St. Louis Airport Map & Terminal Guide 2026

St. Louis Airport Map

The St. Louis Airport map below covers the full layout of St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL/KSTL) — known locally as Lambert Field or simply Lambert. STL is the busiest airport in Missouri, handling 15.9 million passengers in 2025 across more than 270 daily departures to 64 domestic and 9 international destinations. Southwest Airlines dominates the airport with roughly 60% of all passenger traffic.

As the STL airport map shows, Lambert has two separate terminal buildings approximately one mile apart: Terminal 1 (the historic main terminal, home to Concourses A and C) and Terminal 2 (Southwest’s hub, home to Concourse E). Study the St. Louis airport map before you travel so you know which terminal your airline uses — the two are not connected airside.

St. Louis Airport Location Map

St. Louis Lambert International Airport sits approximately 14 miles (22 km) northwest of downtown St. Louis, accessed directly from Interstate 70. The STL airport location map below shows Lambert’s position relative to the city. I-170 also provides access from the south, via exit 7C onto I-70 then exit 238A into the airport. Lambert International Boulevard (LIB) is the main east-west road connecting both terminals and runs parallel to I-70.

St. Louis Airport Terminals — Overview

STL has two terminals that operate independently: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. They share a MetroLink Red Line connection and are linked by a free inter-terminal shuttle bus, but passengers cannot walk between them airside — if you have a connecting flight on a different terminal’s airline, you must exit, ride the shuttle, and re-clear security. Always confirm your terminal before arriving.

St. Louis Airport Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is the original Lambert terminal building, opened in 1956 and famous for its Minoru Yamasaki-designed domed roof — a St. Louis landmark. It is the larger of the two terminals and handles all international arrivals (via Concourse A), as well as domestic flights on Delta, United, Air Canada, American, Alaska, and Frontier. Terminal 1 has two levels and two active concourses: A (northwest) and C (southeast).

Terminal 1 Levels

Terminal 1 Security Checkpoints

St. Louis Airport Terminal 2

Terminal 2 opened in 1998 to accommodate Southwest Airlines’ rapid growth at Lambert and remains its dedicated facility. It consists of two levels — departures on the upper level and arrivals (including international customs and immigration) on the lower level — and one concourse: Concourse E. Terminal 2 also has its own MetroLink Red Line station, accessed through the parking garage at exit 12.

Concourse A — International & Network Carriers

Concourse A is at the northwest end of Terminal 1, accessible from the lower level via its own security checkpoint. It handles all international arrivals at STL as well as domestic flights for Delta, United and Air Canada. Gates run A2–A21 (15 active gates). International passengers arriving from abroad clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection within Terminal 2 before travelling to their final destination.

Concourse C — American, Alaska & Frontier

Concourse C is at the southeast end of Terminal 1 — the opposite end from Concourse A. It has 20 active gates (C1–C30, non-contiguous) and serves Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and charter flights. The security checkpoint opens at 3:45 a.m. and is the last to close each evening at 9:30 p.m., making it the most flexibly scheduled checkpoint in Terminal 1.

Concourse E — Southwest Airlines Hub

Concourse E is the sole concourse of Terminal 2 and Southwest Airlines’ home at Lambert. Southwest accounts for roughly 60% of all STL passenger traffic — more daily departures than any other carrier here. Concourse E also hosts Lufthansa’s Frankfurt nonstop service (launched 2022) and British Airways’ new London Heathrow nonstop, which began service in April 2026 — STL’s first Heathrow flights ever.

Getting Between Terminals at STL

Unlike single-terminal airports, STL requires careful attention to which terminal your flight departs from. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are separate landside buildings roughly one mile apart on Lambert International Boulevard. There is no airside connection, underground train, or walkway between them. The only way to transfer is to exit the secure area, board the free inter-terminal shuttle bus, travel to the other terminal, and re-clear security. Always identify your terminal when you check in, not just your gate.

Inter-Terminal Shuttle Details

The free shuttle bus runs 24 hours a day between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Shuttles depart frequently but are not on a fixed timetable. Allow at least 15–20 minutes for the transfer, plus additional time to re-clear security at the destination terminal, especially during peak morning hours (5–8 a.m.). The shuttle also serves the economy parking lots (A–D), so it may make intermediate stops.

Getting to St. Louis Lambert Airport

Ground transportation departs from the lower (arrivals) level of both terminals.

St. Louis Airport Parking

STL has seven on-airport parking options. Pre-book at flystl.com for guaranteed availability and potential savings on longer stays.

St. Louis Airport Map — Arrivals

Arriving passengers land at their concourse (A, C or E) and walk to the terminal’s lower arrivals level. In Terminal 1, baggage claim carousels are split east and west. In Terminal 2, baggage claim is on the lower level, with customs and border protection for international arrivals on the same floor. After collecting bags, passengers can access taxis, ride-shares, MetroLink, and the inter-terminal shuttle from the lower level of each terminal.

International Arrivals at STL

All international arrivals — currently Lufthansa from Frankfurt and British Airways from London Heathrow — land at Terminal 2, Concourse E. Passengers clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the lower level of Terminal 2 before collecting checked bags. Global Entry kiosks are available for pre-approved travellers. After clearing customs, passengers in transit to a connecting domestic flight should allow time to re-check bags, ride the inter-terminal shuttle if needed, and re-clear domestic security.

St. Louis Airport Map — Departures

Departing passengers should arrive at the upper (departures) level of their terminal via curbside drop-off or the parking garage walkway. Check in at your airline’s ticket counter, then proceed to the correct security checkpoint for your concourse: the A-gate checkpoint or the C-gate checkpoint in Terminal 1, or the single checkpoint in Terminal 2. Gate assignments are displayed on flight information screens throughout both terminals and on your airline’s app.

Recommended Arrival Times

Arrive at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international flights. Check-in counters and bag drop close 45–60 minutes before departure on most carriers. The A-gate security checkpoint closes earlier than others (8:30 p.m.) — if your flight departs from Concourse A after that time, contact your airline. Peak security hours at STL are typically 5–8 a.m.

Insider Tips

Double-check your terminal before you leave home — STL’s two-terminal layout trips up even frequent flyers. Boarding passes often show only the gate (e.g. E14 or A9), so confirm the terminal explicitly in your airline’s app. MetroLink is one of the most direct and affordable airport rail links in the US — if you’re staying near a Red Line station, it beats the highway during rush hour. Lambert’s iconic domed roof in Terminal 1 was designed by Minoru Yamasaki (also the architect of the original World Trade Center) — worth a look on the departures level. British Airways’ new London Heathrow nonstop (from April 2026) means STL now has two transatlantic routes for the first time in over two decades.