Springfield, IL Road Trips

The city was founded as "Calhoun", after John C. Calhoun. In 1832, the city was renamed to Springfield, derived from Spring Creek, a tributary of the Sangamon River. In the early 1830s, Abraham Lincoln moved to Springfield and lived here for a long time until he became president in 1861. He and his associates (commonly known as the "Long Nine") were largely responsible for making the city the capital of the state. Springfield has grown from a small city to one of the largest cities in Illinois, with a population of almost 115,000 people (2020). As the capital of Illinois, the state of Illinois is one of the city's major employers. Springfield also has a significant regional presence in healthcare and education, as the location of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Memorial Hospital Springfield, HSHS St. John's Hospital, Springfield Clinic, and the University of Illinois Springfield. Visit Springfield website

Springfield is home to numerous attractions. 1 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, 212 N 6th St, ☏ +1 217 558-8844, toll-free: +1-800-610-2094. Daily 9AM-5PM. This stunning museum features extremely rare artifacts to Lincoln & others around him. Completely 21st-century (in a good way), this has to be a must see. The museum features an orientational Fourth-dimensional theater which is stunning. Adult $7.50, senior 62+ pr military with ID $5.50, student with ID or child 5-25 $3.50, child under 5 free. (updated Nov 2016) 2 Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 426 S Seventh St, ☏ +1 217 492-4241 ext 266. Daily 8:30AM-5PM except 1 Jan 1st, 4th Th of Nov, and 25 Dec. The site features Abraham Lincoln's residence of 17 years, beautifully restored to its 1860 appearance. Entry to the home itself is only by ranger guided tour, but tickets can be obtained at the Visitor Center desk, and admission is free. The Visitor Center also offers an orientation film, along with other exhibits that change periodically. In addition to the home, a four-block area has been preserved to look as it would in Lincoln's time period. Several of the other homes feature exhibits as well. Free tour tickets. Parking $2. 3 Lincoln-Herndon Law Office (Sixth and Adams Sts), ☏ +1 217-785-7289. Closed for renovations. Featured here is the only surviving structure where Lincoln maintained working law offices. It has been restored and features an historical exhibit on the first floor. Guided tours are available, with a suggested donation.

1 Knight's Action Park, 1700 Recreation Dr (Exit 93 off I-72), ☏ +1 217-546-8881, [email protected]. Water park, miniature golf, go-carts, golf driving range, baseball batting cages, arcade and more. 2 Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, Lanphier Ball Park, 1415 N Grand Ave E, ☏ +1 217-679-3511, [email protected]. Summer wooden-bat college league baseball team. Promotions, silly contests and giveaways at nearly every opportunity during the game keeps everyone involved. $6-8. (updated Jan 2022) 3 Bank of Springfield Center (formerly Prairie Capital Convention Center), 1 Convention Center Plaza (downtown at the cnr of 9th and Adams Sts), ☏ +1 217-788-8800. (updated Jan 2022) 4 Lake Springfield. A reservoir that also serves as a popular fishing spot. (updated Jan 2022) 5 Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 315 Clear Lake Ave, ☏ +1 217-544-2473. (updated Mar 2026) Springfield has been the home of several influential artists who have contributed immensely to American culture. Staying true to this, there are numerous entertainment opportunities in the city. 6 Route 66 Drive-in, 1700 Recreation Dr (Exit 93 off I-72), ☏ +1 217-546-8881. dusk F Sa nights May-Sep. A drive-in theatre. Adult $6, ages 4-12 $4, ages 3 and under free. (updated Jan 2022) 7 The Muni (Springfield Municipal Opera), 815 E Lake Shore Dr, ☏ +1 217-793-6864. This non-profit community theater stages four musicals each summer at their outdoor amphitheater. The organization has been active at this location for more than 50 years, which testifies to the fine productions.

One of the legendary food items that is part of the heritage of Springfield is the horseshoe sandwich. The horseshoe sandwich originated in Springfield, Illinois sometime in the early 20th century at the Leland Hotel. You can get horseshoe sandwiches at most Springfield restaurants, at some restaurants in central Illinois, and at a few restaurants in other parts of the state. Horseshoes are not generally served outside of Illinois. A traditional horseshoe is two hamburgers each on a piece of toast with fries and cheese sauce over the top. Variations now include broiled(or deep fried) tenderloins, shaved ham, shaved chicken and even vegetarian variations. A pony shoe is half a horseshoe - a sufficient quantity for most people. 1 Charlie Parker's, 700 North St, ☏ +1 217-241-2104. Extra tasty American diner food served in a quonset hut decorated with rock-n-roll memorabilia. $5-12. 2 Cozy Dog Drive In, 2935 S 6th St, ☏ +1 217-525-1992, fax: +1 217-525-8539, [email protected]. M-Sa 8AM-8PM. One of the original restaurants on historic Route 66. Their specialty is the Cozy Dog, a cornbread-encased wiener known elsewhere as a corn dog. $3-8. 3 The Chili Parlor, 820 S 9th St, ☏ +1 217-523-4989. M-Sa 11AM-4PM. One of the classic Springfield chili parlors. It used to be known as Joe Roger's Chili and still uses the same chili recipe. Their chili is mixed to order with or without beans, with or without meat and available with six different levels of spiciness. Eat a bowl of the hottest style, the JR Special, and get your name on the wall.

