Gateway Arch riverboats open 2026 season with daily cruises, specialty sailings, and expanded riverfront dining

Season begins March 5 with daily narrated cruises on the Mississippi

The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch are set to begin their 2026 operating season on Thursday, March 5, restoring daily sightseeing service along the St. Louis riverfront and adding a slate of themed departures through the spring and beyond. The opening-day schedule centers on the one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise, a narrated trip led by the boat’s captain that highlights the working Mississippi River and the city’s historic riverfront.

Standard ticket pricing for the one-hour cruises is listed at $26 for adults ages 16–59, $16 for children ages 3–15, and $24 for seniors 60 and older. Infants ages 0–2 ride free, though they must have a ticket to board.

Specialty cruises expand the calendar, including ranger-led and history-focused departures

The 2026 lineup includes recurring specialty cruises designed to broaden the riverboat program beyond general sightseeing. National Park Service ranger-led narration is scheduled to return on weekends beginning March 14, offered as part of the regular riverfront cruise time slots but featuring tailored interpretive content. The ranger-led format also includes a children’s activity component tied to a Junior Ranger badge.

Two additional formats are scheduled to begin in March:

• Ag Coast of America Cruise, operating on the first Wednesday of each month, focusing on the movement of freight and the region’s role in the inland marine highway system.
• Missouri History Riverfront Takeover Cruise on select Thursdays, featuring a conversational tour led in partnership with the Missouri Historical Society.

Evening dining cruises return March 20; Paddlewheel Café to open April 3

Evening programming resumes with the Skyline Dinner Cruise returning Friday, March 20, operating on select Friday and Saturday evenings. The dinner cruise is advertised as a two-hour outing combining skyline views with onboard entertainment and a chef-inspired menu. Pricing is listed at $64 for adults and $28 for children ages 3–12, with infants free but ticketed for boarding.

On the riverfront, the Paddlewheel Café is scheduled to open to the public on Friday, April 3. The café is planned to operate Friday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until the final St. Louis Riverfront Cruise departs each day, positioning food and beverage service around the day’s cruise schedule. Thursday happy hours are scheduled to return in May.

Location, access, and a combined “Captain’s View” option

The riverboats operate from the St. Louis riverfront below the Gateway Arch, with ticketing also promoted through a combined “Captain’s View” option that packages a riverfront cruise with a tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch. The riverboats’ cruise season is presented as running from March through November, with additional specialty departures offered on select dates.

Key dates: Season opening March 5, 2026; ranger-led weekends begin March 14; Skyline Dinner Cruise returns March 20; Paddlewheel Café opens April 3.

Reservations are available for the 2026 season, and the operator has indicated that multiple departure times are planned on days when cruises run.