Yes, Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport (STL) has designated outdoor smoking areas on the curbside outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Exit the building, smoke at the marked spots a short distance from the doors, then re-clear TSA to return airside.
STL is built around two separate terminal buildings sitting just over a mile apart, each with its own roadway, security checkpoint, and concourses. Smoking is outdoors at both, at the marked curbside areas; the buildings have been smoke-free inside since the Missouri and St. Louis County indoor-smoking rules took effect in January 2011, and neither terminal has an indoor lounge. A free shuttle bus and the free MetroLink light rail link the two terminals, so you can move between them landside if needed.
Terminal 1 (Concourses A and C)
Terminal 1 is the larger, historic main terminal with 36 gates across Concourse A (Air Canada, Delta, United) and Concourse C (Alaska, American, Frontier, and charter flights). It has its own ticketing level, security checkpoint, and baggage claim.
Smoking areas: Outdoor designated areas are on the curbside along both the upper departures roadway and the lower arrivals/baggage-claim level. Look for posted signs and ashtray stations roughly 15 feet out from the entrance doors. The arrivals-level curb is usually the calmer spot, since most foot traffic moves through the departures level above.
After security: Smoking stays landside at the curbside areas. Exit past baggage claim to the curb, smoke there, then re-clear the Terminal 1 checkpoint to return to Concourse A or C.
Terminal 2 (Concourse E)
Terminal 2 is the Southwest Airlines base, handling roughly 60% of STL’s passengers across the 18 gates of Concourse E. Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and British Airways (London Heathrow) also operate their nonstops from here, so Terminal 2 processes most international arrivals.
Smoking areas: A separate outdoor designated area sits on the curbside near the Concourse E terminal entrance, on both the arrivals and departures levels. Because Terminal 2 is compact and built around a single concourse, the walk from the gates back out to the curb is short, making the smoke-and-rescreen round trip quicker here than at Terminal 1.
After security: Concourse E is smoke-free, so step out to the curbside area, then re-clear the Terminal 2 checkpoint to head back to your gate.
Moving Between Terminals
Because Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are just over a mile apart and not connected airside, you cannot walk between them once you are through security. The free inter-terminal shuttle bus runs every 8 to 15 minutes (Terminal 1 Exit 12, Terminal 2 Door 10) and takes about 10 minutes, and the MetroLink light rail also connects them at no charge. If your gate is at one terminal, use that terminal’s own curbside smoking area rather than trying to cross over.
Summary
| Terminal | Smoking area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (Concourses A, C) | Outdoor only | Curbside at departures and arrivals levels, ~15 ft from doors |
| Terminal 2 (Concourse E) | Outdoor only | Curbside near Concourse E entrance; Southwest hub, compact layout |
| After security (both terminals) | Landside curbside areas | Exit to the curb, then re-clear that terminal’s TSA checkpoint |
| E-cigarettes / Vaping | Outdoor only | Same rules as cigarettes inside both buildings |
Flying Southwest elsewhere in the region? See our guide to smoking at Kansas City International Airport (MCI).
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.