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Lincoln, IL: Where Fun and Adventure Collide – Check Out the Best Things to Do and Places to Visit!

Lincoln is in central Illinois, on Route 66, and it is the only town Abraham Lincoln was around to see named after him. Postville Courthouse is where he tried cases in the 1840s. The Railsplitter Covered Wagon is the photograph. The Mill has been feeding people on the highway since 1929.

Lincoln, Illinois is a small town with a large amount of history attached and plenty of good reasons to pull over. History, outdoor country and food are all covered here, and none of it takes much organising.

The historical landmarks are the reason most people stop in Lincoln, Illinois. The Lincoln Heritage Museum sits in Lincoln College, the only college named for the late Abraham Lincoln. The Postville Courthouse State Historic Site is where Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the 1840s, which is a different thing from reading about it. Kickapoo Creek Park carries the hiking trails, the fishing and the camping. And the Railsplitter Covered Wagon honors the pioneering spirit of America, and nobody drives past it.

For something less historical, Logan Lanes in Lincoln covers bowling, arcade games and laser tag, and the Family Fun Center handles the mini-golf. Guzzardo’s Italian Villa has been making pizza and pasta since 1937, which is longer than most towns have had a restaurant at all.

Key Takeaways

• Lincoln, Illinois is a charming town with a rich history and plenty of fun things to do and see.
• Historical landmarks abound in Lincoln, including the Lincoln Heritage Museum and the Postville Courthouse State Historic Site.
• Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy Kickapoo Creek Park, and Logan Lanes and the Family Fun Center offer fun activities for all ages.

Charming Lincoln, Illinois

Lincoln, Illinois is the land of Lincoln in the most literal sense. The town sits in the heart of central Illinois, in what is also called the Prairie State. History, food or simply a weekend away: it covers all three.

Start at the Lincoln Heritage Museum on the campus of Lincoln College. The displays are properly done and they set out the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, in a way that gives you the context for everything else in town.

For something stranger, Lincoln’s Maple Club Dinner Theater is worth an evening. The venue runs a 225-seat auditorium, two stages and an amphitheater, and you eat while a live performance unfolds and you attempt to work out who did it.

Flossie and Delzena’s is the local lunch in Lincoln. The sandwiches, salads and soups are all made properly, and the chicken salad croissant with the ranch pasta salad is what regulars order. It works for a quick stop or a slow one.

For an evening, the Alley-Bi Saloon is the answer. The room is comfortable, the staff are friendly and the drinks are good. Live music and karaoke both turn up, depending on the night.

And the Balloons Over 66 Weekend is the long-standing Lincoln tradition. It runs in August, with hot air balloons taking off and landing, live music and local food and drink. It is the weekend the whole town turns out for.

Lincoln, Illinois holds more than a town this size should. History museums, dinner theater, local cooking and a good bar. Bring a car and give it a weekend.

Historical Landmarks

Lincoln, Illinois is unusually well supplied with history, and several of the landmarks put you where things actually happened. The ones to see:

Postville Courthouse

The Postville Courthouse takes you back to the 1840s, and it is now a museum. Several trials involving a young Abraham Lincoln were heard here. The judge’s bench and the original jail cell are both on display, and there is period clothing if you want a photograph in the courtroom. Strike a pose like Honest Abe himself.

Lincoln Heritage Museum

The Lincoln Heritage Museum is a treasure trove of Civil War memorabilia and artifacts from Lincoln’s life. You can see the bed where Lincoln died, the desk where he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation, and even a lock of his hair. The museum also has interactive exhibits that let you experience what life was like during Lincoln’s time. You can try on a Civil War uniform, play with 19th-century toys, and even sit in a replica of Lincoln’s presidential chair.

Heritage in Flight Museum

The Heritage in Flight Museum is the one for aviation. The collection includes vintage planes, a P-51 Mustang and a T-6 Texan among them, alongside World War II artifacts covering uniforms, medals and weapons. There is a flight simulator if you want to find out how a vintage plane actually handles.

Mill Museum

The Mill Museum occupies the oldest building in Lincoln, which was built in 1854. It started life as a grist mill and the original grinding equipment is still there to see. The exhibits cover the history of milling and agriculture in Lincoln, and you can buy flour milled on site and bake with it when you get home.

Lincoln, Illinois has more history than a town this size normally carries. Abraham Lincoln, Civil War memorabilia or vintage planes: all three are covered. Wear shoes you can walk in.

Outdoor Adventures

Lincoln, Illinois covers the outdoor end better than expected, from hiking and biking through to fishing. The best of it:

Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area

The Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area is the one for fishing, holding bass, catfish and bluegill. With over 1,000 acres of wetland and woodland there is plenty of ground beyond the water. Bring your own boat or rent one from the park.

