8 Scenic Road Trip Stops Along Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the United States. It was established in 1913 to create a paved road that stretched from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast. It stretches over 3,000 miles, beginning in Times Square, New York City, and terminating in Lincoln Park, San Francisco. The route passes through the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California.

However, it has also passed through Colorado and West Virginia, totaling 14 states that the highway has traversed at some point in its history. The 14 states, along with 128 counties, and over 700 cities, towns, and villages that the Lincoln Highway passes through, result in a lot of driving and numerous stops along the way. These are eight scenic road trip stops along the Lincoln Highway.

Edison State Park, New Jersey

After departing from Times Square, the route of the Lincoln Highway leads across the Hudson River into New Jersey. Once in New Jersey, the route leads through major cities such as Jersey City, Newark, Rahway, Edison, New Brunswick, and Trenton. During the era of the Lincoln Highway, the road through Newark was already one of the busiest in the United States.

Stop in Edison at the Edison State Park, which comprises 36 acres and includes nature trails, informative kiosks, and the Edison Memorial Tower, which can be entered to view artifacts, exhibits based around Thomas Edison’s life and works, including exhibits on Edison Phonographs that are over 120 years old, Thomas Edison's personal belongings, and early models of lightbulbs. If you have the time during your journey along the Lincoln Highway, consider joining one of the guided tours that offer access to two museum galleries and the memorial tower. Additionally, consider having a picnic on the grounds of the park or exploring the nature trails around the museum.

The Haines Shoe House, Pennsylvania

The Lincoln Highway enters Pennsylvania from the east, after leaving Trenton, New Jersey, and crossing the Delaware River into Morrisville. The highway then travels west through Lancaster, York, Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Breezewood, Bedford, Greensburg, and Pittsburgh, leaving the state west of Beaver.

In York, the Haines Shoe House is a unique roadside attraction. The house was built in 1949 and is shaped like a work boot, measuring 48 feet in length, 25 feet in height, and 17 feet in width. It is constructed with a stucco exterior and a wooden frame interior. Although it is no longer open for tours, it remains a unique photo opportunity and features a gift shop selling shoe-themed souvenirs. Additionally, if you are looking for an overnight lodging option along the Lincoln Highway, the shoe house can be rented and has the capacity to sleep up to six guests at a time. Those who stay will have access to a photo journal that details the house's history.

Lincoln’s Log Cabin, Indiana

Over the years, the Lincoln Highway has changed its route in Indiana between Fort Wayne and Valparaiso. Its initial route in the state took a more northern trajectory through Elkhart, South Bend, and La Porte; however, it was later moved to a more direct route through Plymouth. As the highway was named after President Abraham Lincoln, there are understandably many monuments along the route in his honor.

One such stop is located in Fort Wayne, which is the Abraham Lincoln Log Cabin Replica. Although Lincoln was born in Kentucky, the site in Fort Wayne is an exact replica. The replica is located in Foster Park in Fort Wayne. The replica cabin was constructed in 1920, and although tours are not available, informative displays detailing Lincoln's early life and upbringing are on display. Furthermore, Foster Park has walking trails and picnic tables on-site.

Franklin Grove, Illinois

The Lincoln Highway enters Illinois from the east, where the highway traverses west through Chicago Heights, and then crosses the Dixie Highway. In Illinois, the Lincoln Highway also crosses through a section of the historic Route 66. Following a westerly direction, the highway passes through Franklin Grove, where the National Headquarters of the Lincoln Highway Association is located.

The Lincoln Highway Interpretive Center is housed in a former dry goods store built in 1860, and has since operated as a hospital, post office, newspaper publishing building, and a storage building before it was renovated in the 1990s to become the Headquarters of the Lincoln Highway Association. The center is a treasure trove of information about the highway and memorabilia, including timber from the 1830s used to construct the original national road, as well as an interactive map of the highway and Lincoln Logs for kids to play with.

Kearney, Nebraska

Nebraska has historical ties to the Lincoln Highway, as the last section of highway that was paved was in the town of North Platte. Every community in Nebraska that was situated along the Lincoln Highway benefited from it, which resulted in many tourist-oriented spots being erected throughout the state.

Kearney is particularly noteworthy as it hosted the National Centennial Celebration of the Lincoln Highway in 2013, which attracted over 12,000 people and 500 cars. Kearney is a great town to stop and explore, as it offers many attractions that appeal to diverse interests. Every year, over one million Sandhill Cranes migrate through the Platte River Valley, which draws in birdwatchers. On the other hand, the Archway is a unique museum that displays exhibits on the history of Nebraska and the Platte River Valley. It also serves as a bridge that extends over the highway.

Lincoln Memorial Monument, Wyoming

The Lincoln Highway enters Wyoming from the east in Pine Bluffs. A significant portion of the Lincoln Highway section in Wyoming is an unpaved dirt and gravel road. For this reason, it is impassable throughout much of the year due to snow blocking the road and wet conditions from rain.

The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument is on the outskirts of Laramie. It is impossible to miss when driving on the highway. The monument was constructed using over 70 tons of clay and features a 12.5-foot-tall bust of Lincoln's head. The bust is perched atop a 30-foot-high granite pedestal. It can be accessed at the Summit Rest Area on Interstate 80. The bust of Lincoln's head was intentionally designed to have a rough texture, replicating the rocky Wyoming terrain. It was initially located at Sherman Summit, the highest point on the old Lincoln Highway, but was relocated to its current position on Interstate 80 less than 10 years after its unveiling.

Great Salt Lake, Utah

The section of the Lincoln Highway in Utah has changed route a couple of times over the years, with a portion of it now inaccessible to the public as it sits on private land. As the Lincoln Highway leaves Salt Lake City, be sure to stop the car and pull over at the Great Salt Lake. It is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world.

It varies in size each year, depending on factors such as the amount of snow that melts and the amount of runoff that reaches the lake. Regardless of its size, you are bound to find something to do when you stop here, whether that is boat, kayak, float, birdwatch, hike, or bike. Visitors who stop by on their course of the Lincoln Highway can explore the lake's expansive ecosystem or the two state parks the lake is home to: Antelope Island State Park and Great Salt Lake State Park.

Zephyr Cove, Nevada

The Lincoln Highway originally entered Nevada west of Ibapah in Utah; however, that route was never paved. Therefore, modern voyagers of Nevada’s Lincoln Highway start in Wendover, Utah, and cross the border toward Ely. From Ely, it is 317 miles to Reno along what is dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America,” as it crosses several mountain passes over 7,500 feet with towns like Eureka and Austin sparingly dotted along it.

There are two primary routes to California: the northern route and the southern route. The south route leads to Lake Tahoe, where travelers can stop at Zephyr Cove Beach and stretch their legs on the mile-long sandy beach, dip their toes in the water, or grab a bite to eat. There is plenty to do on the beach, such as relax on beach chairs under umbrellas, both of which are available to rent, or eat at the popular Sunset Bar and Grille, which conveniently offers beach cocktail service.

A Road Trip Along The Iconic Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway sprawls over 14 states, and, for one reason or another, has varying routes that are possible to take. The highway is full of historical monuments, natural wonders, unique roadside attractions, and much more. This list only scratches the surface of what the Lincoln Highway has to offer. So, pack up your car, grab a map and a pen, and plan your route along the Lincoln Highway today.