Here are just SOME highlights along the Lincoln Highway between New York City and San Francisco, including things to see and some places to eat and sleep. Despite its length, I really am trying to keep the list short and manageable, so you'll find lots more to discover as you travel. I've been adding more places to stay as I went west.

 

Listing, of course, is not an endorsement, nor a guarantee that the place will still be open or extant; search online for further information.

​

* Note the list is still IN PROGRESS and NOT COMPLETE for CA *

NEW YORK

TIMES SQUARE, 42nd St @ 7th and Broadway, the LH's eastern terminus.

STREET SIGN, for Lincoln Highway, Times Square.

THEATER ROW, 42nd Street.

FERRY TERMINAL, original at 42nd, now 39th St, for crossing Hudson River to New Jersey.

HOLLAND TUNNEL, LH route moved here starting 1928.

​

NEW JERSEY

FERRY TERMINAL, Port Imperial/Weehawken.

LINCOLN STATUE, Jersey City, by Fraser, 1930.

LINCOLN STATUE, Newark, by Borglum, 1911.

MEMORIAL TOWER, Edison, site of Menlo Park lab.

STONE ARCH BRIDGE, Kingston.

GEO WASHINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT, Princeton.

WARREN STREET BRIDGE, Delaware River, large 1935 letters "Trenton Makes, The World Takes."

CALHOUN STREET BRIDGE, Delaware River, iron bridge built 1884, 15 mph speed limit.

​

PENNSYLVANIA

STATE LINE MARKER, Delaware River, cast iron, 1917 shows LH directions, end of Calhoun St. Bridge.

LINCOLN MOTEL, Trevose, vintage neon sign, at city line.

STONE BRIDGE, Trevose, behind Lincoln Motel in woods, 1805, from early turnpike.

INDEPENDENCE HALL & LIBERTY BELL, Philadelphia, 6th St @ Chestnut.

FRAZER DINER, Fraser, 1935 O’Mahony-brand diner (NOTE: they discourage photo-taking, possibly closed).

DUTCH HAVEN, Ronks, roadside attraction selling shoo-fly pie, windmill on roof.

HALLAM, Haines Shoe House, now a B&B not open to the public.

ORRTANNA, Mister Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium.

GETTYSBURG, Gettysburg Hotel, on the square.

GETTYSBURG, Lincoln Diner, 1955 Silk City, 32 Carlisle St, one block north of the square.

GETTYSBURG, Ernie's Texas Lunch, 58 Chambersburg St, vintage cafe, non-touristy.

BEDFORD, Dunkle's famed and beloved 1930s art deco Gulf Station, closed after recent death of owner.

BEDFORD, Coffee Pot cafe, popular pboto-op.

W OF BEDFORD, Jean Bonnet Tavern, 1760s landmark, lodging too.

MANN'S CHOICE, Lincoln Motor Court, charming and rare motel with 9 cottages.

LIGONIER, restored "diamond" aka town square.

GLENFIELD, long stretch of yellow brick road paving.

​

WEST VIRGINIA

CHESTER, World's Largest Teapot, display-only.

CHESTER, Frank's Pastry Shop, 1952.

CHESTER, three 1928 LHA concrete posts.

NEWELL, west of LH, 1907 iron toll bridge.

NEWELL, west of LH, Fiesta Tableware Company, factory outlet store, with tours of factory and museum.

​

OHIO

EAST LIVERPOOL, Museum of Ceramics.

EAST LIVERPOOL, Bricker's Cafeteria, former Isaly's Dairy store, 116 E 6th St, www.brickerscafeteria.com/.

LISBON, Steel Trolley Diner (currently closed)

HANOVERTON, Spread Eagle Tavern and Inn, built 1837 with 11 rooms and 12 fireplaces + Rathskeller

MINERVA, Kishman's gas station with President Lincoln graphics.

MINERVA, Palmantiers Motel, restored vintage lodging, across from brick stretch.

E of CANTON, Baywood Street, long stretch of brick paving.
MASSILLON, Chase Motel.

MASSILLON, Country Motel.

ORRVILLE, Shisler's Cheese House.

ORRVILLE, J. M. Smucker Company Company Store & Cafe.

ORRVILLE, Royal Star Inn, family-run motel.

E OF BUCYRUS, Hopley LH Monument.

