Compare drive-through Christmas lights in St. Louis by carload price, hours and what your family will see. Check payment and holiday openings before choosing your night.
We operate Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Eureka. Here we compare our show with five other options, including free and donation-supported displays. Older prices and schedules are labeled with their year.
Drive-Through Christmas Lights in St. Louis at a Glance
Santa’s Magical Kingdom lists $35 per family vehicle Sunday through Friday and $40 on Saturday. WonderLight’s lists $35 for up to eight passengers in 2026. Way of Lights is free to drive through; Alton’s Christmas Wonderland suggests a donation. Brewery Lights offered free driving nights in 2025, but its 2026 drive-thru schedule needs checking.
| Show and location | Carload price | Payment or booking | Hours | Christmas Eve / Christmas Day | What you see |
| Santa’s Magical Kingdom, Eureka, MO | $35 Sun to Fri; $40 Sat; tax included | Cash at exit; drive up | 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. through Dec. 24; until 10 p.m. afterward | Open / Open, published schedule | Animated scenes, light waterfall and tunnels |
| Winter Wonderland, Tilles Park, St. Louis County | $20 per family vehicle (2025) | Cash onsite or advance tickets online | 5 to 9 p.m. (2025) | Closed / Open (2025); check 2026 | Holiday characters and park displays |
| Way of Lights, Belleville, IL | Free (2026); donations welcome | No admission charge; some activities cost extra | 5 to 9 p.m. (2026) | Outdoor lights open both nights; buildings closed | Journey to Bethlehem and nativity scenes |
| Brewery Lights drive-thru, Soulard | Free (2025) | No drive-thru admission charge in 2025 | 5 to 10 p.m., select Mon to Wed (2025) | Check the 2026 drive-thru calendar | Illuminated brewery grounds |
| WonderLight’s Christmas, WWT Raceway, IL | $35 for up to eight passengers (2026) | Advance online tickets encouraged; two-hour arrival windows | 5 to 10 p.m. nightly (2026) | Open / Open (2026) | LED displays synchronized to your car radio |
| Christmas Wonderland, Alton, IL | $10 suggested donation per vehicle, current directory listing | Cash donations | 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays; 5 to 9 p.m. weekends, directory listing | Confirm holiday openings | Volunteer-built displays in Rock Spring Park |
What Each Show Looks Like From the Car
The best Christmas lights in St. Louis for your family depend on the setting, theme and activities you want.
Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Eureka
The drive begins at four-story Kingdom Doors, with a 300-foot waterfall made of light. Along the route are Elfland, the football-field-length Tunnel of Dancing Lights, Candyland’s life-size gingerbread house, and Toy Land’s oversized 3-D toys. Children can also bring a letter for the North Pole Mailbox.
Our visitor guide estimates about 30 to 45 minutes for the drive, depending on traffic. Shopping and Santa photos add time. Preview the displays along the route or the Santa’s Magical Kingdom light show overview.
Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park
Tilles Park Winter Wonderland brings holiday characters and animated displays to a county park near Ladue.
The 2025 St. Louis Parent listing records $20 per family vehicle, 5 to 9 p.m. hours, and advance online tickets alongside cash payment onsite. That season had several closed dates, including Christmas Eve. Use the St. Louis County event page to check this year’s calendar and ticket options.
Way of Lights in Belleville
Way of Lights at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows centers on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. The 2026 event listing confirms November 20 through December 31, from 5 to 9 p.m., with no charge to drive through.
Some activities and refreshments cost extra. The Shrine’s holiday information confirms that outdoor lights remain open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while the buildings close.
Brewery Lights Drive-Thru Nights
Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch includes a ticketed walking event and, in previous seasons, separate free driving nights. Check which format is offered on your date.
The 2025 Visit Missouri listing describes free driving on selected Monday through Wednesday evenings, from 5 to 10 p.m., with exclusions. Entry was at Busch Place and Arsenal. Check the brewery’s new season announcement before planning a 2026 drive.
WonderLight’s Christmas at World Wide Technology Raceway
WonderLight’s pairs LED displays with music played through your car stereo. Its official 2026 page confirms November 13, 2026, through January 3, 2027, open nightly from 5 to 10 p.m., including holidays.
The car rate is $35 for up to eight passengers. Online tickets use two-hour arrival windows, which do not describe the show’s length. The listed entrance is 1905 Collinsville Road, Fairmont City, Illinois.
Christmas Wonderland in Alton
Retirees and volunteers known as the Grandpa Gang assemble Christmas Wonderland in Rock Spring Park. The Great Rivers & Routes directory lists free admission with a suggested $10 cash donation per vehicle, supporting local charities and organizations.
Listed hours are 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays and 5 to 9 p.m. weekends. Check seasonal dates and any walk-through evening before visiting.
What a Carload Really Costs
A family of five pays $35 for the lights drive at Santa’s Magical Kingdom Sunday through Friday, or $7 per person. Saturday’s $40 admission works out to $8 each. Both prices include tax.
