their locations at the end of this guide (or you can click here to see it).

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List of Busch Stadium Shuttles For St. Louis Cardinals Games

1860’s Saloon
Big Daddy’s
Draft Kings Casino Queen
Duke’s Sports Bar
The Great Grizzly Bear
Maggie O’Brien’s
Missouri Athletic Club
Molly’s in Soulard
Over/Under Bar & Grill
Ray’s Sports House
Syberg’s Market
A Few Shuttle Tips
Busch Stadium Shuttles Map

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Because during the Civil War, we needed hardshell food and a ride to the Cardinals game.

The 1860’s Saloon (1860 S. 9th Street). The 1860’s Saloon proudly advertises that they’re three bars in one…the 1860s Saloon includes live music with no cover charge, the Game Room offers foosball, pool tables, video games, shuffleboard, etc. The Hard Shell Café features actual restaurant seating.

The menu is the same at all three; it features some great local favorites like St. Louis-style pizza, toasted ravioli, a creole crab cake BLT, and Cajun options like chicken pasta, gumbo, and crawfish etouffee. And when you think Cardinals baseball, you think crawfish etouffee.

Park for free in the lot across the street or on a side street. Their shuttle is also free (they encourage tips). They start transporting fans somewhere around 60-90 minutes before gametime. When you order a drink, the server will give you a shuttle ticket.

The 1860’s Saloon has nice Happy Hours on weeknights, with appetizer and drinks specials.

Take a ride on the Mean Machine!

Big Daddy’s Soulard (1000 Sidney Street). Big Daddy’s bills itself as the “Best Patio in STL”;. The patio is heated with fire pits, a definite plus on those cooler April days. It’s partially covered for rain and shade, and it features a corn hole area. You can rent it (and their shuttle) for private parties. They also have a DJ on weekend nights.

The menu offers sandwiches, homemade pizza (including a “cheeseburger” pizza), apps like macho pub nachos, salads, wraps, and specialty burgers cooked to order, like the “Angry Daddy” burger with jalapenos, buffalo sauce and pepper jack cheese.

The Big Daddy’s shuttle starts between 45 minutes to an hour before game time, and they keep going until everyone gets there. Parking on Sidney or S. 10th Street is free and generally easy enough.

Big Daddy’s generally draws a younger crowd; they have affordable Happy Hours and food and drink specials.

Parking, gambling, dining, and transportation to Cardinals baseball. Everyone wins.

Draft Kings Casino Queen (200 S. Front Street, East St Louis, IL). The Casino Queen across the river is a popular spot for people not just for their free parking and sports shuttle, but also obviously for being a food, dining and entertainment destination in its own right.

To use the shuttle, you have to be a hotel guest or a CQ Rewards member (both of which conceivably might cost more than parking at Busch).

But obviously there’s perks to all of that, especially if you’re a gaming type to begin with. There’s five eateries here, each with their own cuisine offerings. Enjoy a ribeye steak at Bridgeway, a specialty burger at Sportsbook, or some burnt ends at Eastside BBQ. The eateries are usually offering specials of some kind. Obviously there’s several bars as well.

Remember your membership card!

The Casino Queen shuttle is free, starts about 90 minutes before game time, and runs about every 15 minutes. They’ll pick you up from the ballpark for an hour afterwards. There is a Metrolink station here; if you miss the shuttle you can take a train back to the East Riverfront station.

Small note; the hotel itself does not get good reviews, although I have read that they have upgraded the place recently. It does offer a sweet view of the St. Louis skyline.

Bunting, get it?

Duke’s Sports Bar (2001 Menard Street). Duke’s website proudly asserts itself as being “Voted St. Louis’s Best Bar & Best Sports Bar”. By whom? The customers, of course. One of their selling points is DJ dance parties on weekend nights.

But they indeed have food too. The Duke’s menu is extensive and includes crab cakes, gumbo, smash burgers and St. Louis style pizza, with weekend brunch options like crab cake Benedict and breakfast pizza. There’s a main bar, and upstairs bar, and a patio, all with local and craft beers and lots of TVs.

Duke’s shuttle service is free with a purchase of food or a drink; it starts an hour before every Cardinals game and runs until the end of the third inning. Needless to say they’ll come get you after the game. Duke’s has a lit parking lot, which is nice.

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Because Great Grizzlies need to relax too.

Great Grizzly Bear (1027 Geyer Avenue). The Great Grizzly Bear is over 40 years old, which is impressive for a Soulard establishment. It’s a tavern and eatery with a shaded outdoor patio; a not particularly large place but always draws a nice crowd. Prices are very reasonable, especially during their Happy Hour specials, and they have live music on occasion.

