National Museum of Transportation - Trains, Trolleys, and Hyperloops

National Museum of Transportation Takeaway. The Museum of Transportation makes for a memorable, massive day out. This place is a solid 8.2/10. My search for the best family spots in St. Louis definitely found a winner here. The sheer scale of the train collection is the main draw, and getting to climb inside those old steam locomotives was the absolute highlight for me and the kids.

Unlike most of the museums in St. Louis, this one isn't free. You're going to have to pay, but in my opinion, it's worth it for at least one visit. It's a fantastic way to spend an afternoon with the family, especially if your kids love vehicles. I don't know if I'd go back regularly since it costs, but it's a must-do once. It could also be a great place for a birthday party.

It's a bit off the beaten path in South County, so you'll have to drive (about 20 minutes from Olivette or downtown). It's mostly an outdoor museum, so check the weather before you go. Parking is free and plentiful right at the entrance.

National Museum of Transportation Summary

I met a friend with my sons at the Museum of Transportation. I wasn't sure what to expect. Most museums in St. Louis are in the city and free, but this one breaks the mold. It's paid, and it's tucked away in South County.

It was about a 20-minute drive from my house in Olivette, so you definitely have to make a special trip to get here.

When you first walk into the lobby, you get the perfect preview of the whole experience. The place is giant and open. On one side, you're greeted by this futuristic, white pod--the Hyperloop. It looks very, very futuristic, though I'm pretty sure it's just a model. I don't think a real one even exists anywhere.

On the other side, you see a bunch of old-timey cars. That entrance is indicative of the whole museum: they have quite literally everything in between. Past, present, and future of getting around.

Well, almost everything. We didn't see any airplanes. But they had basically every other form of motor-vation covered.

The whole place is incredibly kid-friendly. We were there for three solid hours, from about 9 a.m. until lunchtime, and the kids didn't run out of things to do. There are plenty of places for them to just run around and lots of things they can actually touch.

Honestly, it seems like it would be really hard for a kid to break anything, which is a huge plus.

We spent most of our time outside, walking up this big hill that takes you through the main exhibits. You pass train yards, rail crossings, and just... so many trains. The scale is impressive.

The highlight for all of us was the train section. Getting to go inside the old steam locomotives was fantastic. These things are huge. Seeing all the moving pieces they had to work with just to get that thing chugging along at 25 miles per hour... it's crazy.

Can you imagine that? Going 25 miles per hour across the country?

Man.

That would take forever.

They also had a cool car museum and even a free trolley ride. The kids had a blast, and I'll admit, I really enjoyed it too.

It's a great spot for a family afternoon. It's not crazy expensive, and it was just a genuinely good time. All in all, it's a very good attraction and a nice museum to have in St. Louis.

National Museum of Transportation Things To Do

The Lindberg Automobile Museum

After you head outside and go up the hill, you'll find the automobile museum. This was really cool. They have a bunch of refurbished, old-timey cars from all different eras.

You can see everything from classics to more modern cars. My personal favorites were the ones from the 50s, 60s, or 70s--I'm not exactly sure which. They're the ones that are all rounded and look like spaceships, kind of like what Marvin the Martian would drive in an old Looney Tunes cartoon. I don't think those concepts ever really went into production, but they are awesome to see up close.

The Train Section

This is the main event. The train section is fantastic. The whole area is just lined with trains, and you can walk right up to them.

Again, my favorite part was the old steam locomotive. You get to go inside and climb all around it. These trains are massive, and seeing how they worked is pretty cool.

There's also a big train depot that houses passenger rail cars from different eras. You can walk inside and see how people used to sleep in the old sleeper cars, all the way up to more modern trains.

Rides (Free and Extra)

They have a few rides. There's a free trolley ride that was pretty neat. It's an old, refurbished trolley that apparently workers used to ride to their jobs. It just takes you from the train station to the edge of the property and back. You don't see much, but you get to experience what riding an old trolley was like.

There are also a couple of rides that cost extra, depending on the package you buy. One is a small train track area where little kids can do push-pedal trains. The other is a larger train that takes you on a ride all around the campus.

National Museum of Transportation Details And Info

This museum is mostly outside. The entire walk from the entrance, up the hill to the car museum, and through the train yards is outdoors. Because of that, you'll want to go when it's not too hot or too cold. We went in the spring, and the temperature was basically perfect.

There is a cafe on-site, right near the lobby and gift shop. It serves generic stuff--think chicken tenders, hamburgers, and hot dogs. It's nothing fancy, but it's relatively and affordably priced, especially for being inside a museum.

Parking At National Museum of Transportation

Parking is free and easy. They have a large, dedicated lot right at the entrance. It's about a 20-minute drive from downtown St. Louis or from Olivette, located in South County.

National Museum of Transportation Receipt