Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour offers travelers a unique way to experience the journey between St. Louis and Springfield. With an engaging audio guide that brings the region’s history to life, users can explore at their own pace and enjoy personalized experiences tailored to their interests. Whether you’re a history buff or simply seeking a more immersive road trip, this tour promises to uncover hidden gems and provide insights you won’t find in a typical travel guide. But what we love about this tour, and how can it enhance your next drive along the interstate? Let’s dive in to find out.

Key Points

• A self-guided driving tour from St. Louis to Springfield, Illinois, along Interstate 55 with an audio guide providing historical stories and insights.
• Accessible through the VoiceMap app with offline features, including audio, maps, and geodata for navigation without internet connectivity.
• Flexible tour experience allowing users to start, pause, or restart the tour at any time, and explore at their own pace.
• Tour available from July 2019 to November 2025, with Monday to Sunday operating hours and accessibility for strollers and service animals.
• Mixed reviews highlighting the engaging audio guide content but mentioning potential issues with activation and lack of refunds.

Overview of the Tour Experience

The Interstate 55 Self-Guided Driving Tour from St. Louis to Springfield offers a budget-friendly way to explore the route at your own pace.

Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars based on 3 reviews, this tour provides an audio guide with interesting stories and historical information along the way.

With lifetime access through the VoiceMap app, you can start, pause, or restart the tour anytime.

The offline features, including audio, maps, and geodata, ensure you can navigate the journey even without an internet connection.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this tour allows you to discover the sights and sounds of the I-55 corridor at your convenience.

Accessing and Using the Tour

Lifetime access to the Interstate 55 Driving Tour is provided through the VoiceMap app. Once you have installed the app and entered the tour code, you’ll have access to the full audio guide, maps, and geodata, even when offline. This ensures you can explore the route at your own pace, pausing or restarting the tour whenever needed.

Feature	Availability
Audio	Yes
Maps	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes
Start/Pause/Restart	Yes
Offline Access	Yes

The tour covers the journey from St. Louis to Springfield, with the starting point at a gas station on Chouteau Avenue and the end point at the Rail Splitter Rest Area Northbound.

Starting and Ending Points

Where does the Interstate 55 Driving Tour begin and end?

The tour starts at a gas station on Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri, located at 1001 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63104.

The end point of the tour is the Rail Splitter Rest Area Northbound in Springfield, Illinois, at 10200 I-55, Springfield, IL 62707.

To access the tour, you’ll need to install the VoiceMap app and use the provided code before arriving at the starting point.

The audio guide and maps are available offline, allowing you to start, pause, and restart the tour at your convenience as you make the drive from St. Louis to Springfield.

Availability and Accessibility

The Interstate 55 Driving Tour is available to travelers from 7/19/2019 to 11/22/2025, with operating hours spanning Monday through Sunday, 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM. While the tour is not wheelchair accessible, it is stroller accessible and allows service animals. The starting and ending points are conveniently located near public transportation, though infants must sit on laps during the tour.

Accessibility Features
Wheelchair Accessible	No
Stroller Accessible	Yes
Service Animals	Allowed
Public Transportation	Near
Infants	Lap only

Audio Guide and Historical Stories

The audio guide accompanying the Interstate 55 Driving Tour enchants travelers with captivating stories and historical insights that heighten the driving experience.

As you navigate the iconic highway, the narrator shares fascinating tales about the region’s rich history, from the founding of St. Louis to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield.

The audio seamlessly syncs with your location, providing context and perspective on the landmarks and landscapes you encounter along the way.

Whether you’re a history buff or simply seeking a more immersive road trip, the audio guide elevates the Interstate 55 journey, transforming it into an engaging and educational adventure.

Exploring at Your Own Pace

One of the key draws of the Interstate 55 Driving Tour is the freedom to explore at your own pace. With the tour’s self-guided format, travelers can start, pause, or restart the audio guide whenever they please.

This allows for a personalized experience, where drivers can linger at points of interest, take detours, or even stop for a meal along the way. The offline accessibility of the tour’s maps and audio further enhances this flexibility, ensuring a seamless journey without the need for a constant internet connection.

Whether you’re seeking a leisurely road trip or a more dynamic exploration, the Interstate 55 Driving Tour offers the perfect balance of structure and independence.

Offline Features and User Control

A key advantage of the Interstate 55 Driving Tour is its offline accessibility. Once the VoiceMap app is installed and the tour code is entered, users can access the audio guide, maps, and geodata without an internet connection.

This allows for:

• Uninterrupted exploration, as there’s no need to worry about connectivity issues during the drive.
• Flexibility to start, pause, or restart the tour anytime, without relying on a signal.
• Seamless navigation using the offline maps, ensuring users stay on track even in remote areas.

The self-guided nature of the tour puts users in control, enabling them to enjoy the journey at their own pace and convenience.

Reviews and Additional Information

Mixed feedback from users highlights both the strengths and areas for improvement of the Interstate 55 Driving Tour.

While some reviewers praise the engaging audio guide and the ability to explore at their own pace, others report issues with the activation email not being received.

The tour’s lifetime access and offline features are convenient, but the lack of refunds may deter some users.

The Interstate 55 Driving Tour offers a budget-friendly, self-guided experience, though potential customers should be aware of the mixed reviews before booking.

Accessibility information is also provided, ensuring the tour can accommodate a range of travelers.

Recap

Interstate 55: A Self-Guided Driving Tour offers a personalized experience for travelers, blending educational content with the freedom to explore at one’s own pace. The tour’s emphasis on historical narratives and offline accessibility makes it appealing for both history enthusiasts and casual drivers. While reviews are mixed, the tour’s focus on customized experiences sets it apart as a unique way to discover the region along Interstate 55.