Their menu is bar-style food like smash burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. Their Grizzly Burger is a double burger with cheddar, a jalapeño-stuffed thick-cut onion ring, covered in BBQ sauce. Or try the Grizzly Pizza, with pepperoni, sausage, hot honey bacon, cherry peppers, and hot honey drizzle.

They don’t say much about their shuttle on their website, but they should. It runs starting about two hours before Cards games, which is earlier than most. They also offer a to-go menu with their shuttle service. They don’t have their own lot, but there’s ample free street parking nearby.

See what they did there with the Arch?

Maggie O’Brien’s (2000 Market Street). Maggie O’Brien’s, as the name would suggest, is an Irish-style pub with both Irish pub offerings and St. Louis favorites on their menu. It’s also geared for sports fans, with large screen TVs and an outdoor deck for a tailgate party.

The extensive menu includes the Big Mag’s Burger – a two pounder with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, and Mag’s sauce on a muffuletta bun. It’s not cheap, but if you eat the whole thing with the fries in less than 30 minutes, it’s free and you win a T-shirt. You’ll be ready for some Cardinals baseball after that, I’m certain.

If you’re not up to that, they have Irish whiskey burgers, corned beef pizza (!), and multiple salads, along with local favorites like toasted ravioli and St. Louis style slab ribs. The drinks selection includes an impressive list of beers on tap.

Parking is free in the Maggie’s lot. Their shuttle costs $2, still a bargain over parking at Busch. Check their event calendar to see if it’s running on game day. If for whatever reason you miss the shuttle, you can take the Metrolink back to Union and it’s a short walk.

So bring a hefty appetite, and get a big free meal, a T-shirt, and a ride to the game!

You can also blend in with the building background!

Missouri Athletic Club (405 Washington Avenue). The Missouri Athletic Club is a high end members only club, hotel and fitness center. If you’re on the fence about joining or staying there, maybe their shuttle service to Cardinals games can sway you. This is luxury stuff, so it’s not a money-saver…it’s more of a “going to the game in style” deal.

If you have the means to stay here, it’s worthwhile; the hotel includes two on-site restaurants, and their amenities (probably not free, but convenient) include shoe shining, dry cleaning, a hair and nail salon, etc. If you’re here for a reception or something, it’s a fine destination, and then let them take you to the game afterward. Nightly parking is fairly reasonable.

The Athletic Club is just a five minute walk from the Laclede’s Landing Metrolink station, in case you want to see how the other half lives after the game.

Thankfully it’s the big bus there, not that little cart next to it.

Molly’s in Soulard (816 Geyer Avenue). Molly’s is something of a staple in Soulard; they boast the “biggest and best year-round patio in St. Louis”. They also call themselves family-friendly, at least until 9:00, after which there’s no one under 21 allowed in.

Molly’s definitely gears itself for partying Cardinals fans. They offer game day specials like $5 Cardinals cherry bomb shots, $15 game day beer buckets, and cheaper Happy Hour drinks. Molly’s welcomes fans for weekend brunch and Bloody Marys too.

There’s a nice lunch and dinner menu; they feature some unusual food items like alligator rangoons, Cajun fried deviled eggs, and bacon pimento cheeseburgers. Plenty of specialty drinks too. If you like adventurous food and drinks, Molly’s is for you. It’s also a good spot for vegetarian and gluten-free choices.

The Molly’s shuttle is free with any food and drink purchase; it starts an hour before the game. There’s a small free parking lot there, and extra street parking nearby.

I’m sure by the time you visit they’ll have the hubcap back.

Over/Under Bar & Grill (911 Washington Avenue). The Over/Under is not in Soulard like most shuttle taverns; it’s close to the Convention Center in the Lammert Building.

This is the place for lots of TVs; they have 37 of them including a 150” projector on the outdoor patio. That patio features live music if the weather permits, along with a solid amount of wine and cocktail selections. They have lengthy Happy Hours with drink and appetizer specials.

The Over/Under menu features serious bar food, like jumbo chicken wings in multiple flavors, mac and cheese (the best in St. Louis!), Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, and their “OU Super Deluxe” burger. For dessert get a gooey butter cake, which is a thing in St. Louis. There’s more healthy options here than you’d probably find in most bars, like veggie burgers, vegetable medleys, etc.

The OU shuttle to Cards games at Busch is free for customers, but you might have some difficulty finding parking. They have free parking there, but the lot is small. I would arrive early; there is metered street parking nearby if you can’t find anything.

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Be sure to know where Ray’s is before the tree branch grows in front of the name!

