The Backyard Tourist

Day Three slows the pace and invites you to stay awhile in Springfield, Illinois, where U.S. Route 66 intersects with the life and legacy of one of Illinois’ most influential figures, Abraham Lincoln.

Here, the story of the road expands beyond travel into something deeper—leadership, identity, and national history.

Springfield offers one of the most concentrated and meaningful historical experiences in the Midwest, where sites connected to Lincoln’s life provide powerful context for understanding both the man and the era he shaped.

Rather than rushing through, this is a place to pause, explore, and reflect.

For a deeper dive into Springfield’s Lincoln sites, see my full guide here.