The Jellystone Christmas lights near St. Louis are Santa’s Magical Kingdom, our drive-through holiday display at Jellystone Park St. Louis Eureka. We’re open nightly from November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, just off I-44 at Exit 261.
Bring the family for the lights, then add a wagon ride, Santa photos, or warm cookies at Kringle’s General Store. A personalized letter from Santa gives your child something to open at home, too.
Quick Answer: Drive-through admission is per carload: $35 Sunday through Friday or $40 Saturday, including tax. Pay cash as you exit; no advance drive-through reservation is needed. Train and wagon rides have separate online reservations.
Check Hours and Directions Before Your Visit
What Are the Jellystone Christmas Lights in Eureka?
Santa’s Magical Kingdom is the light show inside Jellystone Park in Eureka, Missouri. If your family remembers the campground name from earlier visits, look for Santa’s Magical Kingdom when planning this year’s trip.
Use Santa’s Magical Kingdom when checking our website or planning your route. The Jellystone Christmas lights in this guide are the Missouri attraction near St. Louis. Jellystone parks elsewhere have their own seasonal events, with different tickets and schedules.
That distinction matters when looking up Jellystone Park Christmas lights. A result for Caledonia, Wisconsin, refers to a different show. Check for Eureka, Missouri, and Santa’s Magical Kingdom before making plans.
Here, the driving route takes you past animated scenes and through tunnels of lights. You can stay together in your own vehicle and decide which extra stops suit the evening. Our Explore the Kingdom guide introduces the displays if you’d like a look before coming.
Find the Eureka Entrance at Exit 261
We’re off I-44, about 10 minutes west of I-270. Set your destination to Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Eureka, then follow the approach for your direction of travel:
- Westbound on I-44: Take Exit 261, turn right at the first light, then left on Fox Creek Road at the next stoplight.
- Eastbound on I-44: Take Exit 261, turn left on Six Flags Road, then left onto Fox Creek Road at the stoplight.
- On Fox Creek Road: Continue about 1/8 mile to our entrance on the right.
If you remember the Christmas lights by Six Flags, this is the location you’re looking for. The neighboring amusement park became Mid America Adventure in August 2026. Santa’s Magical Kingdom remains at Jellystone Park; use our entrance directions rather than the amusement park’s gate.
Send the destination link to anyone meeting you here. Using the full attraction name and city gives everyone the same arrival point, especially if relatives know the show by different names.
Jellystone Christmas Lights Tickets: Pay for the Drive or Reserve a Ride
You don’t need to buy Jellystone Christmas lights tickets before leaving home for a drive-only visit. Admission is collected at the ticket booth as you exit, and payment is cash only.
For a family vehicle, the tax-inclusive price is $35 Sunday through Friday or $40 on Saturday. The price covers the vehicle rather than charging each passenger individually. Larger vehicle categories have separate rates on our admission and visitor information page.
Bring your admission cash with you so it’s ready at the end of the route. If needed, there’s an ATM inside Kringle’s General Store.
A train or wagon reservation works differently. Choose your departure online, and book a ride for two or more people to have your vehicle admission waived. Photos, refreshments, shopping, and Santa letters are separate purchases.
The choice depends on how you want to spend the evening:
| Your Plan | What to Arrange |
| See the lights from your own car | Bring cash for carload admission. |
| Take a public train or wagon ride | Reserve seats for an available departure. |
| Have a wagon for your group | Check private-wagon availability and pricing. |
A drive-only outing keeps the schedule flexible. A reserved ride gives you a departure time to plan around, with room before or afterward for the store.
Choose Your Date Around the Stops You Want
The lights open at 5:30 p.m. every night of the season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Closing is 10:30 p.m. through December 24, then 10 p.m. from December 25 through January 3.
Choose an early-season weekday if you want a quieter visit. Our visitor information identifies December Saturdays before Christmas as historically the busiest nights. Christmas week can also be busier than other weekdays.
Arrive at least 20 to 30 minutes before closing for the drive, with additional time for shopping. If Santa photos matter to your family, choose a date through December 23, when his visits end.
For a reserved ride, follow the separate check-in instructions. You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure, except for a 5:30 p.m. ride, when arrival is at 5:15 p.m.
Add a Ride, Santa Photos, or a Stop at Kringle’s
An open-air wagon lets everyone watch the lights while someone else drives. Public wagon rides and the Santa Express Train cost $18 per person. Private wagons seat up to 12, starting at $75 for the first two passengers, plus $18 for each additional rider.
The Santa Express operates Monday through Thursday from November 23 to December 10. Wagons continue on scheduled dates through January 3, with blackout dates. Our train and wagon ride page has the calendars and booking link.
