Car hire Springfield

Many people are surprised that Chicago isn’t the state capital of Illinois, but Lincoln’s presence in Springfield gave it the greater claim. What this means is that you can get a slice of important American history in a compact place that’s easy to drive around. And should you wish to go further afield, you can find something interesting in pretty much every direction.

There are two main interstates cutting through Springfield, with the I-72 running east to west, the I-55 north to south. Take the former if you want to head across the border to Indianapolis in Indiana.

For a rapid road trip to Chicago, drive north on the I-55, which will whisk you to one of America’s most exciting cities, on the banks of Lake Michigan, in around three hours. Much of this road replaces a large chunk of old, romantic Route 66, but parts of it remain.

Finding your way around Springfield couldn’t be easier. Route 55 runs through the city’s heart, close to many of the main attractions, and the city is mostly built on a grid. Route 97 is the main east to west route and passes by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. There are a number of parking garages in the centre, with charges starting from around $1.50 for two hours.

If this is your first time driving in the US, don’t forget that you need to drive on the right-hand side of the road, with overtaking only on the left. In many towns and cities in the US you can make a right turn on a stop sign when the road is clear. Speed limits will be clearly displayed and on freeways – US motorways – there’s a state top speed of 70mph, with a minimum of 45mph. In towns and cities this usually drops to 30mph.

One of the first things that will strike you about Springfield is its laid-back ambience. You’re far from the Windy City of Chicago, and the pace of life is notably slower and more serene. The city is surrounded by plains, farms and homestead peppered with tiny communities. No matter the modern political affiliation, all the people here are proud of their association with one of the country’s most iconic presidents.

The Lincoln legacy

Abraham Lincoln wasn’t born in Springfield – he was a Kentucky native – but he’s indelibly linked with it, serving four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives and practicing law in the city. You can tour his old Greek Revival house, where he lived with his wife Mary for some 17 years, with rangers giving you insight into his life and times.

Like all US presidents, he has his own Presidential Library, which you can find on North 6^th Street. Inside you’ll find an original of the Gettysburg Address, documents related to his assassination, letters and also a superb museum.

Your whistle-stop tour of Lincoln’s life should also take in his death – one of the most famous and storied in American history. At the Oak Ridge Cemetery you’ll find the Lincoln Tomb and War Memorials, rising to 117 feet and with an impressive interior of marble and bronze.

The Capital’s class

As befits a state capital, Springfield is strewn with some classical buildings, including the old and current State Capitols. The Old State Capitol is a 1960s recreation of the mid-19^th century original, open for guided tours. The new Illinois State Capitol dates from 1868 with an impressive decorated dome – again, you can take a tour of the stately interior.

Elsewhere around town, you might chance upon the Dana-Thomas House, built in 1902 by the noted designer Frank Lloyd Wright – book ahead for a guided tour of the 35 rooms, many of them evincing Lloyd Wright’s trademark touches. And if the weather’s friendly, you’ll love the Washington Park Botanical Garden, with its lovely rose, shade, cactus and Roman gardens. From here you’re only a short way from the 12-story high Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, which you may hear playing.

Lakeside life

The area around here is full of parks and recreation spots – something you can really enjoy with Springfield car hire. Lake Springfield, a reservoir covering some 4200 acres, is in the city’s south-east corner, and is where many locals can be found fishing, taking a boat out or indulging in water-sports. The shore runs for 57 miles, with parks and launches all around it, and you can hire canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and motorboats to take out on the water – the best spot is at the Lake Springfield Marina.

With car hire in Springfield you can explore all of the charms of this historic city, with plenty more to discover when if you choose to head further afield.