National park · United States
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Give it 2–3 hours: visitor centre film, the trail past Nancy Hanks Lincoln's grave to the living farm, and the Cabin Memorial site. Entry is free; the US$25 per vehicle is Lincoln State Park next door, not this memorial.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km²0 sq mi
approximate
Established
1962
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 1 km²0 sq mi
- About 200 acres (0.8 km²) of the memorial itself; Lincoln State Park adjoins it (check).
- Established
- 1962
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial preserves the Indiana farm where Abraham Lincoln lived from age 7 to 21 — the years that shaped him. It is a small, quiet NPS site: a limestone memorial building, a visitor centre, his mother's grave, and a working 1820s farm with costumed interpreters in warm months. There is no entrance fee. Most visitors come for two hours on the way between Evansville and Santa Claus; walkers can add the wooded trail loop and the adjoining state park.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1962.
Size and age
1 km²0 sq mi · national park since 1962
About 200 acres (0.8 km²) of the memorial itself; Lincoln State Park adjoins it (check).
Why go
- The farm site where Lincoln grew from a 7-year-old to a 21-year-old — the Indiana years he credited with shaping him.
- A living-history farm with costumed interpreters farming, cooking and talking to visitors in warm months.
- Nancy Hanks Lincoln's grave and the pioneer cemetery, a short walk from the visitor centre.
- Free entry, easy parking and a compact layout that suits a 2-hour stop on a road trip.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, grey; living farm closed
- FebCold; short indoor visit only
- MarMild spells; farm may still be closed
- AprSpring green; interpreters start up
- MayWarm, quiet weekdays
- JunHot and humid; go early
- JulSteamy; midday heat
- AugHot; school groups thin out late month
- SepCooling, dry, good walking
- OctFall colour; best light
- NovQuiet; farm winds down
- DecCold; holiday closures possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet tanagers and bluebirdsMay–Sep · Summer woodland birds along the trail loop. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| White-tailed deer and wild turkeyAll year · Often at dawn and dusk near the field edges. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Ticks and mosquitoesMay–Sep · Use repellent on the wooded sections in summer. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Evansville
I-64 east, then US-231 north through Lincoln City; the signed entrance is off IN-162 — check signage on the day.
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Louisville
I-64 west, then US-231 north to Lincoln City.
1.5–2 h
From Indianapolis
I-69 or I-64 south-west via Evansville; the last leg is on US-231.
3–3.5 h
Open the page →
From Santa Claus
Short drive north-west on IN-162 to Lincoln City.
15–20 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre and memorial building | Exhibits, a 15-minute film, bookstore and the limestone memorial halls. | Open with the site; free. |
| Nancy Hanks Lincoln grave and pioneer cemetery | The grave of Lincoln's mother and the small cemetery in the woods. | Short walk from the visitor centre. |
| Lincoln Living Historical Farm | A recreated 1820s farmstead with cabin, fields and animals. | Open in warm months; interpreters on site (check). |
| Cabin Memorial site and Lincoln Spring | A bronze outline marking the original cabin foundation, and the spring that supplied the family's water. | On the trail loop; open year-round. |
Sketch map
- 1Visitor centre · Headquarters≈38.118, -86.997Map ↗
- 2Nancy Hanks Lincoln grave · Trail≈38.116, -86.999Map ↗
- 3Lincoln Living Historical Farm · Village≈38.114, -87.002Map ↗
- 4Cabin Memorial site · Trail≈38.113, -87.004Map ↗
- 5Lincoln State Park entrance · Gate≈38.104, -86.996Map ↗
- 6Lincoln City · Town≈38.121, -86.999Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial entrance | Free | person | No entrance fee at this NPS site (check). |
| Parking | Free | vehicle | Free lot at the visitor centre. |
| Lincoln State Park (adjoining, separate) | US$9–20 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; Indiana state park gate fee varies by residency and season — check current Indiana DNR rates before you go. |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | pass | 2026 estimate; not needed here, useful for fee-charging parks. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Memorial entry no permit
Group or school visit permit or guide
Filming or special use permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay on marked trails
- The wooded sections border a live railway line; do not cross the tracks.
- Pets
- Allowed on the trails on a leash; not inside the visitor centre or the farm buildings. Check current leash and zone rules on the NPS Libo page before you go.check
- Drones
- Not allowed without NPS permission (check).check
- Farm buildings
- Do not enter fenced animal pens or handle livestock; ask interpreters first.
- Litter
- Pack out rubbish; bins are limited outside the visitor centre.
Where to stay
Near the park
Santa Claus and Dale motels
Chain and independent motels 15–25 min away, closest cluster to the memorial.
Near the park
Evansville hotels
Full range of hotels and restaurants, 45–60 min south-west.
Near the park
Lincoln State Park campground
Electric and primitive sites next door; separate state fee (check).
Safety
Railway line near the trails medium
Summer heat and humidity medium
Uneven ground and steps low
Winter ice low
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, memorial building and main paths to the grave are wheelchair accessible.
- A paved route reaches the farm area; some trail sections are gravel or stepped.
- Accessible parking is next to the visitor centre entrance.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out what you bring; bins are limited away from the visitor centre.
- Stay on trails to protect restored woodland and the farm fields.
- Buy in Lincoln City or Santa Claus so nearby towns benefit from your visit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee at this NPS site, and parking at the visitor centre is free. The adjoining Lincoln State Park charges its own gate fee per vehicle, so do not confuse the two.
What are the best hikes in Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?
The Trail of the Twelve Stones loop is the main walk: about 1–1.5 hours on flat, wooded ground linking the memorial, Nancy Hanks Lincoln's grave, the living farm and the Cabin Memorial site. For longer trails, cross into Lincoln State Park next door.
When is the best time to visit Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?
April, May, September and October. The living farm has costumed interpreters in warm months, the woods are at their best, and weekdays are quiet. July and August are hot and humid; January and February are cold with the farm closed.
How long do you need at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?
Two to three hours covers the visitor centre film, the walk to the grave, the living farm and the Cabin Memorial site. Add half a day if you also walk in Lincoln State Park.
Is Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial worth visiting?
Yes if you are already in southwestern Indiana or driving between Evansville and Santa Claus — it is free, compact and tells the Indiana chapter of Lincoln's life well. Do not build a whole trip around it; pair it with the state park or nearby historic sites.
Are there crowds at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial?
Rarely. Weekday mornings in spring and autumn are quietest; summer weekends and school-group season bring short bursts around the visitor centre and farm.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go