The Chain of Rocks Bridge is a historic pedestrian and cycling bridge spanning the Mississippi River on the north edge of St. Louis, Missouri, connecting the Missouri shoreline to Chouteau Island in Madison County, Illinois. This guide covers opening hours, admission, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
It was last checked in July 2026, when the Illinois-side approach was closed for construction from 22 June through early October 2026 — making the Missouri side the only current access point, a critical detail absent from nearly every existing guide.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily, opens by 9:00 a.m., closes at sunset. |
| Ticket prices | Free. |
| Address | Missouri entrance: 10820 Riverview Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137. Illinois entrance: Chain of Rocks Road, Granite City, IL 62040. |
| Nearest transport / parking | Car only practical. Free parking at Chain of Rocks Park (Missouri) and the Illinois bridge entrance. No direct public transport. |
| Typical time needed | 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for a return crossing on foot. |
Chain of Rocks Bridge opening hours
The Chain of Rocks Bridge opens daily by 9:00 a.m. and closes at sunset. This applies year-round. No seasonal variation is published by Great Rivers Greenway, which manages the Missouri side.
The bridge and car parks close at sunset; overnight parking is not permitted. Opening times may be affected by occasional special events. For current information, call Great Rivers Greenway at 314-436-7009.
5 great St Louis experiences to book
- 🌆 Take a small group tour of the Gateway Arch – including tickets to the top.
- 🚢 Combine a visit to the Gateway Arch with a river cruise.
- 📸 At the Museum of Illusions, get reels of cool social media photos.
- 👻 Discover the dark side of St Louis on an evening ghost tour.
- 🍽️ On a food and history walking tour, learn about the flavours and stories of St Louis.
Chain of Rocks Bridge ticket prices
Access to the Chain of Rocks Bridge is free. There are no entry fees for walkers, cyclists, or visitors on either side.
Opening hours and access information were checked against the NPS official page and Great Rivers Greenway and last updated in June 2026. No city pass or travel card applies. Important access note as of June 2026: the Chain of Rocks canal bridge on the Illinois approach is closed for construction from 22 June through early October 2026. The bridge itself is open and accessible, but only from the Missouri side during this period.
How to get to Chain of Rocks Bridge
The Missouri entrance is reached via Riverview Drive in north St. Louis, parallel to US-270. Drivers should follow signs to Chain of Rocks Park, which opened in 2024.
The Illinois entrance, when open, is reached by crossing to Chouteau Island via Chain of Rocks Road from Illinois Route 3 in Madison County. During the current Illinois construction closure (22 June to early October 2026), visitors must use the Missouri side only.
Parking at Chain of Rocks Bridge
Free parking is available at Chain of Rocks Park on the Missouri side (55 spaces, including 3 accessible). The car park has a traffic gate; pull forward to activate it. Overnight parking is not permitted.
Free parking is also available at the Illinois bridge entrance and at North Riverfront Park, south of the bridge along the St. Louis Riverfront Trail, but both are inaccessible during the current Illinois construction closure.
How long to spend at Chain of Rocks Bridge
A return crossing on foot takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour; the bridge spans just over a mile. Cyclists cover the crossing more quickly but often stop to take in the views and examine the mid-bridge bend.
Visitors combining the bridge with a ride along the St. Louis Riverfront Trail, which stretches south to the Gateway Arch, should allow 2 to 3 hours.
Accessibility at Chain of Rocks Bridge
The bridge surface is paved but exposed, narrow, and long. It has no shelter and can be very windy. The Missouri park has accessible parking spaces and a drinking fountain with an accessible spout.
The bridge itself is not suitable for some mobility aids due to its length, wind exposure, and the 20-minute minimum walk to the mid-point. Visitors with mobility limitations should check conditions carefully before attempting a crossing.
Inside Chain of Rocks Bridge: what to see
The bridge spans 5,351 feet (just over a mile) and sits around 60 feet above the Mississippi River. Its most distinctive feature is a 22-degree bend at the midpoint, built in 1929 to avoid two water intake towers and insufficient bedrock. The towers, now part of the St. Louis waterworks, are visible from the bend and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places themselves.
Views from the bridge take in the Mississippi River channel, the St. Louis skyline to the south, and the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to the north. Route 66 signage and interpretive panels are placed along the walkway, relating the bridge’s history as part of the Mother Road from 1936 to 1968.
The Missouri side now has Chain of Rocks Park, opened in 2024, with a pavilion, event lawn, native habitat plantings, portable restrooms (April to November), and a drinking fountain. The park can accommodate food trucks.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit in the morning for calmer conditions; the bridge can be very windy by midday. |
| Crowds | Weekends attract more cyclists and walkers; weekday mornings are quieter. |
| Layout | The bridge is one long out-and-back; there are no side paths or shortcuts. |
| Entry process | No ticket or registration is needed; park, walk to the gate, and cross. |
| On-site logistics | There are no permanent food or drink facilities on the bridge itself; the Missouri park has seasonal portable restrooms only. |
Frequently asked questions about Chain of Rocks Bridge
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can cars drive across Chain of Rocks Bridge? | No, the bridge is pedestrian and cyclist only. Unauthorised motorised vehicles are prohibited. |
| Is the Illinois side of Chain of Rocks Bridge currently open? | No, the Illinois approach is closed for construction from 22 June through early October 2026. Use the Missouri entrance only. |
| Is Chain of Rocks Bridge open on weekends? | Yes, it is open daily. |
| Are dogs allowed on Chain of Rocks Bridge? | Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. |
| How long is the walk across Chain of Rocks Bridge? | A one-way crossing is just over a mile; plan 20–30 minutes on foot each way. |
Things to do near Chain of Rocks Bridge
- Gateway Arch National Park: the iconic stainless steel arch and its underground museum, about 10 miles south via the Riverfront Trail.
- North Riverfront Park, St. Louis: a green space along the trail, south of the bridge on the Missouri side.
- Confluence Point State Park, Missouri: the point where the Missouri and Mississippi rivers meet, about 5 miles north.
- Old Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant: the historic intake towers visible from the bridge bend, on the Missouri riverfront.
- Museum of Transportation, St. Louis: a large open-air transport museum with trains, planes, and automobiles, about 15 miles south.
What to visit tomorrow
- Eads Bridge, St. Louis: an 1874 iron truss bridge crossing the Mississippi, now open to pedestrians, about 10 miles south.
- MacArthur Bridge, St. Louis: a historic rail bridge built in 1917, visible from the riverfront, about 10 miles south.
- Clark Bridge, Alton, Illinois: a cable-stayed bridge over the Mississippi, about 30 miles north.
- Chester Bridge (Mary E. Sawyer Memorial Bridge), Chester, Illinois: a historic truss bridge crossing the Mississippi south of St. Louis, about 60 miles south.
- Merchants Bridge, St. Louis: an 1890 iron truss rail bridge, now being restored, visible from the St. Louis riverfront, about 10 miles south.
More St Louis travel
Other St Louis travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St Louis, Missouri.
- How to save money on tickets to the City Museum in St Louis.
- St Louis’ Forest Park: Guides to Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum.
- Getting to St Louis: The best stops on the Detroit to St Louis drive and Indianapolis to St Louis drive.
- Road trips from St Louis: The best stops on the St Louis to Chicago drive, St Louis to Cleveland drive, St Louis to Columbus drive, St Louis to Philadelphia drive and St Louis to Pittsburgh drive.
