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Suggest a Feature →Metro East Illinois & St. Louis
AMC headquarters. St. Louis across the bridge.
Scott AFB in O'Fallon, Illinois is the headquarters of Air Mobility Command — the organization that moves everything and everyone for the US military. It sits in Metro East Illinois, the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis, just 25 miles across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis.
The Metro East region (O'Fallon, Belleville, Collinsville) is an affordable Illinois suburban community with the considerable cultural resources of St. Louis easily accessible. St. Louis has the Gateway Arch, world-class free museums, a revitalized downtown, and the Cardinals — one of the most beloved franchises in baseball. The position between Chicago (3 hours north) and St. Louis (25 miles west) makes this a geographically well-positioned assignment.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
Pappy's Smokehouse (St. Louis)
"Consistently ranked among the best BBQ restaurants in America."
Pappy's does Memphis-style ribs in St. Louis — dry-rubbed, slow-smoked, and served with sides that hold up to the meat. The restaurant opens at 11am and sells out, typically by mid-afternoon. Go at opening.
They post on social media when they're out of specific items. Follow them.
Sugarfire Smoke House (Multiple STL)
"St. Louis's best BBQ chain. Multiple locations, consistent quality."
Sugarfire Smoke House has expanded throughout St. Louis with consistent wood-smoked BBQ and a surprisingly creative sides menu. The rotating daily specials are worth checking before deciding what to order.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
"Where the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers meet. Dramatic limestone bluffs."
Pere Marquette State Park at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers has dramatic limestone bluff overlooks, 12,000 acres of forested terrain, and hiking trails with river views. The lodge (built by the CCC in the 1930s) is a destination for weekend stays.
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Gateway Arch National Park (St. Louis)
"The 630-foot stainless steel arch. The tram ride. The museum."
The Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere — 630 feet of parabolic stainless steel on the Mississippi riverfront. The Museum at the Gateway Arch tells the story of westward expansion. The tram ride to the top offers views of the Mississippi valley.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
St. Louis Zoo
"One of the best zoos in the US. Free."
The St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park has been free since 1916 and is consistently ranked among the top 5 zoos in the US. Gorillas, elephants, hippos, the Sea Lion Arena — all free. The Penguin and Puffin Coast and the River's Edge (elephants, hippos, cheetahs) are the standouts.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"Five free world-class museums in one park. Larger than Central Park."
Forest Park in St. Louis hosts the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, and the Jewel Box conservatory — all free. The park itself is 1,371 acres (larger than Central Park). A full day in Forest Park costs nearly nothing.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Chippewa in St. Louis is mandatory. The "concrete" (so thick it's served upside-down) in summer is a St. Louis ritual.
Cahokia Mounds is immediately adjacent to Scott. It's one of the most significant archaeological sites in North America and most Scott personnel never visit.
Soulard Farmers Market (one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the US) runs Saturday mornings in St. Louis.
The Metro East liquor store culture (Illinois vs. Missouri laws) creates different options across the bridge. Know both.
Cardinals baseball at Busch Stadium is world-class fan culture. The ballpark food has improved significantly.
Metro East Illinois has some higher-crime areas. Understand the geography before choosing housing. The Scott community on-post and the immediate O'Fallon/Belleville corridor are safe. Be more aware farther north.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.