Things to Do in Springfield, Illinois with Kids — A Mom Explores | Family Travel Tips, Destination Guides with Kids, Family Vacation Ideas, and more!

Springfield, Illinois, has been one of my favorite educational destinations with kids so far.

This past year my two oldest kids finished up kindergarten and second grade where they learned about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln during their unit surrounding President’s Day.

Initially I was surprised by how interested they were with Washington and Lincoln, but I followed their fascination and we checked out several books from the library with fun facts about presidents.

We decided to add Springfield to our end-of-summer road trip from St. Louis to Chicago and back to Wisconsin, since Springfield is a mere hour and a half away from St. Louis!

It’s an easy add-on trip to either of these big cities, and I would highly recommend a stop in Springfield, especially if you have elementary-age kids! To be immersed in the Lincoln’s home and neighborhood brought history to life for my kids in a way that books never could.

They gushed about the many ways our family was similar to the Lincoln family, and they began to see Abe Lincoln as a human with strengths and weaknesses, joy and sadness.

Springfield is not just another tourist destination, but a tile in the mosaic of United States history that gives both kids and adults a clearer picture of the obstacles our country had to overcome in the Civil War era.

On a lighter note, Springfield is also a stop along Route 66, so there are several fun and kitschy stops to make for those interested in that aspect of American culture.

Here were our favorite things to do in Springfield, IL with young children.

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Best Springfield, Illinois Attractions for Families

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Abraham Lincoln’s former home in Springfield, IL is a National Historic Site that offers a guided tour. The tour is free, but you do have to get timed tickets from the Visitor Center. Tickets are first come, first served and cannot be reserved in advance. For this reason I would recommend planning your visit to Lincoln Home first thing in the morning (and even then you may have to wait an hour or so until your tour).

Tours begin at 9 and go until 4:30, and each tour lasts for about 25 minutes.

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On the tour, you’ll get to walk through the Lincoln Home and hear stories about Lincoln’s life as a husband, father, and neighbor before he became president.

Our kids loved hearing about Lincoln the man, not Lincoln the legend, relating to his unruly children and his love for animals. We saw the spot where he would wrestle with his boys, and it made this mythical historical figure a little more human and a lot more endearing.

After the house tour you are free to wander around Lincoln’s neighborhood where you’ll find exhibits explaining what life was like in 1860s Springfield.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

The Abraham Lincoln Museum was on of the most engaging museums we’ve visited with our kids. We arrived later in the day, so we had to rush a little bit through the exhibits to make sure we had time for both shows. I would say you need 2-3 hours to see everything in the Lincoln Museum.

Your visit starts in the Plaza, a large open area with wax figures of the entire Lincoln family. There are staff members nearby who offer to take pictures of your crew with the Lincolns.

The exhibits are divided into “journeys.” Start on your left with Journey 1 where you’ll walk through scenes depicting Lincoln’s early life from childhood to his 1860 campaign for president.

Next, walk across the plaza to the White House for Journey 2 which brings you to Lincoln’s presidency, the Civil War, the loss of his son, and his assassination. There is so much to read and see. I could easily go back a second time to soak it all in.

Make sure to check the times for both shows, Lincoln’s Eyes in the Union Theater and Ghosts of the Library in the Holavision theater. Both shows were captivating and kid-friendly (though Lincoln’s Eyes did have a few loud noises). If I’m being honest, Lincoln’s Eyes had me close to tears, and I’m really glad the theater was dark. Both shows do a great job of capturing the man behind the legend, unearthing a man who experienced his share of sorrow and pain, but ultimately found joy and perseverance.

We all left inspired and a little bit obsessed with our country’s 16th president.

Tickets Prices:
Adults: $15
Children (5-15): $6
Children (0-4): Free

Visitor Center

I always recommend stopping at the Visitor Center whenever you visit a new city or a National Park because the workers are so knowledgeable and can help you figure out the best spots for your family and give you tips for things like parking.

This Visitor Center is awesome because it also happens to be the site of the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

You can watch a video, take a guided tour, or just check out the exhibits with information about where Lincoln used to practice law.

Illinois State Capitol

Since Springfield is the capital of Illinois, be sure to check out the State Capitol Building! With a 405-foot dome, this building is a treat to view and photograph.

Be sure to check out the free guided tours if you’re interested in seeing the inside, too! You can request a tour at the Information Desk in the Capitol Rotunda.

There is free parking off Edward Street, so it’s a great spot to get out and stretch your legs while you wander the grounds.

Lincoln Tomb

Yet another National Historic Site in Springfield is the Lincoln Tomb. This is the final resting place of President Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons: Edward, William, and Tad (Thomas).

You’ll see a 117-foot obelisk surrounded by bronze sculptures and a terrace. Underneath, you’ll be able to walk into the tomb where you can find the burial chamber, along with statues, plaques, and quotes.

It’s quite a sobering experience, so you may want to prepare young children ahead of time. It doesn’t take long to walk through the tomb, but it’s quite moving nonetheless.

In front of the tomb you can see a bronze sculpture of Lincoln’s head (a copy of the marble head sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, who we learned earlier in the summer on our trip to South Dakota, was the sculptor behind Mount Rushmore).

Union Station

Union Station in Springfield, IL is right across from the Lincoln Museum, and is a former train station that operated from 1898 until 1971. It now houses historical exhibits, so it makes a great place to stop and look around after you visit the museum.

Unfortunately Union Station was closed to the public during our visit, but maybe next time!

Cozy Dog Drive-In (Route 66 Stop)

Cozy Dog Drive-In is a must-visit for families with kids, and not just because it’s located on the famous Route 66!

Cozy Dog is the home of the original hot dog on a stick, which you have to order for, uh, research purposes. They’re delicious and cheap, and so is the rest of the comfort food served at this adorable diner.

The decor is kitschy and fun, and it’s a great place to stop for a quick meal during your visit to Springfield.

Murals in History Downtown Springfield

President Lincoln and Route 66 aren’t Springfield’s only attractions. The capital of Illinois is also home to some talented artists, which is displayed in murals in the historic downtown area.

There are lots of beautiful and interesting walls to check out, but our absolute favorite was Young Abe, a mural that uses the pointillism technique. It’s located on 5th and Jefferson next to a large parking lot.

Another fun one your kids might love is Lego Abe (which is exactly what it sounds like) on 3rd street.