Tips & Tricks to Navigate Your Way Through the Park During the Great Forest Park Balloon Race
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race returns to Emerson Central Fields in Forest Park this Friday and Saturday, September 17 and 18.
Here is a guide to help you navigate your way during the largest event in the Park so you don’t miss out on all the fun!
Schedule of Events:
Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m.; the Balloon Glow starts at dusk.
1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Top Navigation Tips:
The best way to avoid traffic is to ride your bike to the Park. There will be several bike racks for you to park your bike along the route. Find your way using ForestParkMap.org.
Take the MetroLink to the Central West End Station, then walk or bring your bike with you to Emerson Central Fields (less than a mile away).
Schedule a Lyft or Uber, then be dropped off at the rideshare locations listed below in the map.
Driving? We recommend the following for entry and parking:
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race presented by PNC Bank is a free event, and free street and public lot parking is available throughout Forest Park all weekend. Please keep in mind spots are limited so we suggest planning ahead and arriving as early as you can. All of the notes and restrictions/closures listed below will be in effect to help with safety, traffic flow and ease of access to Forest Park.
Park at the Festival & Parking Plaza (upper Muny parking lot), the closest public parking lot to the event. Bonus tip – explore Hidden Creek Savanna along the way.
The only entry point will be from Summit Drive. The north side of the lot at Union Drive will be exit only.
Enter/exit the Park at Union and Lindell, Kingshighway and West Pine or Lagoon and Skinker.
Important Notes About Entry
East and westbound exit ramps at I-64 and Hampton Ave. will be closed from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17.
Hospital Drive at Kingshighway will be closed to help prevent congestion issues in the Park and on Kingshighway.
No left turns onto Kingshighway (going northbound) from Hospital Drive stoplight.
The Clayton Avenue underpass at Kingshighway will be open to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle traffic.
The upper Muny parking lot will be one-way entry only to assist with traffic flow within the Park
The only entry point will be from Summit Drive. The north side of the lot at Union Drive will be exit only.
Additional Public Transportation Notes
Be sure to download Transit, the official app of Metro Transit. Purchase your Metro passes ahead of time on the Transit app, which also provides route maps, next departure times and trip planning, including a trip that combines Metro Transit with ride-sharing.
Masks are required for everyone on Metro Transit.
ADA Accessibility
Accessible Parking (limited availability) will be available by gate at Union and Faulker/Jefferson (see map above). A state issued ADA accessible parking tag or plates is required to access the parking area.
A drop-off point will be located at Wells and Faulkner – just a short distance (via walkway) from the 2021 Starkloff Institute Accessibility Viewing Area.
On some maps you may see Faulkner Drive listed as Jefferson. The current street name within Forest Park is Faulkner all the way from Clayton Drive to Union.
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race presented by PNC Bank is an outdoor event and the natural terrain may at times be difficult to traverse.