St. Louis Missouri Metro Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops
St Louis Missouri Metro bus schedule searches usually mean Metro Transit’s MetroBus network in the St. Louis bi-state region. This is not one single bus route; it is a full bus system with Missouri routes, Illinois routes, MetroLink connections, transit centers, fares, route alerts and live arrival tools.
This guide helps you find the correct MetroBus route, check weekday/weekend times, understand the new fare options, use the Transit app, read service alerts, confirm your stop ID, and avoid boarding the wrong direction.
How to Find the Correct St. Louis MetroBus Schedule
Open Metro Transit’s official MetroBus Schedule page, choose the Missouri or Illinois route, select the direction of travel, then select the day of travel. For the most accurate boarding time, use the Transit app or Metro’s real-time phone system with the Stop ID printed on the MetroBus stop sign.
Search by route number or route name.
Direction affects the stop side and final destination.
Weekday, Saturday and Sunday times may differ.
Cash, Ride On, mobile fare and passes work differently.
Live arrivals can change before the bus reaches you.
St. Louis MetroBus Schedule Guide
MetroBus Routes in St. Louis: Start With the Route Number
MetroBus schedules are route-specific. A rider searching “St. Louis Missouri Metro bus schedule” may need a local Missouri route, an Illinois MetroBus route, a MetroLink feeder route, a late-evening trip, or a route that is changing because of the September 14 service update.
Missouri MetroBus Routes
Metro’s Missouri route list includes routes such as #1 Gold, #2 Red, #4 Natural Bridge, #5 Green, #8 Shaw-Cherokee, #9 Oakville, #10 Gravois-Lindell, #11 Chippewa, #13 Union, #16 City Limits, #18 Taylor and many more.
Illinois MetroBus Routes
MetroBus also serves Illinois communities through the bi-state system. If your trip starts or ends in St. Clair County or another Illinois-side service area, do not use a Missouri-only route page without checking the Illinois route list.
Transit Centers and Transfer Hubs
Many MetroBus riders connect through transit centers instead of riding one route end-to-end. Important examples listed by Metro include Civic Center, North Hanley, Central West End, North County, Ballas, Riverview, Catalan Loop and Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Transit Center.
Transit App and Real-Time Tools
Metro identifies Transit as its official app for real-time trip planning. It can show real-time bus locations, arrival times, route maps, next departures, stops, rider alerts and mobile fare tools.
How MetroBus Times Work
MetroBus does not have one universal first bus, last bus or frequency. Each route has its own schedule, direction, service day and timepoints. The official route page normally lets you choose direction of travel and day of travel, then shows major stops in a table.
| What you need | Where to find it | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| First bus | Open the exact route page, select direction and choose weekday/Saturday/Sunday. | The first bus from a terminal is not the same as the first bus from a mid-route stop. |
| Last bus | Use the schedule for your exact route and direction. | Late return trips may end earlier in one direction than the opposite direction. |
| Weekday frequency | Use the official timetable timepoint spacing. | Some routes are frequent; others may be hourly or irregular. |
| Weekend service | Switch day of travel to Saturday or Sunday before checking. | Never assume Saturday and Sunday are identical. |
| Approximate ride time | Use Transit app or Metro Trip Planner from your origin to destination. | Traffic, transfers, walking time and missed connections can change the real trip time. |
St. Louis MetroBus Fares and Passes
Metro’s current fare page lists a new fare system with Ride On Card, Ride On App, Transit app fare purchase, Tap & Ride and fare capping. Fares can change, so use Metro’s official fare page before you publish or update this article again.
Use exact cash on MetroBus; operators cannot make change.
Reduced fares require a valid Metro Reduced Fare Permit or eligible ID.
Useful when making multiple rides or bus-plus-MetroLink connections.
Useful for regular commuters; reduced 30-day pass is listed separately.
Have bills or coins ready before boarding.
Buy digital tickets and scan the QR code at the validator.
Use reloadable fare media for passes and Tap & Ride.
Good for frequent riders during one week.
Best for repeat commuters if the math works.
How to Read MetroBus Stops, Stop IDs and Maps
MetroBus stops are route-specific and direction-specific. The same intersection may have a stop on more than one side of the road, and a transit center may have several bays. Use the route map, stop name, Stop ID and destination sign together.
Example Map: Civic Center Transit Center
Civic Center Transit Center is a useful example because many riders connect between buses, MetroLink, downtown destinations and regional routes. Use this Google Map for location context only; Metro’s official route page, stop ID and live arrival tools control the actual schedule.
- Confirm the route number before walking to a bay.
- Check the bus destination sign before boarding.
- Use Transit app for live arrival predictions.
