There are several ways to get to campus whether you take public transportation or have your own vehicle.
Getting to campus by plane
The nearest airport to WashU in St. Louis is the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Southwest Airlines flies into the East Terminal, and all other carriers fly into the Main Terminal. From the airport, there are many ways of getting to campus.
Taxis are available at Lambert Airport. Two local cab companies are County Cab, 314-991-5300, and Laclede Cab, 314-652-3456. Ask the cab driver to take you to the clocktower on the South 40 at WashU. If the driver needs an address, use 6614 Shepley Drive, Clayton, MO 63105. Be sure to tell the driver you are going to Clayton as there is another Shepley Drive located in the metropolitan area. The approximate cost by taxi is $60 (roundtrip).
The MetroLink has a station at Lambert Airport’s Main and East Terminals. The cost by MetroLink is approximately $7 (roundtrip), paid at the MetroLink station. The estimated time from Lambert Airport by MetroLink is 45 minutes. Follow the signs in the airport terminal towards the MetroLink.
- Board the train heading eastbound with “Shiloh-Scott” on the destination display.
- Take this train to the Forest Park/DeBaliviere station and deboard.
- Walk to the other side of the platform and wait for a westbound train with “Shrewsbury Lansdowne/I-44” on the destination display – make sure not to accidentally get on a train headed back to Lambert Airport.
- To get to the South 40, take this train to the University City/Big Bend station. This stop is along the border of campus.
- Walk south on Big Bend Blvd. toward Forsyth Blvd.
- Cross the street at Forsyth Blvd. to the other side of Big Bend. Continue walking south.
- Turn left on Shepley Drive.
The St. Louis Lambert International Airport recommends a variety of shuttle and transportation options. You can view these on the St. Louis Lambert International Airport website.
Getting to campus by car
WashU’s Danforth Campus is centrally located in the St. Louis metropolitan area and is readily accessible from the major highways.
Driving to main campus
For your destination, use the address: 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
Driving to the South 40
For your destination, use the address: 6614 Shepley Drive, Clayton, MO 63105
Some navigation systems may also recognize St. Louis as the city, but Clayton is the official name of the city that the South 40is in. Be sure that you are navigating to Shepley Drive from Big Bend Boulevard; there is no entrance at Wydown Blvd. or Wallace Drive even though your GPS may direct you to those streets.
Getting to campus by train or bus
Located at 430 S 15th St and just a few blocks from Union Station and the Enterprise Center, St.-Louis Gateway Transportation Center hosts both long distance bus and Amtrak train travel. There are four daily arrivals and departures to and from Kansas City and Chicago, with 17 smaller cities along the way. There is also a train south through Little Rock, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio as well as westward to El Paso, Tucson and Los Angeles.
Walk up S. 16th Street towards Spruce Street. Make a right on Spruce Street and walk until you reach the Civic Center Metrolink station. Wait for a westbound train with “Shrewsbury/I-44” on the destination display. To get to the South 40 residences, take this train to the Skinker station. Walk to the corner of Skinker and Forest Park Parkway and wait at the shuttle stop located in the parking lot behind Whitaker Hall. Take the Green Line or Campus Circulation to the South 40 (verify with the driver that they are headed to the South 40 and not to the Village or U. City). Deboard the shuttle at either Beaumont and Dauten or the Clocktower.
Amtrak offers long-term parking at 421 South 16th Street 2 blocks west of the station, and multiple short-term spaces nearby. For driving directions to campus, see the above addresses in the “Getting Here by Car” section.