The 5 Best Places to Fly a Drone in St. Louis (2024)
A list of the best places to fly a drone in St. Louis, Missouri.
In this article, we’ve scouted out the best places to fly a drone in St. Louis, Missouri.
If you live in (or are traveling to) St. Louis, please use this page as a resource to better understand not just where to fly, but also where it’s legal and illegal to fly a drone. We provide guidance on regulations to help you stay compliant with both federal and local rules.
A Sectional Chart of the airspace surrounding St. Louis, MO. Source: VFR Map
St. Louis Drone Laws — Recreational vs. Commercial
The first thing to understand about flying a drone in St. Louis (or any city for that matter) is that under federal FAA regulations, you are either operating recreationally or commercially.
- Recreational drone pilots fall under the FAA’s recreational flyer rules, which are laid out here. Make sure your aircraft is registered and you complete The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which are both required by the FAA.
- Commercial drone pilots fall under the FAA’s Part 107 regulations, which require passing a multiple-choice test and becoming an FAA-certified drone pilot. More information on the drone certification process over here.
Drone operators are no longer required to independently contact air traffic control when flying within five miles of an airport. Instead, both recreational and commercial flyers can use the automated LAANC system to request airspace authorization to fly in controlled airspace around and above many airports. If you’re operating in Class B, C, D, or E controlled airspace, you’ll need to request airspace authorization. You may do this through LAANC or through FAADroneZone in areas where LAANC is not available.
When we list locations below, we’ll share whether they sit in controlled or uncontrolled airspace.
Get up-to-date airspace information, including temporary flight restrictions, using free apps like Aloft , Autopylot , or B4UFLY .
Interested in becoming an FAA-certified drone pilot so you can operate under the Part 107 regulations and make money flying your drone? Check out our industry-leading, online training course over at Drone Pilot Ground School.
So those are the federal rules.
But what about local St. Louis drone laws?
Here’s a guide we put together for drone laws in Missouri. Make sure to consult that to see if there are any local drone ordinances you should follow in St. Louis. When in doubt, use good judgment and follow the FAA’s guidelines.
Note: The content on this page is meant for informational purposes only and is not meant to take the place of legal counsel. If we missed something, or if you have further questions, please send an email to support[at]horizonap[dot]com, and we’ll do our best to help you out.
Where to Fly a Drone in St. Louis
Forest Park and Carondelet Park are St. Louis City Parks, which require a permit and insurance for drone operations, click here for more information on drone permits. Please do not operate your drone at either of these locations without obtaining a permit. For more information regarding insurance, please click here.
Alrighty—without further ado, here are our top picks for the best places to fly a drone in the St. Louis area. We selected these locations based on airspace restrictions, accessibility, and attractions. You’ll find that most of the locations we’ve chosen are located in uncontrolled, Class G airspace where you don’t need to request permission to fly. Additionally, we made sure to highlight any locations with designated sUAS/remote aircraft fields.
1 — Forest Park
5595 Grand Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112
- Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
- Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=38.639930&long=-90.287330
Forest Park is located within close proximity to downtown St. Louis, Missouri, and is a sprawling 1,371 acres. It includes meadows, mature trees, ponds, lakes, and streams that flow throughout the property. The park is often called the “Heart of St. Louis” and includes the St. Louis Zoo, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center. With so much to see, it’s not surprising that the park receives an annual 12 million visitors. With that said, always remain vigilant of park visitors and the FAA’s regulations for flying over people. Drone pilots will appreciate the scenic views throughout the park and wide-open space.
Source: Skeeze
2 — Tower Grove Park
4256 Magnolia Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
- Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=38.607604&long=-90.254081
Tower Grove Park is located within close proximity to downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It spans 289 acres and includes 32 Victorian era pavilions, Lilly pond, fountain pond, various statues, and over 400 species of trees and plants. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 due to its rich history. Drone pilots will appreciate the wide-open space and the stunning views of the park.
Source: Paul Sableman
3 — Carondelet Park
3900 Holly Hills Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63116
- Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
- Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=38.563597&long=-90.264079
Carondelet Park is located near Tower Grove Park, making this a great location for drone pilots looking to explore multiple places to fly. It is 180 acres and consists of a wide-open area with two fishing ponds. The main pond located near the center of the park features a towering fountain and a beautiful boathouse that overlooks the pond. Drone pilots will appreciate the scenic views of the park and all that it has to offer.
Source: Paul Sableman
4 — Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
10820 Riverview Dr, St. Louis, MO 63137
- Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
- Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=38.760475&long=-90.176210
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is located on the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. It is notorious for its unique 22º bend in the middle of the bridge. The bridge originally was used by Route 66 to cross the Mississippi River. Today the bridge is used for walking, biking, and jogging. The sweeping views of the river and the industrial design of the bridge make for some great drone footage. Two water intake buildings stand in the river, with the bridge directly behind them. Drone pilots will love the history of the site and the natural scenery that surrounds it.
Source: Max Pixel
5 — Buder North Park (AMA)
101 Larkin Williams Rd, Valley Park, MO 63088
- Airspace Class: Class G — Uncontrolled
- Airspace Map: https://b4ufly.aloft.ai/?lat=38.541524&long=-90.492030
Buder North Park is located near St. Louis, Missouri, in Valley Park. It is known for its model aviation activities. The airfields are run and operated by the Lafayette Esquadrille and the Greater St. Louis Modeling Association. There is a large field with two intersecting runways for model aircraft. There is also a designated drone racing area to the west of the runway. This makes it a great location to fly and race other drones. The Meramec River runs next to the property; drone pilots will enjoy the wide-open area.
