Free weekend rides on Forest Park Explorer begins May 3

ST. LOUIS – Visitors can enjoy all that Forest Park has to offer conveniently and comfortably for the ninth season on the Forest Park Explorer. Free rides will be offered to everyone on Saturdays and Sundays.

Beginning Friday, May 3rd, residents, families, and tourists can hop on the Forest Park Explorer to easily travel to Forest Park’s many attractions.

Originally called the Forest Park Trolley, the Forest Park Explorer is a fleet of buses that move between all the attractions in the park. Not only does this transportation help reduce traffic congestion in the 1,300-acre park, but it also keeps its visitors out of the heat.

Riders will have two different Explorer options to choose from, depending on their destination.

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

The Green Forest Explorer route serves the eastern side of Forest Park. Route stops include the Jewel Box, the Saint Louis Science Center, and Planetarium. The route operates every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes during the weekend.

Both 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. Both routes are free to ride on Saturdays and Sundays this season.

The Forest Park Explorer (MetroBus route #3) will operate daily from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm beginning Friday, May 3, 2019. The Explorer’s last day of operation for the summer season will be on Monday, September 2, 2019.

During the weekdays, tickets for the Explorer are $2/adult; $1/children (ages 5-12) and seniors and disabled passengers. Children 4 and under will ride for free. Purchasing an Explorer ticket during the weekday provides all-day riding privilege on both the Blue and Green Forest Park Explorer routes.

Note: a valid Metro Reduced Fare permit is required for the Senior and Disabled discount.

A Park & Ride option is also available for visitors inside Forest Park at the Visitor Center Lot across from the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center. Guests can park their cars on this free lot and then hop aboard the Forest Park Explorer for a quick and easy trip to their desired Forest Park destinations.

There are also free Park-Ride lots located at 21 MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois. Park visitors can ride MetroLink to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station and then catch either the Blue Forest Park Explorer or the Green Forest Park Explorer at the station, depending on the attractions they want to visit first.

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.

FEATURED IMAGE/FPExplorer2/METRO LINK

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