LIMA, Kewpee Hamburgers, streamline deco building with rooftop Kewpee doll, 111 N Elizabeth St.

LIMA, Kewpee Hamburgers, 1960ds drive-in, 2111 Allentown Rd/LH, www.kewpeehamburgers.com/.

E OF VAN WERT, Van-Del Drive-In Theater.

VAN WERT, Fountain Inn, two-story 1950s motel.

​

INDIANA

FORT WAYNE, Knotty Pine Motel, old fashioned home and connected cabins.

FORT WAYNE, restored iron Wells St Bridge (no traffic) and parallel 1915 concrete Harrison St Bridge

GOSHEN, Goshen Motor Inn, 1950s motel

GOSHEN, 1939 concrete deco police booth

GOSHEN, Olympia Candy Kitchen, chocolates and soda fountain

MISHAWAKA, Bonnie Doon drive-in restaurant

W of SOUTH BEND, Kenrose Motel, brick 1950s motel

ROLLING PRAIRIE, Jennie Rae's restaurant in former Bob's BBQ

SCHERERVILLE, Rosewood Inn, an early 1950s motel

SCHERERVILLE, Teibel's restaurant, fried chicken since 1929

E of DYER, Motel Lee, ’60s style lodging.

IN/IL LINE, Ideal Section marker & Henry Osterman monument

​

ILLINOIS

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, 1916 Arche Memorial Fountain, intersection of LH and Dixie Highway

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Hi-Way Bakery, restored neon sign of baker

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Carlo's Restaurant, Italian dining since the 1950s

NEW LENNOX, Walona Motel, 1950s

JOLIET, Joliet Area Historical Museum, exhibits on LH and Route 66

PLAINFIELD, LH and Route 66 share road for .3 mile

AURORA, Phillips Park, restored camping pavilion

ROCHELLE, Railroad Park, observation deck where two major rail lines cross

FRANKLIN GROVE, LHA visitors center in 1860 building

DIXON, statue of young Abe Lincoln

MORRISON, Parkview Motel

FULTON, Windmill Welcome Center

​

IOWA

DeWITT, Winsther Motel, good reviews and neon sign

W of CALAMUS to W of Lowden, section abandoned in 1956, not fully driveable

LOWDEN, Lincoln Hotel, 1915, rehab 1996, now B&B, listed in National Register

W of MT. VERNON, site of first "Seedling Mile" of concrete in Iowa (brown signs mark ends)

W of CEDAR RAPIDS, Ced-Rel Supper Club serving food since 1935

WATKINS, at 24th Ave., Youngville Station Cafe, 1931 rural station serves pies & lunch, check for days

BELLE PLAINE, Lincoln Cafe

BELLE PLAINE, George Preston's vintage gas station (long-closed but being restored, photo op)

TAMA, King Tower Cafe, built 1937, neon sign being restored

TAMA, 1915 LH Bridge with "Lincoln Highway" spelled out in concrete rails

CHELSEA, rebuilt bridge include concrete rails and original globe lights

MARSHALLTOWN, Taylor's Maid Rite, loose meat sandwiches since 1928

COLO, Reed-Niland Corner with restored Niland's Cafe, Colo Motel, and gas station (display only)

AMES, Ames Motor Lodge Motel

E of GRAND JUNCTION, bridges over W Beaver Creek including original concrete and 1924 bridges.

GRAND JUNCTION, Janco Motel & Tanning

JEFFERSON, 14-story Mahanay Bell Tower

N of SCRANTON, two 1924 concrete monument with busts of Lincoln, corner of former Moss farm

DENISON, Cronk's Cafe, since 1929

DENISON, Park Motel, built 1940, Spanish Colonial design, theme rooms, listed in National Register

WOODBINE, six blocks of brick street paving

E of MISSOURI VALLEY, Harrison County Historical Village includes LH Interpretive Center

MISSOURI VALLEY, Hillside Cottages, 1950s, 12 themed inexpensive rooms

MISSOURI VALLEY, Rialto Theater, since 1938, restored + modern upgrades, neon marquee 

HONEY CREEK, Hitchcock Nature Center & Cabins Campground, 1,268 acres in the Loess Hills  

​

NEBRASKA

OMAHA, Hotel Deco, restored Redick Tower, built 1930

E of ELKHORN, one mile of preserved brick paved road, listed in National Register