1 Floyd's Thirst Parlor, 210 S 5th St (downtown), ☏ +1 217-522-2020. Two-level bar in the heart of downtown that tends to attract a younger crowd. Great drink selection. Upstairs has a few pool tables, air hockey, and skee-ball. 2 Obed & Isaac's Microbrewery, 500 S 6th St (a block west of the Lincoln Home), ☏ +1 217-670-0627. Good place to stop for a drink and some grub while in the Lincoln Home area. It has a spacious, dog-friendly beer garden with picnic tables and bocce ball courts. 3 Celtic Mist Pub, 117 S 7th St (downtown), ☏ +1 217-528-7000. One of the few bars in town open until 3 AM sees most of its business after 1 when the other bars close. Lots of out-of-town folks tend to go here since it's in walking distance of several hotels. 4 Brewhaus, 617 E Washington St (downtown), ☏ +1 217-525-6399.

1 Quality Inn & Suites Springfield Southwest near I-72, 3442 Freedom Dr (off Interstate 72/US 36 West), ☏ +1 217-787-2250. 2 Comfort Suites, 2620 S Dirksen Pkwy, ☏ +1 217-753-4000. Featuring 91 double and king suites each with distinct sleeping and work/leisure areas. 3 Microtel Inn & Suites, 2636 Sunrise Dr, ☏ +1 217-718-6842. 4 The State House Inn, 101 E Adams, ☏ +1 217-528-5100. Part of the Clarion Collection Hotels chain, rich in history. 5 Sleep Inn, 3470 Freedom Dr (off I-72), ☏ +1 217-717-9841. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2026) 6 Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S Dirksen Pkwy (directly off I-55), ☏ +1 217-529-7777, [email protected]. (updated Mar 2026) 7 Inn At 835 Boutique Hotel, 835 S 2nd St, ☏ +1 217-523-4466. Check-in: 4-9PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Mar 2026) 8 President Abraham Lincoln Springfield, 701 E Adams St, ☏ +1 217-544-8800, [email protected]. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Part of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel chain, connected to Springfield Convention Center via skybridge, offers a free airport shuttle. Also has WiFi included and an indoor pool. Non-smoking, no pets. (updated Mar 2026) 9 Riverside Campground, 4115 Sandhill Rd, ☏ +1 217-753-0630. Run by the Springfield Park District, with campground hosts on-site. 87 campsites, dump station, accessible restroom and shower house. Reservations accepted May 1- Oct 31. Motorized campers $35/night, Pop up camper $25, Tent camper $20. (updated May 2021)

I-55 approaches from the north and south. US-36 and I-72 approach from the east and west. Downtown has readily available curbside metered parking as well as an underground garage beneath the Old State Capitol. Most attractions have ample parking in adjacent lots or garages. 1 Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI IATA), 1200 Capital Airport Dr, ☏ +1 217 788-1060, fax: +1 217 788-8056. The airport is on the northwest side of the city. United Airlines offers regular flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. American Airlines offers regularly scheduled fligts from Dallas/Fort Worth DFW. Allegiant Airlines offers flights from Mesa Arizona AZA and Punta Gorda, Florida PGD. From the airport, rental cars or taxis are available to get into the city. Many of the hotels also have courtesy shuttles. No city bus service is available. (updated Aug 2022) Amtrak has five daily trains from Chicago via Bloomington-Normal and Joliet with its Lincoln Service. Additionally, the once-daily Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio, Texas (with carriages continuing to Los Angeles three times a week) stops here. 2 Springfield station is centrally located at 100 North 3rd St and is within walking distance of downtown and several local bus routes. Taxi service is usually available outside the station. 3 Greyhound, 111 S 11th St, ☏ +1 800 231 2222. Springfield's Greyhound stop is at the SMTD Transfer Center downtown. (updated Oct 2025)

4 SMTD, 928 S Ninth St, ☏ +1 217 522-5531. M-F 6AM-11:15PM, Sa 6AM-6PM. The Sangamon Mass Transit District operates local mass transit as well as a paratransit service, Access Sangamon, six days per week, Monday-Saturday, except major holidays. 17 fixed routes cover the city in the daytime. After 6PM, night service routes 901-905 cover the city on an hourly basis but night service only operates Monday-Friday. Each bus is equipped with a bike rack that can hold up to 2 bikes. $1.25. (updated Jan 2017) Due to ongoing state budget uncertainty the district has had to enact some cuts to night service (all schedules will end an hour earlier, no night service on Saturdays, and route 904 is cut entirely) and could see more cuts in the future so refer to the website for any sudden developments. Fare is $1.25 and includes a free transfer that you should request from the driver when boarding. Daytime buses all meet at the downtown on-street transfer center located at 5th Street & Capitol Avenue, while night service buses meet on the north side of the Old State Capitol on Washington Street between 5th Street and 6th Street. The website has online schedules for each route. SMTD also provides their schedule data to a number of web/mobile apps including Google Maps, Bing Maps, Moovit, and TripGo which can be used to plan trips. SMTD does not provide real-time information.

The city has seen a dramatic rise in panhandlers in the downtown area, especially near bars. Most are harmless but be cautious. Otherwise use common sense. Don't wander down dark alleys or leave valuables clearly visible in a parked vehicle and you should be fine. Dial 911 to get emergency help. 3 Springfield Police Department, 800 East Monroe, ☏ 911 (emergencies), +1 217-788-8311 (non-emergency number), [email protected]. The main law enforcement agency in the city. (updated Jan 2022) 4 Springfield Fire Department, 825 East Capitol, ☏ 911 (emergencies), +1 217-788-8450 (non-emergency number). The main fire protection agency in the city. (updated Jan 2022)