Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major north–south artery in the United States Interstate Highway System, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the heart of the Midwest. Spanning approximately 964 miles, I-55 begins in LaPlace, Louisiana, just west of New Orleans, and extends north to Chicago, Illinois. Along its route, the highway passes through key cities such as Jackson, Memphis, and St. Louis, serving as a vital corridor for freight movement and regional travel.

The route closely follows several historical alignments, most notably parts of the legendary U.S. Route 66 between St. Louis and Chicago. As it climbs through the Mississippi Delta, crosses the mighty Mississippi River at Memphis, and traverses the rolling farmlands of central Illinois, I-55 offers a blend of Southern charm and Midwestern industry. In many ways, it acts as a cultural and economic bridge between the Deep South and the Great Lakes region.

Interstate 55 is also known for its strategic importance in connecting multiple auxiliary interstates and major junctions, including I-10 and I-12 in Louisiana, I-40 in Tennessee, I-70 and I-44 in Missouri, and I-80 and I-90 in Illinois. Whether you’re heading north from the bayous or south toward the delta, I-55 remains one of the most traveled and historically significant interstates in the central United States.