- Allow extra time for transfers, events or downtown traffic.
Scheduled Time vs Live MetroBus Arrival
Scheduled time is the printed route timetable. Live arrival is a same-day prediction based on real-time vehicle information where available. Live MetroBus arrivals can change because of traffic, detours, weather, operator availability, cancellations, event congestion, roadwork or data issues.
Use Metro’s official Transit app or online Trip Planner.
Find your MetroBus route number or route name.
Match the final destination shown on the bus.
Enter or select the stop printed on the stop sign.
Refresh before leaving because predictions can move.
Check MetroBus Service Alerts Before You Leave
MetroBus routes can change because of quarterly service changes, construction, street closures, police activity, parades, sports events, weather, temporary stop closures or trips not operating. Always check rider alerts on the same day you travel.
MetroBus Accessibility, Reduced Fare and Boarding
Metro says MetroBus, MetroLink and Metro Call-A-Ride are accessible. MetroBus vehicles are equipped with lifts or ramps, priority seating is available, major stops and intersections are announced, and reserved spaces are available for riders using mobility devices.
St. Louis MetroBus Boarding Checklist
- Confirm you are using Metro Transit Saint Louis, not another “Metro” agency.
- Choose Missouri or Illinois route list correctly.
- Search by route number or route name.
- Select direction of travel before reading the timetable.
- Select weekday, Saturday or Sunday schedule.
- Check September 14 service changes if your route is affected.
- Use the Stop ID from the MetroBus stop sign for live arrivals.
- Have exact cash, Transit app fare, Ride On card, or valid pass ready.
- Arrive at least five minutes early for normal trips.
- Confirm the lighted bus destination sign before boarding.
Official St. Louis MetroBus Sources
Use these official Metro pages to confirm current schedule, fare, route map, live arrival, accessibility and alert details before travel.
Official route list for Missouri and Illinois MetroBus route maps and schedules.
Open MetroBus schedulesOfficial how-to-ride details, including boarding, exact cash, destination signs, stop requests and transit center examples.
Open MetroBus guideOfficial fare table, Ride On card, Ride On app, Transit app fares, Tap & Ride, passes and reduced-fare rules.
Open Metro faresOfficial Transit app information and real-time phone-system instructions using MetroBus Stop IDs.
Open transit toolsMissouri map, Illinois map, MetroLink schematic, route maps and transit center bay layouts.
Open system mapsOfficial service-change notices, including the September 14 MetroBus update and route-specific new maps/schedules.
Open service changesBest tool for origin-to-destination routing, transfer planning and approximate trip duration.
Open trip plannerOfficial ADA services, reduced fare eligibility, lifts/ramps, priority seating, Call-A-Ride and travel training details.
Open accessibilitySt. Louis Missouri Metro Bus Schedule FAQs
Where can I find the St. Louis Missouri Metro bus schedule?
Use Metro Transit’s official MetroBus Schedule page, then choose the correct Missouri or Illinois route, direction and day of travel.
How do I check live MetroBus times in St. Louis?
Use the Transit app, which Metro identifies as its official real-time trip-planning app, or call Metro’s real-time phone system and enter the Stop ID from your bus stop sign.
How much is the St. Louis MetroBus fare?
Metro’s fare page lists the current bus cash base fare at $1.00, reduced bus cash fare at $0.50, One-Day Pass at $5.00, 7-Day Pass at $27.00 and 30-Day Pass at $78.00. Always recheck Metro’s official fare page before travel.
Can I pay cash on MetroBus in St. Louis?
Yes. MetroBus accepts exact cash in the farebox when boarding, but operators cannot make change. Riders can also use mobile fare, Ride On card, passes or other accepted Metro fare media.
How early should I arrive at a MetroBus stop?
Metro tells riders to arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival time. Use more time for transit centers, transfers, bad weather or unfamiliar stops.
How do I know if I am boarding the right MetroBus?
Check the route number and the lighted destination sign above the windshield before boarding. The same route number can run in opposite directions from different stop sides.
Are St. Louis MetroBus schedules different on weekends?
Yes, many routes have separate weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules. Always select the correct day of travel on the official route page.
What is changing on September 14 for MetroBus?
Metro has posted a September 14 service change affecting 9 Missouri MetroBus routes and ending service on #5 Green. No Illinois MetroBus or MetroLink changes are listed in that service-change summary.
Are MetroBus vehicles accessible?
Metro states that MetroBus vehicles are accessible and equipped with lifts or ramps, priority seating and reserved spaces for riders using mobility devices.
Where can I find MetroBus route maps and transit center bay layouts?
Use Metro’s System Maps page for Missouri and Illinois system maps, MetroBus route maps and transit center bay layout links.