The outdoor rides cover a shorter route than the full drive. After your ride, you can drive through the Kingdom to see the expanded section as well. That makes the reservation a way to experience the lights from two perspectives during the same visit.
Inside Kringle’s General Store, Santa welcomes families nightly from November 20 through December 23. Our professional Santa photos are texted to your phone. Personal cameras and phones aren’t permitted during the Santa visit.
Leave time for the snack shack, where chocolate chip cookies bake fresh each evening. Pick up hot cocoa, coffee, or a snack before browsing the gifts. At Kringle’s General Store, handwritten personalized ornaments cost $18.95 each.
Choose the extras your family will enjoy rather than trying to fit every stop into one night. A cookie break may be enough for younger children; a reserved wagon can give a larger family something to do together.
Bring Santa Home With a Letter Written for Your Child
A visit gives your child a chance to see Santa. Our Letters from Santa give them a message to keep, with details from their own year.
Start with their first name, age, and current interests. Add something they did that made you proud, such as learning to read or helping a sibling. You can also include their Christmas wish and choose a classic, playful, or heartfelt tone.
Those details give the message its focus. A letter that recognizes a real accomplishment has more to say than a greeting with a name added at the top. Use something your child will recognize immediately, even if it seemed like a small moment to everyone else.
The order form lets you preview the letter and choose how it arrives:
- Email Letter, $7.99: A digital letter delivered by email.
- Physical Letter (Starter), $14.99: A printed, mailed letter with a North Pole postmark.
- Magic Package, $27.99: A physical letter, Christmas ornament, email letter, and special North Pole postmark.
Choose email if you want a digital message, or a mailed option if opening an envelope is part of the surprise. Check the current delivery information before ordering a physical package for Christmas.
For a tradition that continues next year, the optional Continuity Membership costs $19.99 per year. It includes next Christmas’s Magic Package. Treat it as a separate yearly add-on when reviewing your order.
You can plan the letter before your outing or create it afterward. The visit and the letter each give your child a different way to enjoy Santa, without needing another evening away from home.
Personalize and Preview Your Child’s Letter From Santa
Plan Your Family’s Night at the Kingdom
The Jellystone Christmas lights in Eureka are Santa’s Magical Kingdom, with nightly visits from November 20 through January 3. Choose your date, bring cash for the drive, and reserve ahead if a train or wagon is part of your plan.
Plan Your Visit, then create your child’s letter from Santa. The lights give you an evening together; the letter gives your child a personal message to open and read again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Jellystone Christmas Lights?
Santa’s Magical Kingdom is the seasonal drive-through holiday display at Jellystone Park in Eureka, Missouri. It is near St. Louis.
Are These the Jellystone Park Christmas Lights in Wisconsin?
No. Santa’s Magical Kingdom is in Eureka, Missouri. The Caledonia, Wisconsin, display is a separate event with different admission arrangements.
Which Exit Serves Jellystone Park St. Louis Eureka?
Use I-44 Exit 261 for Santa’s Magical Kingdom. Follow the Fox Creek Road approach to the attraction’s entrance on your right.
Are the Christmas Lights by Six Flags Still Here?
Yes. Santa’s Magical Kingdom remains at Jellystone Park in Eureka. The neighboring amusement park now uses the name Mid America Adventure.
Are Jellystone Christmas Lights Tickets Sold Online?
Advance tickets aren’t needed for drive-through admission; pay cash as you exit. Train and wagon reservations are available online for specific departures.
Is Saturday More Expensive Than a Weeknight?
Yes. Family-vehicle admission is $40 on Saturday and $35 Sunday through Friday, including tax. The difference is $5 per vehicle.
Can We Get Cash During Our Visit?
An ATM is available inside Kringle’s General Store. Bringing admission cash beforehand means you won’t need that extra stop before paying at the exit.
Does a Ride Cover the Entire Driving Route?
No. Rides omit the expanded section. Ride guests can drive through afterward to see that section, including the additional tunnel of lights.
Do Public and Private Wagons Share Blackout Dates?
Their blackout calendars differ. Check the schedule for your chosen wagon type before reserving, especially for December weekends and dates close to Christmas.
Does the Admission Waiver Include Santa Photos?
No. The waiver covers vehicle admission when you book a train or wagon ride for two or more people. Santa photos are separate purchases.
Can We Arrive Near Closing for Santa Photos?
Allow extra time for Santa photos rather than arriving just before closing. His visits end December 23, while the light-show season continues into January.
Is the Continuity Membership a Separate Add-On?
Yes. The optional membership costs $19.99 per year and includes next Christmas’s Magic Package. Review it separately from this year’s letter package.
How Do We Start a Letter From Santa?
Open our letter order form, enter your child’s details, and choose a package. Preview the message before continuing to delivery details and checkout.