Kickapoo Creek Park

Kickapoo Creek Park handles the hiking, biking and picnicking. Over 200 acres of parkland means the trails go somewhere rather than looping back immediately. Canoeing and kayaking on the creek are the harder options.

Lincoln Park District

The Lincoln Park District is where the organised recreation lives, running parks, trails and sports fields. It also programmes classes for all ages, including yoga, dance and fitness, which is useful if you are staying longer than a weekend.

Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park is not in Lincoln and it is worth the drive anyway. The park carries 13 miles of hiking trails and 18 canyons, with the Illinois River running alongside. Boating and fishing in season, snowshoeing in winter.

Shawnee National Forest

Shawnee National Forest is the longer run south. Over 280,000 acres of hiking trails, camping and wildlife viewing, with hunting and bird watching in designated areas. It is a trip in its own right rather than a day out.

Fishing, hiking or simply a day outdoors: Lincoln covers all three. Get out there.

Route 66 Attractions

Lincoln, Illinois sits directly on Route 66, the highway that runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, which makes it a natural stop for anyone driving it. The Route 66 attractions worth pulling over for:

Railsplitter Covered Wagon

The Railsplitter Covered Wagon comes first, a replica of the wagon Abraham Lincoln used during his 1860 campaign for president. It stands at the Lincoln Heritage Museum and it is the photograph everyone takes. You can climb inside and run for office yourself.

The Mill

The Mill is the other Route 66 institution, a restaurant that has been serving food since 1929. Classic car owners park outside it, which is half the reason to go. Order the horseshoe sandwich, which is the local dish and unlike anything you will get elsewhere.

And for speed, the Lincoln Speedway is a short drive from Route 66. The quarter-mile dirt track runs races every Friday night through the summer months. Go once and you will understand why the town turns up.

Get your kicks on Route 66 and stop in Lincoln, Illinois while you do. History, food or racing: the highway delivers all three within a short drive of each other.

Lincoln works as a stop rather than a destination. Do the Route 66 run first: the covered wagon, The Mill and the horseshoe sandwich, then the Lincoln Speedway on a Friday night in summer. Postville Courthouse and the Mill Museum, which occupies the town’s oldest building, take the history morning. Kickapoo Creek Park handles the afternoon. Springfield is the next stop south.

Fun Activities in Lincoln

Lincoln has plenty to do that has nothing to do with history at all. The favorites:

Logan Lanes

Logan Lanes is the reliable evening. The alley runs 24 lanes, so a group is not standing around waiting, and the cosmic bowling on Friday and Saturday nights is exactly as ridiculous as it should be.

Golf Simulator

For golfers, the golf simulator at Lincoln’s indoor golf facility lets you play a virtual round on some of the world’s better-known courses without leaving town. It is a genuine practice tool as well as a way to fill a wet afternoon.

Miniature Golf

For something lighter, the miniature golf course in Lincoln works across the age range. It is well-maintained and harder than it looks, and it gets you outside on a good day.

Lincoln Speedway

The Lincoln Speedway is the one for anyone who follows racing. The dirt track runs through the summer and it is loud, close and genuinely exciting. Bring earplugs and pick a driver.

Bowling, golf or racing: Lincoln covers all three. Pick one and go.

Culinary Delights

Lincoln eats better than a town this size predicts, and the range runs from food trucks to a proper sit-down dinner. Where to eat:

Food Trucks

For something quick, Lincoln’s food trucks are the answer. The cooking is better than the format suggests, and the popular ones include:

Food Truck	Cuisine
The Cracked Truck	Breakfast foods
Mr. Softee	Ice cream
Smokin’ Wheels BBQ	Barbecue
The Empanadas House	Argentinian empanadas

Follow them on social media, because where they park changes and that is the only reliable way to find them.

Dine and Drink

For a sit-down meal, Lincoln has options across the range. A quiet dinner for two or a table full of children are both catered for. The best places to eat and drink in Lincoln:

• The Blue Dog Inn: This family-owned restaurant has been serving up delicious burgers since 1979. Their burgers are made with fresh beef and served on a toasted bun. Make sure to try their famous “Puppy Burger” which is a smaller version of their regular burger.
• The Guzzardo’s Italian Villa: This Italian restaurant serves up classic dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and chicken parmesan. They also have an extensive wine list, so make sure to ask your server for recommendations.
• The Mill: Located in a historic building, The Mill offers a fine dining experience with a seasonal menu that features locally sourced ingredients. Make sure to try their famous fried chicken which is brined for 24 hours before being fried to perfection.
• The Lincoln Square Lounge: This cozy bar is the perfect place to grab a drink with friends. They have a variety of craft beers on tap and a cocktail menu that features classic drinks with a twist.

Quick bite or long dinner, Lincoln will feed you. The town punches above its size on this front.

Accommodations in Lincoln

Where you stay in Lincoln, Illinois makes more difference than usual, because the town is small and the good options fill. Hotel or bed and breakfast, there is a version of each here.

