Vicksburg Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
4.2 / 5 · 52 traveler reviews
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit. Bring history to life with this self-guided driving tour of the Vicksburg Battlefield, where Union and Confederate forces fought for control of the Mississippi River. Explore the battlefield and its powerful memorials as you hear about General Grant’s march on Vicksburg, the Confederate resistance, and the bloody Siege of Vicksburg itself. Revisit tales of bravery, strategy, and grit with dramatic blow-by-blow accounts of the struggle and its nation-altering aftermath. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Your experience
Stop 1
Begin your journey through one of the Civil War’s most important battlefields. Discover why both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis viewed control of Vicksburg and the Mississippi River as crucial to the war. This purchase is for an independent GPS audio driving tour of Vicksburg Battlefield. Park admission is not included and must be purchased separately. The tour covers 15+ miles, features 35+ GPS-triggered narrated stories with route guidance, works offline once downloaded, includes lifetime access, and takes approximately 1–2 hours to complete.
Stop 2
Pass beneath the Memorial Arch, built following a 1917 veterans reunion. Former Union and Confederate soldiers gathered here decades after the battle, this time sitting together in peace.
Stop 3
See the Minnesota Memorial and its statue of Peace, holding a sword and shield that symbolize weapons laid down after the war. The monument honors Minnesota soldiers who fought at Vicksburg.
Stop 4
Admire the towering Michigan Memorial and the statue known as “The Spirit of Michigan.” The monument stands near the area where Captain Samuel DeGolyer was mortally wounded during the fighting.
Stop 5
Visit the grand Illinois Memorial, designed by Civil War veteran W. L. B. Jenney. Inside are the names of Illinois soldiers who fought at Vicksburg, creating a lasting tribute to those who served.
Stop 6
Discover the historic Shirley House, once home to Judge James Shirley and his family. Surrounded by fighting during the siege, it survives today as the park’s only remaining wartime structure.
Stop 7
See where Union engineers dug a trench toward Confederate defenses and packed a mine with 2,200 pounds of gunpowder. The explosion created a huge crater, followed by fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
Stop 8
Learn about the Confederate fort targeted by Union tunneling during the siege. On June 25, Union soldiers detonated barrels of gunpowder beneath the position, triggering an intense struggle that lasted 26 hours.
Stop 9
Look up at the Wisconsin Memorial and spot “Old Abe,” the famous war eagle of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry. The area also recalls soldiers from diverse backgrounds who fought for the Union at Vicksburg.
Stop 10
See the West Virginia Monument honoring Major Azra Goodspeed. Though born in Ohio, Goodspeed served under the West Virginia flag and was killed during the fighting.
Stop 11
Visit the site of the Stockade Redan, a formidable Confederate position protecting Graveyard Road. Cannons and wooden defensive barriers made this one of the key obstacles facing Union forces.
Stop 12
Take in the commanding position of Fort Hill, where Confederate artillery overlooked the Mississippi River. From these defenses, Confederate gunners successfully struck and sank the USS Cincinnati.
What’s 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.
Meeting and pickup
Begin from the Vicksburg National Military Park Visitor Center. 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.
Before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Illinois Memorial is closed for restoration (closed since September 16, 2025). Tour stops in this tour (Shirley House & Logan’s Approach): A short section of the Tour Road closes March 2, 2026, and is expected to remain closed until approximately September 2026. Good news: Visitors can still continue north on Union Avenue and drive the remainder of the Tour Road.
- 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.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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