FREMONT, Mullins statue of President Lincoln

DUNCAN, trace of original LH running between row of trees

GARDINER, iron bridge over Prairie Creek with LH interpretive panel

GRAND ISLAND, Kensinger tiny gas station with neon sign

GRAND ISLAND, Seedling Mile preserved section, built 1915, bypassed 1931, behind station

GRAND ISLAND, Coney Island Lunch Room for hot dogs and malted milkshakes, red counter & stools

W of KEARNEY, Covered Wagon roadside attraction, former gas station and gift shop, giant oxen statues

E of OVERTON, original concrete bridge near RR tracks, now painted white

LEXINGTON, Water Tower Court (former 1950s Green Valley Motel/Travelodge till 2017)

GOTHENBURG STAIRSTEP, original route south of Platte River, a rural throwback

NORTH PLATTE, Western Motel, court style, vintage neon sign

NORTH PLATTE, Fort Cody Trading Post, faux fort facade, check out backyard play area

NORTH PLATTE, Buffalo Bill's Scout's Rest Ranch, tour house and barn, visit buffalo

OGALLALA, Lazy K Motel, 1956, one-story, great sign

BIG SPRINGS, Phelps Hotel, 1885, listed in National Register, may be closed

SIDNEY, Sleep For Less Motel, family owned for two decades

SIDNEY, Sidney Motor Lodge, cool, small, red-brick motel

SIDNEY, Dude's Steak House and Brandin Iron Bar, vintage signs on rooftop

POTTER, Point of Rocks Motel & RV Park

KIMBALL, Motel Kimball, small one-story motel

ELKHORN, 4 miles of brick paving

FREMONT, Lincoln statues by Mullins

GRAND ISLAND, Kensinger's Gas station & LHA Seedling Mile behind it

SHELTON, LH Visitors Center

W of KEARNEY, former Covered Wagon souvenir shop with giant wagon and oxen

E of OVERTON, concrete bridge along RR tracks, painted white

​

​

COLORADO

JULESBURG, Old Ford Garage/Fort Sedgwick Museum, 112 E 1st St

FORT MORGAN, Rainbow arch bridge

FORT MORGAN, Central Motel,  201 W Platte Ave, classic lodging and sign

ORCHARD (unofficial Greeley Branch), tiny main street used in 1978 Michener miniseries Centennial

DENVER, Pete's Kitchen,1962 E Colfax Ave, all-night classic diner with neon sign

DENVER, Brown Palace Hotel, founded 1892, AAA 4-diamond

NE of DENVER, Lakeside Amusement Park, 4601 Sheridan Blvd, family-owned, founded 1908

BERTHOUD, Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum; across street is mural to auto writer Floyd Clymer

CO-WY border, Terry Bison Ranch, cabins and RV sites, restaurant, bar, gift shop, horseback rides

​

WYOMING

CHEYENNE, Fleetwood Motel, 3800 E Lincolnway

CHEYENNE, Lincoln Theatre, 1615 Central Ave at Lincolnway, stunning marquee with neon

CHEYENNE, Historic Plains Hotel, 1600 Central Ave at Lincolnway, 1911 landmark

CHEYENNE, Sands Motel, 1022 W Lincolnway
CHEYENNE, Wyoming Motel, 1401 W Lincolnway, and Luxury Diner, former trolley but a diner since 1926.

BUFORD, Tree Rock, I-80 mm 333, famous to Union Pacific, LH, US 30 travelers

BUFORD, Ames Monument, I-80 exit 329, old LH, pyramid marked highest point on Transcontinental Railroad
SHERMAN SUMMIT, Rest Area, mm 323, Abrahma Lincoln and Henry Joy Monuments, exhibit

LARAMIE, Laramie Valley Inn, 1104 S 3rd St

LARAMIE, Gas Lite Motel, 960 N 3rd St, quirky Americana decor

ROCK RIVER, Longhorn Lodge and Hostler's General Store
COMO BLUFFS, Fossil Cabin, built 1932 from dinosaur bones, endangered

MEDICINE BOW, Virginian Hotel, 404 Lincoln Hwy, iconic, opened 1911

ELK MOUNTAIN, [a non-official LH route], Elk Mountain Hotel, 102 East Main St, built 1905RAWLINS, Brickyard Inn, 415 W Spruce St, brickyardinn.com

