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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions


Located in the heart of Illinois on historic Route 66, most of our visitors arrive by car via Interstates 55 or 72. Many also arrive by plane through Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, by Greyhound bus, or by Amtrak train. You can find more information on our Transportation page, including details about public transportation options.

As the capital of Illinois, Springfield has about 114,000 residents with about 208,000 in the metro area. Initially the settlement that would be Springfield was called Calhoun but was later renamed for nearby Spring Creek.

In the mid-1800s, Springfield was called the “The Flower City” for its greenery and flora - a nickname that still applies today. You might also hear locals refer to it as “Springpatch”.

Springfield has many hotel options. Downtown hotels are close to historic sites, shops, and restaurants. West side hotels are near Interstate 72 and offer easy access to shopping centers and dining. Hotels in the northeast and southeast corridor are close to Interstates 55 & 72, outdoor recreation areas and the Illinois State Fairgrounds. You’ll find a full list on our Hotel page, and camping options on our Campgrounds page.

Springfield has many historic sites, attractions and museums - especially those connected to its most famous citizen, Abraham Lincoln. You can visit his home, his tomb, the Old State Capitol where he served as a representative, and many more. Springfield also has many sites related to Historic Route 66. There are also museums, monuments, & historic mansions. Find out more on our Sites and Attractions page. Learn more about Lincoln on our Abe’s Perfect Journey itinerary, and explore the Mother Road on our Legendary Route 66 itinerary.

Aside from Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, Springfield has had many famous people born or live here. Ulysses S Grant was stationed here. Poet Vachel Lindsay lived here. Musicians like Morris Day and Bobby McFerrin called Springfield home. Many elite baseball players, basketball players and Olympians have also hung their hat in Springfield.

Springfield offers great options for hiking, biking, fishing, and golfing. Visit our Recreation page for details, and don’t miss our Blog page for info about outdoor adventures, biking trails, and golf courses.

Yes! Whether you are into visual arts or performing arts, Springfield has something for you. Check out our Arts and Entertainment page for art galleries, theaters, concert venues, etc… Our Blog page also has blogs dedicated to street art and art galleries.

We love four-legged visitors! We have many attractions and spaces that are dog friendly. Check out our Fido Friendly Spots blog for more information.

Absolutely! Whether you are looking for an antique, a boutique, or something unique; we’ve got it. Visit our Shopping page to find a wide variety of stores to shop. And if you are looking for something uniquely Springfield, our Illinois Made blog has businesses that can only be found in and around Springfield.

You’re in the right place! The term Sangamon (the county Springfield is in) comes from Pottawatomie word sain-guee-mon, which means “where there is plenty to eat”. Use our Eat and Drink page to find many different cuisines. In the drop down menu you can search for BBQ, Sweets, Asian cuisine, etc… You can also view our Local page to find restaurants unique to Springfield. Don’t miss Springfield’s signature dish—the Horseshoe Sandwich—highlighted on its own page. We even have a Horseshoe Sandwich Trail you can jump on.

If you’re 21 or older, check out our Brew and Wine page for local breweries and wineries. We’ve also got blogs featuring our breweries and wineries. For all ages, check out our Coffee blog to discover great cafés and coffee shops.

Springfield hosts tons of fun year-round—festivals, concerts, and performances. Our Upcoming Event page is a great way to find a fun single-day or weekend events to attend. We also have our Ongoing Event page for reoccurring events (like art or museum exhibits).

In the summer, we host History Comes Alive which offers a variety of events at many of our historic sites. For seasonal happenings, our Blog page will have blogs about 4th of July events, the Illinois State Fair, Fall/Halloween events, and Holiday/Christmas events.

Many of the historic sites in Springfield offer group tours by reservation. Check out our Youth Group Tour, Adult Group Tour, & Motorcoach Tour pages for more information.

We’d love to help! Visit Springfield, Illinois is the official Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visit our Meet page to explore meeting spaces, services, and connect with our helpful sales team. For sports events, check out our Sport page to find facilities, services and submit an RFP.

Bummer! We’ve got more resources. View our Visitor Guide for helpful information. Browse our Blog page for posts on Gen Z travel, sensory-friendly resources, Black history in Springfield, and more. Our Itinerary page is full of ideas as well.

You can also stop by our Visitor Center—our team loves helping travelers and hearing where you’re from!

And if all else fails, just send us an email at: visit.springfield@springfield.il.us

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit our YouTube page.

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