Where to stay in St. Louis for March Madness basketball

• Six games during the opening weekend of the March Madness tournament will be held in St. Louis.
• Eight teams, including Kentucky, Purdue, and Iowa State, will compete in St. Louis.
• First-round games are scheduled for Friday, March 20, with tickets available for purchase.
• St. Louis offers a number of hotels and attractions for fans traveling to the city for the basketball games.

The thrills of March Madness will soon head to St. Louis at the Enterprise Center as teams and matchups are here! It's time to book your travel and grab your tickets for the games St. Louis.

For those planning to travel to see a game in the St. Louis area, there's plenty on your to-do list, including where to stay and what to do while in the area. St. Louis is a classic sports town between NHL and MLB games practically year-round, meaning the city offers plenty of hotels, restaurants and history to help make the most of your trip.

Here's everything you need to know about traveling to St. Louis for March Madness:

Where to stay in St. Louis for March Madness

St. Louis will host six total games at Enterprise Center on Friday, March 20 and Sunday, March 22.

Where to stay near the Enterprise Center

The Enterprise Center is the host site for six games in the NCAA tournament, stay nearby: Find a hotel in St. Louis

Which teams will play March Madness games in St. Louis?

Six games in total will be played at Enterprise Center, with four first-round games scheduled for Friday and two Round of 32 matchups this weekend. Here's a look at the teams that will face off in St. Louis:

• Iowa State
• Tennessee State
• Kentucky
• Santa Clara
• Purdue
• Queens University
• Miami
• Missouri

2026 NCAA Tournament First Round schedule in St. Louis

• Friday, March 20 - No. 10 Santa Clara vs. No. 7 Kentucky at 12:15 p.m. ET
• Friday, March 20 - No. 15 Tennessee State vs. No. 2 Iowa State at 2:50 p.m. ET
• Friday, March 20 - No. 15 Queens University vs. No. 2 Purdue at 7:35 p.m. ET
• Friday, March 20 - No. 10 Missouri vs. No. 7 Miami at 10:10 p.m. ET

How to buy NCAA tournament First Round tickets in St. Louis

Tickets are available now to watch the First Round live from Enterprise Center. There's various options to choose from, including the following:

• No. 10 Santa Clara vs. No. 7 Kentucky at 12:15 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• No. 15 Tennessee State vs. No. 2 Iowa State at 2:50 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• No. 15 Queens University vs. No. 2 Purdue at 7:35 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• No. 10 Missouri vs. No. 7 Miami at 10:10 p.m. ET - Get tickets now
• All sessions (March 20 & 22) - Tickets starting at $817
• Session 1 (Kentucky vs. Santa Clara, Iowa State vs. Tennessee State) - Tickets starting at $156
• Session 2 (Purdue vs. Queens University, Miami vs. Missouri) - Tickets starting at $252
• Session 3 (TBD) - Tickets starting at $274

What is the closest airport to St. Louis?

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the closest airport to St. Louis. It's about 14 miles from the arena, usually between 20-25 minutes in the car.

What is there to do in St. Louis?

Aside from attending a few March Madness games, you can add a couple key things to your St. Louis trip:

• Check out the famed Gateway Arch that graces the St. Louis skylines.
• Enjoy a relaxing time at the Missouri Botanical Garden to see countless flowers and scenery.
• The City Museum is a great option for all ages as it features plenty of architecture.

When is March Madness 2026?

The 2026 March Madness tournament will kick off after the 68-team bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday.. The tournament will continue through March, ending with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.

March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men's tournament

• March 17-18: First Four
• March 19-20: First round
• March 21-22: Second round
• March 26-27: Sweet 16
• March 28-29: Elite 8
• April 4-5: Final Four
• April 6: National Championship