Forest Park Explorer Begins Service Friday with Free Weekend Rides By Matthew Hibbard

Enjoy all that Forest Park has to offer this summer by hopping on the Forest Park Explorer.

The Forest Park Explorer, previously called the Forest Park Trolley, serves all the popular attractions in Forest Park. Cool off from the heat and help reduce traffic congestion in the 1,300-acre park.

This year, the Forest Park Explorer will be free on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer season.

The Forest Park Explorer begins its ninth season on Friday (May 3). Riders have two Explorer routes to choose from, depending on their destination:

The Blue Forest Park Explorer route serves the western side of Forest Park, with stops at the World’s Fair Pavilion, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum and Emerson Grand Basin. The Blue Trolley route operates every 15 minutes on weekdays and weekends.

Forest Park Explorer route serves the western side of Forest Park, with stops at the World’s Fair Pavilion, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum and Emerson Grand Basin. The Trolley route operates every 15 minutes on weekdays and weekends. The Green Forest Park Explorer route serves the eastern side of Forest Park, with stops at the Jewel Box, the Saint Louis Science Center and Planetarium. The Green Trolley route operates every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes during the weekend.

Both Explorer routes begin at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station, and both routes serve the Missouri History Museum, Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center, the Boathouse and The Muny stops.

The Forest Park Explorer will operate daily between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. from May 3 through September 2.

Other than the weekend, tickets for the Forest Park Explorer are $2 for adults; $1 for children (ages 5-12), seniors and disabled passengers; and the Explorer is free for children ages 4 and under.

There are free Park-Ride lots at 21 MetroLink stations. Ride MetroLink to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere station and catch the Forest Park Explorer.

The Forest Park Explorer service is made possible through a partnership between Forest Park Forever, Metro Transit, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Zoo and the City of St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry.

#90 Hampton

The #90 Hampton will not operate in Forest Park on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the Forest Park Explorer is in operation. The route will instead detour around Forest Park via Skinker Boulevard. During these times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, riders on the #90 Hampton will need to transfer to the Forest Park Explorer to be able to access stops inside Forest Park.