Getting ready forthe St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station.
An aquarium inside historic Union Station with monthly Sensory Friendly Days (the first Tuesday, 9 am to 5 pm, with smaller crowds and softer light and sound), a Calming Corner room on the second floor, sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones, and a social story and pre-visit guide to read ahead.
Sensory supports. Sensory Friendly Days first Tuesdays, Calming Corner, sensory bags.
Hours
Sunday to Thursday 9 am to 5 pm; Friday and Saturday 9 am to 6 pm. Last admission 45 minutes before closing. The ticket counter is open 9 am to 4:15 pm Sunday to Thursday and 9 am to 5:15 pm Friday and Saturday. Christmas Eve (Dec 24 2026): open, closing early at 2 pm. Sensory Friendly Days: the first Tuesday of every month, 9 am to 5 pm.
201 S 18th St, St. Louis, MO 63103 (inside Union Station; park in the South Lot, entering from Market Street on 20th or 18th Street)
“Swim on in for our monthly Sensory Friendly Days on the first Tuesday of every month from 9am-5pm!”
“We offer a purpose-built Calming Corner room for individuals and families who may need a quieter and more secure environment, as well as sensory bags that include noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards that can be checked out at the ticket counter.”
“If you need to access the room at any time and you are not on the second floor, please ask any team member to assist you in getting to the room more directly.”
“To reduce startling noises, all of the men’s and women’s restrooms feature manual flush toilets in designated stalls.”
“Should your party need to leave immediately, please see a team member who will guide you to the nearest exit.” Pre-Visit Planning Guide (2026)
The aquarium calls itself a Certified Sensory Inclusive facility, and its team is trained to recognize sensory issues as they develop and help as needed. Each sensory bag also has a VIP lanyard your kid can wear so team members know they may need a slightly different approach.
Two PDFs help you get ready: a Social Story with pictures for your kid and a Pre-Visit Planning Guide for grown-ups that walks through each gallery, the light, the crowds and the exits. Both are on the Accessibility and Amenities page.
Staff wear blue shirts or jackets with the Aquarium logo. If your kid gets separated from you, tell a team member right away and describe your kid and how best to approach them.
Scuba Claus and the Snow Fairy are included with admission on select days from Thanksgiving weekend through Dec 30 2026, mostly weekends plus Dec 22 to 24 2026 (the Scuba Claus page lists them): the Snow Fairy meets families at the Ranger Station on the second level (9:30 to 11:30 am, 12:30 to 1:30 pm and 2:30 to 4:30 pm), and Scuba Claus dives in Shark Canyon (11:30 am to 12:30 pm, 1:30 to 2:30 pm and 3:30 to 4:30 pm). On Christmas Eve there is one dive, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Meeting a character is always optional; Shark Canyon may be more crowded during the dives.
Grand Lobby (short shows on the walls and a digital ceiling show, with music; a team member may use a microphone here)not stated
Virtual train experience (optional) (a three-minute ride in mock train cars with screens for windows, flickering lights and seat vibrations; it can't be stopped once it starts, but a team member can escort you off, and you can skip it completely)not stated
Confluence (lighting can be slightly dim, and it can get a little crowded when the train experience unloads)not stated
Shark Canyon (low lighting and digital screens; dive shows and animal feedings can cause some congestion at the larger viewing windows)not stated
Mysteries of the Deep (lighting is dim and congestion can occur at the end)not stated
Quieter, in the aquarium's words
Calming Corner, second floorquiet zone
Day passes are for adults, seniors (65+) and children 3 to 12; children under 3 are free. Prices vary by date; the Sensory Friendly Day cards show that day's online price. The aquarium recommends buying tickets ahead, online or at the ticket counter, and can't guarantee same-day tickets. Memberships, group tickets and combo packages cost less. A medically necessary paid care attendant gets in free, with no ticket needed.
A day pass lets you leave and come back all day. If you miss your visit because of illness or weather, you can exchange your day pass within 90 days of the original date at the ticket counter. The aquarium is cashless: credit cards and tap payments only.
Children 12 and under must be with an adult. Union Station's Code of Conduct requires everyone 16 and younger to be with a parent or supervising adult 21 or older after 3 pm every day, with a valid ID; one adult may accompany up to six youths.
Parking: Union Station's South Lot has accessible spaces, a drop-off area and a free parking tram to the entrance. Take your parking ticket to the Aquarium gift shop to have it stamped, and you pay $5 when you leave; the exit takes credit cards only. More accessible parking is in the West Lot. Members park free.
No outside food or drinks, except water in a closed container. If someone in your group needs an exception for a medical condition, talk to a team member when you arrive. There are restaurants in Union Station.
Strollers are welcome, but a team member at the front gate can store yours, and weekends and holidays are easier without one. Lockers in the Union Station lobby are $0.50. A limited number of free manual wheelchairs are lent with a photo ID deposit.
Restrooms are at the start on the first floor and halfway on the second floor, all with baby changing tables; a Companion Care restroom is on the first floor, and a private nursing room is in the first-floor women's restroom.
The touch pools may contain shellfish products in the water; wash your hands afterward at the handwash stations right next to them. The KidZone play area, for ages 3 to 12, has a single entrance and exit.