Ray’s Sports House (1732 S 9th Street). Ray’s appears to live by the credo that good restaurants don’t need websites. I kid; but in fact they only have a Facebook and Instagram page, and they do just fine. Ray’s features a bar with two garage doors, which presumably allows for partying in any weather.

Ray’s claims to have the best wings and smash burgers in St. Louis, but they also have other fun stuff like chicken Caesar salads, falafel naan wraps and toasted beef ravioli. Lots of entertainment too, like trivia nights, open mic nights and the occasional drink specials.

The shuttle is free with a drink or meal purchase (bring your receipt), and there’s free street parking nearby. They start running the shuttle 90 minutes before game time, and approximately every 20 minutes.

Judging from reviews, the smash burgers are popular, although multiple people complain about the price of extra pickles. Still, not bad for a place with a diminished web presence.

Eating, drinking, and a ride to the baseball game? Now that’s American, my friend.
(photo courtesy of Syberg’s)

Syberg’s Market (2211 Market Street). Syberg’s downtown location is west of Union Station, part of the Drury’s Pear Tree Inn there. It is a newly remodeled restaurant with a spacious dining room and lounge, and a brand new patio with a sweet view of the St. Louis skyline. If you’re visiting, it’s a great reason to stay at the Pear Tree (I’m a Drury’s fan for sure).

There’s lots going on at Syberg’s, their events calendar features live music, karaoke nights, and game watch parties. They have a few interesting cocktail options like the Blueberry Smash and the Phormsicle, and nightly drink specials.

The Syberg’s menu offers a burger bar with a build your own toppings option, multiple St. Louis style pizzas, wings with nine different sauce flavors, salads, sandwiches and wraps. If you love the wings, you can buy the wing sauce in the shop.

You can park for free at their lot, and the Syberg’s shuttle costs $2 each way. The bus runs an hour before game time. Syberg’s is popular among game goers for this shuttle and draws a crowd, so I would try to arrive early.

You’re technically sharing a ride on the shuttle, so it counts.

A Few Busch Stadium Shuttle Tips. Taking advantage of a tavern with the shuttle service is a great way to save money on parking, avoid traffic, and enjoy great food and libations. I recommend it highly for all of these things. Just be mindful of a few notes.

The Cardinals have a designated shuttle dropoff point at Gate 1. This is in the right field corner, so that you know where to leave the ballpark after the game. Most shuttle will drop you off there or at Ballpark Village.

Just in case you get hungry later.

As I’ve shared in my super comprehensive Busch Stadium parking guide, you can get cheap dogs, snacks and drinks at T-Dawg’s cart across the street from Gate 1, and take them into the ballpark. (I’m all about saving that cash at the ballpark!)

Each establishment has a different schedule for their shuttle, and some places don’t run theirs for every game. It’s a good idea to check with the place beforehand before you go, and ask when and where they’ll be back for you after the game.

Most shuttles are free or very cheap, but you should bring a few bucks cash to tip the driver. I’d probably drop him or her a ten, but that’s me.

And may we add, it’s too long a walk to the Cardinals ballpark.

I wouldn’t say it happens very often, but people have complained about some places not picking them up after the game. Mistakes happen. It’s good to have the phone number of the place within easy reach, as well as maybe numbers for cab companies and rideshare apps.

Most of these taverns are located in the Soulard section of St. Louis, which currently lacks a Metrolink presence. Soulard is a pretty long walk from the ballpark and I wouldn’t do it at night. Have a backup plan just in case.

Sure, hop on, Big Daddy!

The Soulard joints especially are geared towards a younger crowd, with live music, DJs, and dance parties, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t welcome an older guy like me. Still, with a family, I might consider Syberg’s, Maggie O’Brien’s or the Over/Under before a Soulard establishment. Again, be sure you have a backup plan to get back.

Finally, If you’re using a shuttle service, definitely make a day of your Cardinals baseball. Plan well ahead and get there early, so you can enjoy your grub and adult beverages without having to rush to get on the shuttle. A Cardinals game at Busch is a celebration; share it with great baseball fans all day.

You’re here at the game, and you’re a smarter fan now!

Busch Stadium Shuttle Map. As I stated, I’ve included this map below so you have a helpful perspective on where each of these establishments call home.

(You can also click here to bookmark it.)

I hope this primer on Busch Stadium shuttles has been helpful for you; I try to cover all the details to help you make the most of your ballpark experience.

If you need more Busch Stadium help, I’ve got you. Check out my incredibly helpful detailed guide to Busch Stadium seating, and my aforementioned Busch Stadium parking guide. More to come; be sure to subscribe to the newsletter and Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook for new stuff.

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