Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: History With Upgraded Security Along the Mississippi River

In 1929, a private group built a toll bridge between Madison, Illinois and North St. Louis County in Missouri. The bridge served several purposes, including operating as a bypass for motorists looking to pass through the area without having to maneuver downtown. The bridge was narrow, with a 22-degree bend close to the Missouri side that reportedly would not allow two tractor-trailers to pass by at the same time.

In 1966, The New Chain of Rocks Bridge was built north of the old bridge, becoming part of the I-270 corridor that would be so important to fast-growing suburban St. Louis. The old bridge closed to car traffic in 1970. The new bridge, as of 2025, has been itself demolished and is in the process of being replaced with a third generation Chain of Rocks Bridge.

In recent decades the old 1929 bridge has been reinvented as a pedestrian bridge, although concerns over car break-ins and other safety issues marred its appeal. However, in the last decade the Great Rivers Greenway has taken ownership over the land, and, with help from a National Park Service grant, has made improvements — including security improvements — that now make it a very interesting place to walk.

Getting There

There are two ways to get to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: the Missouri side and the Illinois side.

Chain of Rocks Bridge and Park, on the Missouri side (Google Maps link), sits just off Riverview Drive a stone’s throw south of I-270. If you exit at Riverview Drive and head south, the entrance will be almost immediately on your left.

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge on the Illinois side (Google Maps link) is on Chouteau Island. To get there, take I-270 to Lewis and Clark Blvd. (IL-3). Immediately south of I-270, on the right, is Chain of Rocks Road. That road will cross over a canal by way of a canal bridge before reaching a dead end at the eastern Chain of Rocks parking lot.

Parking

There is paved parking on both the Missouri and Illinois sides of the bridge. The Missouri side, recently renovated, has a modestly sized parking lot.

The Illinois side is a circular space where you can park.

There is plenty of parking on both sides of the bridge, even during busy times. Both parking lots are free.

Costs and Considerations

The Chain of Rocks Bridge and Park are open daily from 7 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset, unless otherwise posted.

For many years, visitors were encouraged to park on the Illinois side and to put valuables out of sight, as theft of items out of parked vehicles was a problem, especially on the Missouri side. However, in the early 2020s the Great Rivers Greenway received a nearly $1 million grant from the National Park Service. Along with additional sales tax revenue and private donations, the Greenway embarked on a multimillion-dollar revitalization effort. Not only was the Missouri side rebuilt, but it received upgraded security.

That’s apparent the moment you pull into the parking lot, as you have to pass a guard house before entering the parking lot. That guard house is staffed during peak visiting hours. Other security upgrades include a fence around the site, parking lot lighting, video surveillance cameras, and an emergency phone.

One thing to note is that the bridge is elevated. While it is wide, it is high. If heights are your Kryptonite, you might not love this bridge, although keeping to the middle helps.

Another note: the bridge can be a little tricky after heavy rain or snow. We’ve visited after a snowstorm and because of the bridge’s elevation things were quite icy on the incline leading up to the bridge.

Things to Do

The bridge and park are part of the Great Rivers Greenway. A paved pathway, for instance, runs about 11 miles from the Chain of Rocks Park down to the St. Louis Riverfront Trail Parking Lot (Google Maps link) on Biddle Street just north of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge in downtown St. Louis.

In addition, the park itself offers a few features and amenities. They include:

• Event lawn and food truck area with water and electricity for community gatherings.
• A picnic pavilion for group gatherings.

• Portable restroom and drinking fountains for daily use (note: in our experience, the restrooms are not always available, depending on the time of year)
• Local artwork by Simiya Sudduth that highlights the Mississippi Flyway migratory route and Chain of Rocks geology.

• A new 1.5-acre reconstructed prairie in progress with plans for an unpaved footpath running through the prairie.
• Permeable parking lot that allows water to flow through it, an overflow grass parking lot, and rain gardens to reduce stormwater runoff from the site.
• Restoration of wetlands and woodlands that provide food and shelter for native wildlife, including migratory birds.

The centerpiece of the park is, of course, the bridge itself, a one-mile stretch that runs from Missouri to Illinois. It’s a bridge built for two-way car traffic — although it doesn’t feel like it — so as pedestrian bridges go it’s wide.

There’s plenty to see along the bridge, including bits of history related to Route 66 and the bridge.

To the south of the bridge, you’re liable to spot water intake towers standing above the river. Those towers, now vacant, once housed workers who would tend to water being taken in from the river to the local water plants.

Farther south, you might catch a glimpse of downtown St. Louis on a clear day.

On the south side of the bridge, there are telescopes that let you take in a closer look of the towers, the downtown skyline, and anything else along that side that you’d like to see.

To the north, you’ll see the new, new Chain of Rocks Bridge, which is currently in the midst of construction as of 2025.

The Illinois side of the bridge dips into a wooded area, which in the summer reverberates with the sounds of nature.

Our Thoughts

We’ve been to the bridge a few times, including after the Chain of Rocks Park and Bridge restoration, which finished in 2024. We’ve been struck by how pretty the area is now, with a modern feel and a few things to see and do.

We’ve also observed how much safer the park feels now, especially with a staffed guard house during much of the day. As a result, during our recent visits we’ve seen more foot traffic on the bridge — young walkers, families, etc. — than we saw before the restoration was complete.

The bridge itself is a marvel. It’s breathtaking to stand in the middle and stare out on the river, or the land on each side. It’s pretty cool to be able to see both Missouri and Illinois right there on each side of you. It’s cooler still to be able to walk across the river from one state to another.

If you’re a walker — especially one who likes a little history — the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is a really neat place to visit.