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Trip Summary
You can pick from 5 daily train trips between St Louis and Alton. The average train journey from St Louis to Alton takes 43 minutes, but some Amtrak train trips are as short as 42 minutes.
| Distance | 18 mi (29 km) |
| Fastest train | 0h 42m |
| Lowest price | $8.28 |
| Trains per day | 5 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak Lincoln Service |
| Train lines | 3 |
Train service from St Louis to Alton
- Amtrak tickets: C$6 one-way
- Amtrak Lincoln Service tickets: C$6 one-way
- Amtrak Texas Eagle tickets: C$8 one-way
Price trends for trains from St Louis to Alton
Monthly average prices
Which train should you take from St Louis to Alton?
There are 3 train lines with service from St Louis to Alton. Amtrak Lincoln Service is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 3 trains each day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 1 | 0h 42m | $10.35 |
| Amtrak Lincoln Service | 3 | 0h 43m | $8.09 |
| Amtrak Texas Eagle | 1 | 0h 45m | $10.08 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 1 Amtrak trains from St Louis to Alton every day, as well as 1 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from $6.
Amtrak Lincoln Service is part of Amtrak's Illinois Service, providing rail transportation throughout Illinois. The Lincoln Service travels 284 miles between St. Louis and Chicago with nine intermediate stops. Amtrak Lincoln trains offer WiFi connectivity, power outlets, business class seating, and a cafe car to ensure passengers have the most comfortable journey possible.
The Amtrak Texas Eagle is a 1,306-mile train route from Chicago, Illinois to San Antonio, Texas. Because of the route’s length, the train offers sleeper car options in addition to standard coach seats. Like most Amtrak trains, the Texas Eagle features power outlets at each seat, restrooms in each car, and a cafe car where passengers can purchase food and drinks. A journey from St Louis to Alton on the Texas Eagle usually takes 0 hours and 45 minutes, which is best spent enjoying the incredible scenery along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
On a weekly basis, the greatest number of passengers tend to travel by trains from St Louis to Alton on Saturday. Tickets for Saturday tend to also be the most expensive. For savvy travelers looking for cheaper priced tickets search for travel departing on Wednesday. Wednesday also tend to have less passengers which may make boarding faster and let you snag your perfect seat.
The earliest train departs St Louis at 4:00am while the last train of the day leaves at 5:00pm. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 5 daily scheduled trains, all of which are direct trains that take you the entire way from St Louis to Alton.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Alton to St Louis.
City Information
St Louis
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
St. Louis is one of several major cities in the state of Missouri and it is uniquely located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The city is usually recognized by its most distinctive feature, the Gateway Arch, thanks to which it is the only city in the United States that has a national park in the heart of its downtown district. The Arch is a must-see attraction and you can even take a tram to the top for some incredible views of the St. Louis skyline.
Some of the other truly unique attractions you can visit while you’re in town include the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis where you can check out an incredible collection of dolls, dollhouses and vignettes, and the City Museum where you can ride down a 10-story spiral slide (yup, you read that right.) For a great outdoor experience, stop by the gorgeous Missouri Botanical Garden, and then take a stroll through Citygarden where you will find various quirky statues and installations worthy of being featured in your Instagram feed.
Ale enthusiasts would be excited to know that St. Louis is one of the best craft beer cities in the U.S. as well as one of the cheapest drinking cities. That means your party budget could take you a long way. Unsurprisingly, the city is also among the best spring break destinations on a budget.
The main bus and train station in St. Louis, Gateway Station, is located right in the center of downtown, not far from the Gateway Arch, which makes coming in and out of the city a breeze.
Station Information
Where is the train station in St Louis?
Image credit: Chris Yunker
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
Gateway Station opened in 2008 to consolidate St Louis’ transportation services into one central hub. The station’s award-winning design includes a pedestrian walkway with expansive colored glass windows overlooking the train tracks. Perfectly located in the heart of downtown St Louis, the station is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and hotels and is just a few blocks from Busch Stadium and the iconic Gateway Arch. Amenities inside the station include free Wifi, a food court, and a lounge for Amtrak’s First Class passengers. Gateway Station is a major stop for intercity bus service, several Amtrak train lines, and the city’s MetroLink which can connect you with the St Louis Lambert International Airport in just 30 minutes.
All train stations in St Louis:
Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
Where is the train station in Alton?
Main arrival station: Multi-Modal Transportation Center
Alton has one train station.
Train stations in Alton:
Multi-Modal Transportation Center
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Need a return trip from Alton to St Louis?
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