Hotels

The Best Western Plus Lincoln Inn is the practical choice, close to everything worth walking to. There is an indoor pool and hot tub, a fitness center and free breakfast, which covers most of what anyone needs.

The Lincoln Heritage Inn is the upmarket one. The boutique hotel runs rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, and there is a restaurant and bar on site so you do not have to go out.

Weekend Getaways

For a weekend away, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Lincoln North, IL is the comfortable choice for a couple. Every room has a fireplace, there is a hot tub, and breakfast is included.

For something you will not get elsewhere, the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In takes camping and RV sites alongside cabins for rent. Watch films through the evening and sleep where you parked.

Whatever you are after, Lincoln has somewhere to put you. Book ahead in summer.

Exploring Beyond Lincoln

With Lincoln, Illinois covered, the rest of the state is within reach. The destinations worth the drive:

Chicago

Chicago is the Windy City and the obvious one, and you cannot really visit Illinois without it. Walk the Magnificent Mile, go up the Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, and get to Wrigley Field if the season allows. Eat a Chicago-style hot dog or a deep-dish pizza while you are there, because you will regret not doing it.

Springfield

Springfield is the one for history, and it is the closest of these. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Old State Capitol and Lincoln’s Home National Historic Site are all there. For lunch, the Cozy Dog Drive-In does the corn dog it invented.

Galena

Galena sits in the northwest corner of Illinois and it is the prettiest town on this list. Main Street carries 19th-century architecture worth walking slowly for. The Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site covers the Civil War general and president who lived there, and a hot air balloon ride over the surrounding hills is the version of the visit people remember.

Rockford

Located just 45 minutes north of Lincoln, Rockford is a great place to spend a day. Visit the Anderson Japanese Gardens, one of the top Japanese gardens in North America. Check out the Burpee Museum of Natural History, which is home to Jane, the world’s most complete and best-preserved juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex. And if you’re a fan of the arts, catch a show at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

Peoria

Peoria sits on the Illinois River and has a stronger arts scene than its reputation. The Peoria Riverfront Museum runs art, science and history under one roof, and the Luthy Botanical Garden carries plant species from around the world. The Peoria Brewing Company handles the rest of the afternoon.

Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana is the college town, home to the University of Illinois, and there is more here than a campus. The Krannert Art Museum holds over 10,000 works. Meadowbrook Park runs a prairie restoration area and a sensory garden. And the Canopy Club takes live music from local and national acts.

The big city or the open country: both are within driving distance of Lincoln. Fill the tank and pick a direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best place to grab a bite in Lincoln, IL?

Lincoln, IL eats well across the range. The Mill on Route 66 is the classic American diner and the one with the history. El Mazatlan brings the taste of Mexico. And Fat Boy’s Pizza handles the pizza. Whatever you want, the town has a version of it.

Any hidden gems for shopping in Lincoln, IL?

Two worth knowing. The Unique Boutique is a consignment shop with a genuinely wide range of clothing, jewelry and accessories. The Lincoln Antique Mall is the other, and what turns up in it changes constantly.

What’s the most underrated attraction in Lincoln, IL?

The Postville Courthouse State Historic Site is the one people skip. This is where Abraham Lincoln’s first civil case was heard, which is not a small thing to stand in front of. It sets out the history of Lincoln and the surrounding area better than anywhere else in town.

What’s the craziest thing to do in Lincoln, IL?

The Lincoln Speedway. The dirt track runs races through the year, including sprint cars and modifieds, and it is loud, close and completely absorbing. Bring earplugs.

What’s the best way to explore the history of Lincoln, IL?

Walk it. A walking tour of the city covers the history of Lincoln, IL better than any single stop, and the Lincoln Heritage Museum gives you the overview to hang it on. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is the one to finish with.

What’s the weirdest fun fact about Lincoln, IL?

Lincoln, IL is home to the world’s largest covered wagon. This 24-foot-tall wagon sits in the downtown area, and it is where every visitor ends up with a camera. There is nothing else quite like it on the highway.

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln, Illinois

What is the Railsplitter Covered Wagon in Lincoln, Illinois?

A replica of the wagon Abraham Lincoln used campaigning for president in 1860, and it is the world’s largest covered wagon, a 24-foot-tall one. You can climb inside it. It is the most photographed object in town by a wide margin.

Which museum in Lincoln, Illinois has the courtroom where Abraham Lincoln practiced law?

The Postville Courthouse, now a museum. He appeared in several trials here in the 1840s, including his first civil case, and the judge’s bench and the original jail cell are still in place. Period clothing is available if you want the photograph.

How big is Kickapoo Creek Park in Lincoln, Illinois?

Over 200 acres, with trails for hiking and biking and picnic areas throughout, plus canoeing and kayaking on the creek itself. The Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area is the larger one at over 1,000 acres, and that is where the fishing is.

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