RAWLINS, La Bella Motel, 1819 W Spruce St

WAMSUTTER, Sunset Inn, 175 McCormick St

ROCK SPRINGS, Springs Motel, 1525 9th St, operated by the Gillespie family since built in 1969

ROCK SPRINGS, Cozy Cottage Motel, 1204 9th St

Panoramic view of Palisades from Flaming Gorge Way near I-80 exit

GREEN RIVER, Hitching Post Restaurant & Saloon, 580 E Flaming Gorge Way

GREEN RIVER, Mustang Motel, 550 E Flaming Gorge Way

GREEN RIVER, Coachman Inn, 470 E Flaming Gorge Way

GREEN RIVER, Penny's Diner, 1170 W Flaming Gorge Way, modern retro, part of Oak Tree Inn chain

JAMES TOWN, remains of gas station (pumps now gone), WY 374, west end

LITTLE  AMERICA, hotel and travel center, opened 1930s to the west but relocated here

GRANGER, triangle intersection s of town, Old Little America Rd (old LH) and Granger Rd (old US 30)

CHURCH BUTTES, mountain scenery on original LH, east of Lyman

LYMAN, 1928 concrete LH post east of town 

LYMAN, Gateway Inn, 24 rooms all non-smoking

FORT BRIDGER, restored 1840s fort including restored LH-era cabin camp at entrance

EVANSTON, Prairie Inn, 264 Bear River Dr, locally owned and operated since 1966

EVANSTON, Jody's Diner, 260 Bear River Dr

EVANSTON, 1928 LH concrete post & plaque, 201 Bear River Dr, in front of abandoned Sunset Tourist Cabins

EVANSTON, 1928 LH concrete post rededicated 1996, next to Depot Square and Uinta County Museum

​

UTAH

3 small concrete bridges just west of WY border, on private land but can seen from access road

ECHO, old Gas station and Cozy Café buildings, signs

WEBER CANYON, Devil's Slide, two parallel limestone strata, pull-off on I-84 at mm 111

MORGAN, Taggart's Grill, I-84 x108

RIVERDALE, Motor Vu Drive-In Theatre, on 1050 W. just off Riverdale Road

CLEARFIELD, Charin Inn, 116 N Main St, vintage motel

LAMBS CANYON, 1914 bridge, I-80 x137

COALVILLE, Echo State Park Campground, at Echo Reservoir, I-84 x169

COALVILLE, Polar King Drive-Inn, 128 N Main St, classic American & Mexican food

COALVILLE, Blonquist Motel AKA A Country Place Motel, 99 S Main St

SALT LAKE CITY, Temple Square inc Mormon Temple and Tabernacle

SALT LAKE CITY, Zions Motel, 1829 State St, A-Frame office building

SALT LAKE CITY, Main Street Motel, 1518 S Main St

SALTAIR, famed lakeside attraction and concert venue, 15 miles west of SLC

GRANTSVILLE, Warner RV Park, 324 E Main St.

GRANTSVILLE, Donner-Reed Pioneer Museum, 90 North Cooley.

TOOELE,  last reliable chance to get gas, water, and supplies till Ely, Nevada, 264 miles/8 hours away.

FISHER PASS, Fisher Pass monument dedicated to LH founder Carl Fisher, dedicated 2009.

SKULL VALLEY, Orr's Ranch.

DUGWAY PASS, Simpson Springs Campground, 20 campsites, on Pony Express National Historic Trail.

FISH SPRINGS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, estab 1959.

GOLD HILL, ghost town.

IBAPAH, LH stone monument, dedicated 1997.

WENDOVER (on northern route), Bonneville Salt Flats and Speedway.

​

NEVADA

WEST WENDOVER (on northern route), Wendover WIll 1952 sign & Victory Highway monument, west of LH.

McGILL, McGill Drugstore Museum, closed and preserved since 1979.

ELY, Fireside Inn, 49 N McGill Hwy, 14-room motor inn.

ELY, Bristlecone Motel, 700 Ave I, bristleconemotelnv.com/.

ELY, Magnuson Hotel Park Vue, 930 E Aultman St, magnusonhotelparkvue.com/.

