Running in St. Louis

Running in St. Louis can seem daunting, but as someone who recently ran there, it’s a cool city to run in. Going into my run, I was nervous as St. Louis has a reputation of being unsafe. Running near sunset and in the morning, I felt relatively safe, especially near the Arch.

Safety

Safety is probably your number one concern running in St. Louis. As a man, I may have had a different experience than others, but overall I can say that I had no problem running. While there is a large homeless population and the streets were pretty empty, I still felt relatively safe. The homeless don’t bother you and keep to themselves and depending on when you go there is still other runners out and people out and about. If you are concerned about safety, stay around Gateway Arch National Park as usually there are large crowds there and try not to run at night. As always be constantly aware of your surroundings and if you don’t feel good enough just run at your hotel. 

Scenery 

While St. Louis may not be the most interesting city, running along the river, around the arch, and through the row of downtown parks can create a very pleasant run. Running in Forest Park is the most scenic. 

Overview

If you can, get out there and run. St. Louis is a beautiful city and you can experience a large amount of the downtown on a short run. It is also relatively flat unless you decide to go down to the river. Safety should not be an issue if you run at the right times in the right areas and stay aware. Enjoy your runs!

Forest Park