St. Louis Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tour

Explore the Gateway to the West with this self-guided driving and walking tour of St. Louis! First, you’ll stroll through Gateway Arch National Park, take in amazing views of the arch and the Mississippi River, and learn all about the rich history of this monument and the lush park surrounding it. Then you’ll take a drive through downtown St. Louis to Forest Park, a sprawling green space featuring museums, a zoo, and more land than New York’s Central Park!
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

Meeting Point

698 Chestnut St

698 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA

After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

What's included:

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

Not included:

• Foods & Drinks

What to expect:

Duration: between 1 hour and 2 hours

Gateway Arch National Park

11 N 4th St # 1810, , Saint Louis, 63102-1810, Missouri

Over 170 architects from across the country submitted designs. Out of all the designs, it was Finnish-American Eero Saarinen’s crazy arch design that turned heads. It went against all ideas about what a monument ought to look like. And it wasn’t just about commemorating western expansion but also about marking the modern age.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France

209 Walnut St, St. Louis, MO 63102, USA

While much of the area was bought up during the making of Gateway Arch National Park, there was one exception: The Old Cathedral. The Old Cathedral had always been a staple of the St. Louis community.

15 minutes

Kiener was born and raised here in St. Louis, and throughout his youth gained a reputation as quite the sportsman. He made a name for himself in many sports, including boxing, wrestling, and swimming. He even participated in the 1904 Olympic games as part of the US track team.

10 minutes

The twin pillars and fortress-like design are great examples of French Second Empire architecture. If it seems a little out of place, that was kind of the point! Following the Civil War, cities like St. Louis were reeling from losing the war. Officials wanted to restore pride back to local communities. So in 1873, Alfred Mullett was commissioned to design something to remind folks of St. Louis’s French roots.

Pass by without stopping

St. Louis Public Library - Central Library

1301 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA

When we reach the intersection of Locust and 13th, we’ll see the St. Louis Public Library on our left. You can’t miss this grand stone structure. The library system originally opened in 1865, though not in this building.

15 minutes

New Masonic Temple

3681 Lindell Blvd, Lake Saint Louis, 63108-3301, Missouri

Just past the next intersection, you’ll see a grand, multi-layered stone structure on our right with giant columns out front and huge bronze doors. This used to be a Freemason temple, though they sold it in 2017. The Freemasons are a fraternal, closed membership society that has temples and groups all over the world.

10 minutes

Forest Park

5595 Grand Drive i, , Saint Louis, 63112, Missouri

We’re about to enter Forest Park. This massive 1,300-acre park dates back to 1876 and is the heart of downtown St. Louis. For comparison, New York City’s Central Park is only 843 acres!

10 minutes

St. Louis Zoo

1 Government Dr, , Saint Louis, 63110-1332, Missouri

This is one of many attractions built specifically for the World’s Fair in 1904 that happened to be too good to just throw away. Originally, though, it wasn’t a proper zoo. It was just an aviary on loan from Washington D.C. and a few exotic animal exhibits.

10 minutes

Saint Louis Art Museum

1 Fine Arts Dr, Saint Louis, 63110-1380, Missouri

That’s King Louis IX of France! Known as the Apotheosis of St. Louis, this statue is actually a replica of the original.

10 minutes

Emerson Grand Basin

Emerson Grand Basin, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA

During the World’s Fair, this basin was the center of attention. All the temporary exhibition buildings were situated around this body of water, meaning that everyone who visited got to take in this gorgeous view.

10 minutes

Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor & Education Center

5595 Grand Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112, USA

We’ve reached the end of our tour. The visitor center is just ahead, and parking is on the right. I highly recommend parking here, grabbing a map, and spending more time here in Forest Park.

15 minutes