Interstate 55

About

I-55 is about 964 miles long. It is the 14th largest interstate overall, and the 7th largest north-south interstate.

If you travel this interstate from one end to another you might experience quite the temperature change, from warm and humid New Orleans to the chill winds of the Chicago lakefront.

The southern end of I-55 is about 10 miles to the west of the heart of New Orleans in Laplace, Louisiana. The northern end is in the windy city of Chicago, where it connects to Interstate 90.

Attractions Near I-55

There are a substantial number of wonderful museums and experiences near this interstate. There is also an incredible variety of FOOD, from deep dish pizzas and BBQ to Po-Boys and gumbo. It might just be a foodie's paradise! Here's a list of just a sampling of the many attractions on or near I-55:

  • The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL
  • Magnificent Mile Chicago, IL
  • Pizzeria Uno Chicago, IL
  • Lincoln Home National Historic Site Springfield, IL
  • Gateway Arch & Museum St Louis, MO
  • City Museum St Louis, MO
  • Budweiser Brewery St Louis, MO
  • Memphis Pyramid Memphis, TN
  • Beale Street Memphis, TN
  • Graceland Memphis, TN
  • Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Jackson, MS
  • Historic French Quarter New Orleans, LA
  • National World War II Museum New Orleans, LA
  • Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans, LA

History

I-55 construction began in the 1960s, in order to replace the old Route 66. It was completed in 1979.

States I-55 Travels Through

I-55 goes through 6 different states on its north-south trek, though it only touches Arkansas and Tennessee very briefly. Here they are:

  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • Arkansas
  • Tennessee
  • Mississippi
  • Louisiana

I-55 Major Cities

If I-55 had a nickname, it could quite possibly be "The Midwest Interstate". It runs through several great cities, including New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago, and a number of smaller heartland towns.

  • Chicago, Illinois
  • St Louis, Missouri
  • Memphis, Tennessee
  • Jackson, Mississippi
  • New Orleans, Louisiana

Major Connections & Interchanges

  • Chicago, IL I-90 W to Madison, WI I-90 E to Toledo, MI I-88 W to Davenport, IA I-80 W to Davenport, IA I-80 E to Toledo, MI
  • Bloomington, IL I-39 N to Rockford, IL I-74 to Davenport, IA
  • St Louis, MO I-70 E to Terre Haute, Indiana I-70 W to Kansas City, MO I-44 W to Joplin, MO
  • Sikeston, MO I-57 N to Chicago, IL
  • Memphis, TN I-40 E to Nashville, TN I-40 W to Little Rock, AR
  • Jackson, MS I-20 W to Shreveport, LA I-20 E to Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Hammond, LA I-12 W to Baton Rouge, LA I-12 E to Slidell, LA
  • New Orleans, LA I-10 W to Baton Rouge, LA I-10 E to Slidell, LA

Map

Information

Miles:964
States:IL, MO, AR, TN, MS, LA

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