St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 10 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour worth booking?
St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour is a 2-hour experience in St Louis, United States, from $14 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 10 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 63 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (10)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $14 per person
Discover the Riverfront City with a self-guided walking-and-driving audio tour that moves at your pace! Explore the Gateway Arch and the surrounding landmarks, including the Old Courthouse, the Basilica, and the Customs House. Along the way, you’ll hear the many tales that live on here, from Lewis and Clark to the history of the Blues. Then, drive into Forest Park to see the World’s Fair Pavilion, wave hello to the animals at the zoo, and finish up the day at the Art Museum. Pause where you want, skip what you don't, and explore the stories that interest you most. New, lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route.
What you get
About this experience
Discover the Riverfront City with a self-guided walking-and-driving audio tour that moves at your pace! Explore the Gateway Arch and the surrounding landmarks, including the Old Courthouse, the Basilica, and the Customs House. Along the way, you’ll hear the many tales that live on here, from Lewis and Clark to the history of the Blues. Then, drive into Forest Park to see the World’s Fair Pavilion, wave hello to the animals at the zoo, and finish up the day at the Art Museum. Pause where you want, skip what you don't, and explore the stories that interest you most. New, lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route.
What's included
Included
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
Not included
- No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
What you'll see and do
Gateway Arch National Park
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. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. The tour is over 10.5 miles long, with more than 47 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.
Pass by without stopping
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 here
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.
25 minutes here
The Old Post Office and Custom House
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
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 here
New Masonic Temple
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 here
Forest Park Forever
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 here
St. Louis Zoo
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 here
Saint Louis Art Museum
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 here
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 here
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 here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
St Louis
Begin from 698 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOREVER, so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
End point: Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor & Education Center
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 4 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- History with Action
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
- The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.
- For walking portions, we recommend using headphones or earbuds for clearer audio and to avoid disturbing others nearby.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 10 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
Traveler reviews
10 verified traveler reviews for St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great informative tour!
Really great tour! Information was interesting. I liked that we could "jump around" and the app would resume wherever we were.
Response from the operator: Hi Donna, happy to hear the St. Louis' tour kept things interesting and gave you the flexibility to explore in your own order! If you enjoy traveling this way, I also offer many self-guided tours across the US with lifetime access. Happy exploring!
via Tripadvisor
Fun & Inexpensive
Fun and inexpensive way to experience the city. We try to do the viator driving tours in all the cities we travel to. We do the driving portions and listen to the walking portions from the car which makes the experience accessible for our whole family.
Response from the operator: Hi Sahera, I’m happy that my St. Louis & Gateway Arch tour gave your family a flexible way to explore the city! If you enjoy traveling this way, I also offer many self-guided tours across the US, Canada, and international destinations, all with lifetime access. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Walking tour
This self guided tour was hard for us to follow - we weren’t sure when to walk and when to drive it. I think it should either be a walking tour or a driving tour not both
Response from the operator: Charlotte, I’d love to make sure that’s clearer for all future tours. What can I change to make it more obvious that the first part is a walk around the Arch and the second part is the drive into town?
via Viator
A Walk / Ride in a Historic City
Great way to learn about the landmarks of St Louis at your own pace -- including the Arch, churches, history of the blues in STL, zoo and Forest River park.
Response from the operator: Mary, thank you for taking my St. Louis & Gateway Arch GPS drive-and-walk audio tour. I’m so glad it helped you explore the city’s landmarks at your own pace, from the Arch and historic churches to blues history, the zoo, and Forest Park. I hope you’ll try another flexible city audio tour with me soon. Happy exploring!
via Viator
Walking Tour Great, Unable to Connect to Car Audio, Ending Not So Great
Great audio for providing history and entails. Was unable to connect to car radio so played on cell phone burning minutes. For some reason it cutoff inside Forest Park and never gave directions for next site to leave the park nor did it provide an ending. We tried multiple timee to reset it and even drive around to no avail. Needs fixed. Other than that, good concept.
Response from the operator: David, I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you experienced with my Saint Louis Self-Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour. I appreciate your feedback and would like to learn more so my team can investigate. Could you tell me which route or section inside Forest Park the audio stopped working? Also, did you start the tour from the recommended starting point and follow the designated route? That usually ensures the GPS-triggered stories work smoothly. For car audio, you can connect via Bluetooth instead of CarPlay for now — full support is coming soon. Please contact me anytime between 9 and 6 EST so I can personally assist in resolving this or provide a replacement.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $14 to $17
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by History with Action, who run 21 experiences we rank across 16 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.6.
See everything History with Action runsWhy this scores 63
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for St Louis.
How much does St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour cost?
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Prices start at $14 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in St Louis usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in St Louis is not rushed.
Is St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 10 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in St Louis, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in St Louis can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in St Louis and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central St Louis within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in St Louis?
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St Louis leads with Gateway Arch tram rides and riverboat cruises, then brewery tours, Forest Park museums, City Museum visits and Route 66 history runs. Arch tram tickets are timed entry, so we weight tours that secure them. On Outty we rank every St Louis experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Lemp Haunted Neighborhood Walking Tour, St. Louis True Crime Tour: Soulard’s Murders, Mafia & Mayhem, Private Tour of St. Louis's Iconic BBQ Joints & Breweries. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit St Louis?
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April to June and September to October. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in St Louis?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour?
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Included: Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour; Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help; Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included; Private tour experience for your family, in your own car; and Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips. Not included: No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour?
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Begin from 698 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOREVER. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in St Louis. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about St. Louis & Gateway Arch NP Self Guided Walk & Drive Audio Tour?
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Across 10 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted. One thing to know: Several reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
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