WonderLight’s also lists $35 per car for 2026. Tilles Park’s $20 figure is from 2025. Way of Lights is free, and Alton suggests a donation. Budget separately for food, photos or activities.
At Santa’s Magical Kingdom, carload admission covers the lights drive. Santa photos, food and shopping are separate purchases. Train and wagon rides have their own prices, with a vehicle-admission waiver for qualifying bookings.
For a car visit, drive up and pay cash as you exit, with no arrival slot to book. Kringle’s General Store has an ATM. Reserved rides follow a separate schedule.
Which Show Fits Your Night
| Your priority | A show to consider |
| Free admission and a nativity-focused route | Way of Lights |
| Music synchronized to the lights through your radio | WonderLight’s Christmas |
| A county-park display near Ladue | Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park; check the 2026 rate |
| A free drive in the city | Brewery Lights, if free driving nights return in 2026 |
| Animated scenes, Santa photos and an optional wagon ride | Santa’s Magical Kingdom; choose a date when Santa and rides are available |
| A donation-supported display in Alton | Christmas Wonderland |
| Confirmed outdoor lights on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day | Santa’s Magical Kingdom, WonderLight’s or Way of Lights |
Choose Way of Lights for free admission or the nativity story. Consider Santa’s Magical Kingdom for a lights drive, store visit and optional Santa photos or rides at the same location.
For outings beyond the lights, browse our holiday things to do in St. Louis. Our current admission and hours are on General Info.
Timing Tips for Drive-Through Christmas Lights in St. Louis
At Santa’s Magical Kingdom, early-season weekdays usually draw fewer visitors. Christmas week is an exception to the usual weekday pattern, and December Saturdays before Christmas have historically been our busiest nights.
- Allow extra time for the approach and any entrance queue.
- Arrive at least 20 to 30 minutes before our closing time, earlier if you want to shop or visit Santa.
- Bring cash for our carload admission and any cash-only donations elsewhere.
- Keep interior lights low so passengers can see the displays.
- Check attraction hours separately from Santa appearances, rides and indoor activities.
Our show opens at 5:30 p.m. every night from November 20 through January 3. Closing is 10:30 p.m. through December 24 and 10 p.m. from December 25 onward. The hours, prices and directions page has the full visit details.
Make It a Full Night at Santa’s Magical Kingdom
Santa is scheduled inside Kringle’s General Store nightly from November 20 through December 23. Professional photos are delivered digitally by text. Photo sessions are a separate purchase; review the Santa photo details before your visit.
Old Fashioned Holiday Wagon rides cost $18 per person and run on scheduled nights, with blackout dates. The Santa Express Train also costs $18 per person and is scheduled Monday through Thursday, November 23 through December 10.
Book a train or wagon ride for two or more people, and the vehicle admission fee is waived. Check the ride schedule and booking instructions before choosing a date. December 24 is a wagon blackout date, even though the lights drive remains open.
The snack shack at Kringle’s General Store serves hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies baked fresh each evening. We’re at Jellystone Park in Eureka, off I-44 at exit 261, next to Six Flags.
Plan Your Drive Through Santa’s Magical Kingdom
Drive-Thru Light Show Questions
How much do drive-thru Christmas light shows cost around St. Louis?
Santa’s Magical Kingdom lists $35 per family vehicle Sunday through Friday and $40 on Saturday, including tax. WonderLight’s lists $35 for up to eight passengers in 2026. Tilles Park charged $20 in 2025; confirm its new season rate. Larger vehicles have different prices.
Are there free drive-thru Christmas lights near St. Louis?
Way of Lights in Belleville is free in 2026, with donations welcome. Alton’s Christmas Wonderland lists free admission with a suggested $10 cash donation. Brewery Lights offered free driving nights in 2025; confirm whether they return in 2026.
Which light shows are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas night?
Santa’s Magical Kingdom lists both nights, closing at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. WonderLight’s confirms nightly holiday hours for 2026. Way of Lights keeps its outdoor display open both nights, while its buildings close. Santa appearances and rides follow separate calendars.
Do St. Louis light shows take credit cards?
Santa’s Magical Kingdom’s vehicle admission is cash only, paid at exit, with an ATM in the General Store. Tilles Park offers cash onsite and online tickets. WonderLight’s encourages advance online tickets. Alton’s suggested donations are cash only.
How long does it take to drive through Santa’s Magical Kingdom?
Our visitor guide estimates about 30 to 45 minutes. That is a planning estimate; traffic can change the drive time. Allow additional time for any entrance queue, Santa photos, shopping or a reserved ride.
What’s the best night to avoid a line?
Early-season weekdays are usually quieter at Santa’s Magical Kingdom. Christmas week can differ, and December Saturdays before Christmas have historically been busiest. Allow time for a queue on any date.
Choose Your Drive-Through Christmas Lights in St. Louis
Start with your date and budget, then compare the route, payment and available activities. For a Santa’s Magical Kingdom visit, choose November 20 through December 23 if Santa photos matter, and check ride availability before adding a wagon or train.
Plan your night at Santa’s Magical Kingdom with the current hours, carload prices and directions.
