St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Security wait right now, how busy STL is today, how early to arrive, drop-off and parking, delays and nearby airports.
Also known as Lambert · St. Louis airport
- Quietest today
- 12 PM–2 PM 10–20 min
- Busiest today
- 7 AM–9 AM 15–35 min
- Arrive
- 2 h / 3 h domestic / international
Modeled from FAA passenger volumes, TSA's daily screening numbers, time of day and current airport conditions; refreshed every 15 minutes, not a checkpoint sensor. How we estimate
How busy is STL airport right now?
Right now the standard security line at St. Louis Lambert International Airport is short: about 5–15 min (updated 2:02 AM CST). In the next 12 hours it should peak around 8 AM (15–35 min) and be lightest around 2 AM (5–15 min).
St. Louis Lambert International Airport is a mid-size U.S. airport. Current conditions:
- Airport operationsNormal
- DelaysNo FAA delay programs
- Weather nowMostly Cloudy, 67°F
- LocationSt Louis, MO
- Passengers / year7,194,745
- U.S. rank#32 of 501
- CodesSTL · KSTL
Security wait, next 12 hours
Show as table
| Hour | Estimated wait | Line |
|---|---|---|
| 2 AM | 5–15 min | Short |
| 3 AM | 5–15 min | Short |
| 4 AM | 5–15 min | Short |
| 5 AM | 5–15 min | Short |
| 6 AM | 10–20 min | Short |
| 7 AM | 15–30 min | Moderate |
| 8 AM | 15–35 min | Moderate |
| 9 AM | 15–30 min | Moderate |
| 10 AM | 10–25 min | Short |
| 11 AM | 10–20 min | Short |
| 12 PM | 10–20 min | Short |
| 1 PM | 10–20 min | Short |
STL airport delays today
No FAA ground stops, ground delay programs or closures at STL right now (checked 2:02 AM CST).
Weather at STL: Mostly Cloudy, 67°F, good visibility and high clouds (VFR).
The FAA lists airport-wide programs only. A single late or cancelled flight is shown by your airline, so check its app as well. Delays at all U.S. airports →
How early to get to STL
Airlines recommend 2 hours for domestic and 3 hours for international flights. Enter your flight to see when to be at St. Louis Lambert and when to leave home, based on today's security estimate.
| Trip | Arrive before departure |
|---|---|
| Domestic, carry-on only | 1 h 30 min – 2 h |
| Domestic, checked bag | 2 h |
| International | 3 h |
| Flying 7 AM–9 AM | add 15–30 min |
Getting to STL: drop-off, pick-up and parking
St. Louis Lambert International Airport is in St Louis, MO. For drop-off, follow the Departures signs to your airline's curb; curbside stopping is for active loading only, and pick-ups are usually directed to the arrivals curb or the cell-phone lot. At the busiest hours today (7 AM–9 AM) add time for curb and garage traffic.
Parking rates, cell-phone lot and shuttle details are on the official STL website.
Airports near St Louis
Security wait right now at the closest alternatives to STL.
STL airport FAQ
How long is the TSA line at STL right now?
The current estimate for the standard security lane at St. Louis Lambert International Airport is 5–15 min (updated 2:02 AM CST). It refreshes every 15 minutes; follow airport signs and staff if the line in front of you looks different.
Are there delays at STL today?
The FAA reports no ground stops or ground delay programs at STL as of 2:02 AM CST. Individual flights can still be late, so check your airline's app.
Is STL airport open right now?
The FAA reports no closure at STL as of 2:02 AM CST. For weather or security emergencies, check the official STL website.
How busy is STL airport today?
Today (Tuesday) STL security is expected to be busiest 7 AM–9 AM (15–35 min) and quietest 12 PM–2 PM (10–20 min).
What time does TSA open at STL?
Security checkpoints at St. Louis Lambert International Airport open before the first morning departures, which at most U.S. airports means around 4–5 AM (earlier at some large hubs). Hours differ by checkpoint and terminal, so for a very early flight confirm on the official STL website.
Where do I drop off passengers at STL?
Follow the Departures signs to the upper or departures-level curb for your airline. Curbside stopping is for active loading only; at peak hours (7 AM–9 AM) allow extra time for curb traffic. Cell-phone lots and parking rates are listed on the official STL website.
Is TSA PreCheck open at STL?
PreCheck lanes usually run during the main morning-to-evening operating hours but can open later and close earlier than standard lanes, and not every checkpoint has one. Outside those hours PreCheck travelers are screened in the standard lane, so plan for the standard wait.
How early should I get to STL?
Airlines and TSA recommend 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. At the busiest hour today the STL security line alone can reach 35 minutes; use the calculator on this page for your flight time.
Are these live STL TSA wait times?
They are modeled estimates refreshed every 15 minutes, not a camera or sensor count at the checkpoint. They combine FAA passenger volume, TSA's daily national screening numbers, the hour, weekday, holiday periods and current FAA and weather conditions.
Where can I see the hour-by-hour STL security forecast?
The STL TSA wait times page has today's hourly chart, the weekly heatmap and PreCheck details.