ELY, Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall, famed lodging since 1929, 64 rooms, www.hotelnevada.com/.

HAMILTON, 1800s mining ghost town, old LH route there is rough road, 4WD recommended.

EUREKA, Eureka County Opera House, built 1880, 31 S Main St.

EUREKA, Jackson House Hotel & Saloon, 1877 hotel, 11 S Main St, www.eurekagcinnandjacksonhouse.com/.

EUREKA, Sundown Lodge, 60 N Main St.

EUREKA, Owl Cafe, Club Bar, & Steakhouse, 61 N Main St.

EUREKA, Gold Country Inn, motel, 251 N Main St, www.eurekagcinnandjacksonhouse.com/.
EUREKA, Ruby Hill Motel, 380 N Main St.

AUSTIN, Grandma's restaurant, 99 Main St.

AUSTIN, Loneliest Highway Visitors and Welcome Center, 67 Main St.

AUSTIN, Historic International Hotel, 59 Main St, bar & restaurant only, built 1863.

AUSTIN, Cozy Mountain Motel, 40 Main St.

AUSTIN, Stokes Castle, west end, a 3 story granite tower, elegant when built in 1897, unoccupied since.

CARROLL SUMMIT, Abandoned gas station, SR 722, operated 1925 till 1962,when US 50 rerouted.

MIDDLEGATE, Shoe Tree, replaced the oreiginal cut by vandals in 2010, 2.4 mi west of Old Middlegate Station.

MIDDLEGATE, Middlegate Station, 42500 Austin Hwy, estab 1860, restaurant, motel, RV , free tent campground.

25 MI E OF FALLON, Sand Mountain Recreation Area, www.blm.gov/visit/sand-mountain-recreation-area/.

FALLON, Cold Springs Station, 52300 Austin Hwy. Bar, restaurant, RVs, motel, cabins, cssresort.com/.

FALLON, Overland Hotel & Saloon, 125 E Center St, includes restaurant.

SPARKS, Victorian Inn, 1555 Victorian Ave, 22 rooms, near Victorian Square, victorianinnsparks.com/.

CARSON CITY, Hardman House Hotel, 917 N Carson St, hardmanhousehotel.com/.

MOGUL SCENIC VIEW/TRUCK PARKING AREA on I-80, relocated 1914 bridge rails spell out "Lincoln Highway."

CAVE ROCK, LH once went around above Lake Tahoe, now tunnels through, beach, boat launch/

ZEPHYR COVE, Zephyr Cove Lodge & Restaurant, 760 US 50, on Lake Tahoe. bar, cabins, campground, marina.

 

...

... BELOW is still under construction, but I'm gettin' there and almost finished!

...

​

​

CALIFORNIA

​

TRUCKEE, River Street Inn, 10009 E River St, riverstreetinntruckee.com

TRUCKEE, Loch Leven Lodge, 13855 Donner Pass Rd, lochlevenlodge.com

TRUCKEE, Richards Motel, 15758 Donner Pass Rd, richardsmotelca.com

TRUCKEE, Diner

DONNER SUMMIT

SODA SPRINGS, Kingvale Lodge, 51228 Donner Pass Rd

EMIGRANT GAP, Big Yeti, 43310 Laing Rd

COLFAX, Colfax Motor Lodge, 550 S Auburn St

CITRUS HEIGHTS (metro Sacramento) CA, Ranch Motel, 6221 Auburn Blvd, ranchmotelcitrusheights.com

SACRAMENTO, Surf Motel, 3204 Auburn Blvd

SACRAMENTO, The Greens Hotel, 1700 Del Paso Blvd, thegreenshotel.com

SACRAMENTO, Deville Motel, 2756 Stockton Blvd

SACRAMENTO, Delta King

STOCKTON, Brevia Inn & Restaurant, 1625 French Camp Turnpike, breviainn.com

TRACY, Hacienda Inn, 639 W 11th St, haciendainn.net

LIVERMORE, Del Valle Lodge, 3979 First St, delvallelodge.com

CASTRO VALLEY, Valley Inn, 17130 Foothill Blvd

SAN FRANCISCO, OCean Park Motel

SAN FRANCISCO, Alexis Park Inn San Francisco, 825 Polk St, alexisparksf.com

​

Also visit my LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEWS blog and its archive of information www.lincolnhighwaynews.com

​