Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

The great American road trip has experienced a revival amid the ongoing pandemic. There’s no better time to explore Illinois Lincoln Highway, the historic stretch of blacktop right in our very own backyard. Stretching from the Indiana border west toward the Mississippi River, this 179-mile National Scenic Byway runs across the northern part of the state, showcasing the culture of charming small communities along the way.

“For Illinois, the Lincoln Highway was part of the Good Roads Movement [in the early 1900s],” says Kay Shelton Kozak, national president and Illinois Chapter state director of the Lincoln Highway Association. “It was the first state to have a highway paved all across [the state].”

The original intent of paving was to make it easier for farmers to get their crops to market – i.e., no more loaded wagons stuck in the mud. The modern highway serves a much different purpose, drawing travelers in automobiles (and lots of RVs) for a journey into the past.

“We’re seeing a lot more individuals planning to travel [the route] this summer,” Kozak adds.

What are you waiting for? Pack your snacks, buckle up and settle in for our guide to all the must-stops along and around the Lincoln Highway. For more destinations, visit lincolnhighwayassoc.org.

1. Smits Farms

Photo credit: Michael D. Tedesco

This family-owned farm in Chicago Heights started as a single greenhouse and has grown into a 15-greenhouse operation. Stop in to shop flowers, houseplants, herbs and vegetables in the greenhouses and farmstand, or come for regular craft fairs or garage sales.

2. Paramount Theatre

Photo credit: Antony Boshier

This historic building in Aurora dates back to 1931, where it opened its glamorous doors for movies, vaudeville, concerts, circus performances and more. After falling into disrepair decades later, it was restored in recent years and is once again an entertainment destination featuring Broadway shows. Book a tour of the space’s breathtaking interiors by calling ahead.

3. Esther’s Place

Photo credit: Antony Boshier

Located just off the Lincoln Highway in Big Rock, this crafts studio and classroom is named for Esther, one of the sheep who lived on owner and fiber artist Natasha Lehrer Lewis’ farm. You can take a fiber art class and learn to make gifts like felted baskets from homespun wool, or even try your hand at spinning yourself.

See more: Why You Should Take a Trip to Galesburg

4. Rochelle Railroad Park

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

At the junction of two major railroads, this park is perfect for train watching and also features a gift shop, picnic areas and railroad artifacts, including a locomotive from 1928. Its biggest event, Railroad Days, typically takes place the last weekend in May (though TBD for 2021).

5. Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center

Photo credit: Antony Boshier

This homestead in DeKalb belonged to Joseph Farwell Glidden, who invented the most widely used type of barbed wire. Now a living history museum, you can learn about how his 1873 invention impacted farmers around the world and especially the American West. There’s also a kids’ corner where children can play old-time games, and there’s perennial gardens featuring flowers grown for the family’s floral business in the 1930s.

6. Lincoln Way Inn

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Every traveler needs a place to rest his or her head for the night. One of the most treasured spots to stay along the highway is this historic boutique inn located in Franklin Grove. Choose from six different suites (including one in the Carriage House) and enjoy locally sourced homemade breakfast, along with amenities like picnic lunches, a cedar sauna, horse-drawn wagon rides, an outdoor fireplace and a brand-new pillow for every guest.

See more: 7 Spots to Visit on a Spring Getaway to Vibrant Vandalia

7. John Deere Historic Site

Photo credit: Todd Bennett

When this Grand Detour spot just north of the Highway reopens post-COVID-19, you’ll be able to watch live blacksmith demonstrations in a replica of John Deere’s original shop, tour the original family home and stand on the very site where Deere forged the first steel plow. It’s a must-stop for anyone involved in agriculture.

8. Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home

Photo credit: Todd Bennett

Visit the site where the 40th president of the United States grew up in Dixon, of which he once said, “There was the life that has shaped my body and mind for all the years to come.” The home and visitor’s center hope to reopen for visitors later this year – and you can still stop by the Rock River, from which Reagan famously rescued several young swimmers as a lifeguard.

9. Windmill Cultural Center

Photo credit: Antony Boshier

Fulton features a fascinating windmill that was initially designed in the Netherlands, then shipped to and assembled in this quaint city on the Iowa border. The cultural center established around De Immigrant Windmill offers visitors a chance to see small-scale replicas of windmills from different countries, as well as activities and special exhibits. The town itself is home to many residents of Dutch descent, so the windmill also brings an ancestral tie, according to Kozak. 

See more: Travel Illinois: Bloomington

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