Overview
Carlinville is a town in the Central Illinois region of Illinois with a population of 5,710 as of the 2020 US Census. It is home to Blackburn College and hosts the Macoupin County Fair on the fair grounds north of town every year. Farm land surrounds the town as well as a few coal mines still in production, though there has been a stark decline in mining operations in the 21st century.
6 sights · 6 things to do · 5 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Carlinville
Sears Homes
In Carlinville you will see the largest concentration of Sears Catalog Homes. Out of the 156 homes that were built by 1918, 152 are still standing. These homes are privately owned but the neighborhood is easily walkable.…
Macoupin County War Memorial
Memorial built to honor county residents that fought in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Macoupin County Courthouse
Locally known as 'The Million Dollar Courthouse' due to the excessive cost overruns during its construction. Tours are available inside.
Carlinville Historic Square
A jewel of historic small-town America, preserved to keep its Route 66 charm. The square hosts many small town shops and is nearby multiple notable nearby landmarks.
Old Macoupin County Jail
A small jailhouse built in 1869 and designed by architect EE Myers. The walls have cannonballs in them to prevent digging out as an escape route. Only one man had ever escaped in its usage as a jail and he was apprehende…
Anderson Mansion
A large mansion built in 1883 that has been converted into a museum housing local historical artifacts and memorabilia. Tours available via reservation.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 24°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby St. Louis)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SPI Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield — 40 mi away. Directions
- STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St Louis — 45 mi away (major hub). Directions
Carlinville is rather well served by rail, with multiple daily Amtrak trains calling here. There are four daily departures on the Lincoln Servie between Chicago and St. Louis. Additionally, the once-daily Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio, with through-cars to and from Los Angeles three times per week, calls here.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Macoupin County War Memorial, Old Macoupin County Jail, Macoupin County Courthouse
- Lunch Taylor's Mexican Chili Parlor
- Afternoon Carlinville Historic Square, Bowlero Bowling Lanes
- Dinner Reno's Italian Pizza
- Evening The Wood Duck Bar and Grill
Day 2
- Morning Sears Homes, Anderson Mansion
- Lunch Carlinville Plaza Cafe
- Afternoon Macoupin County Fair
- Dinner Hawthorn Tree
- Evening Uptown Tavern
Day 3
- Morning Plainview Vineyard & Winery
- Lunch Town's Edge Diner
- Afternoon Beaver Dam State Park
- Evening Route 66 Craft Beer and Wine
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Carlinville is located in the center of Macoupin County and is the county seat. Founded in 1865, Carlinville was named after Thomas Carlin, 7th Governor of Illinois and major contributor to the creation of Macoupin County.
Carlinville is moderately famous for its collection of Sears Catalog homes. An entire neighborhood of Sears Homes was built in town by the Standard Oil Company of Indiana to house local coal mine employees. Today, 149 of the original 156 homes still exist, and is considered the largest single repository of Sears Catalog Homes in the United States.
Carlinville is also known for the Macoupin County Courthouse. Built in 1870 by and designed by Elijah E. Meyers, the courthouse was considered the largest outside of New York at the time of its construction. The courthouse is known locally as "The Million Dollar Courthouse" due to the overspending to build it. There were accusations by county residents regarding misappropriations of funds during the construction of the courthouse. Judge Loomis was accused of using stone from the courthouse to build a hotel, the Loomis House, on the square. Judge Loomis stated he purchased the stone but never produced a bill of sales. Another commissioner, County Clerk George Holliday, was seen leaving town by train in the middle of the night carrying a carpet bag. Public opinion was that the bag was filled with some of the money raised for construction of the courthouse. Holliday was never seen again and it is still a mystery as to where he went.
Get in
By rail
Carlinville is rather well served by rail, with multiple daily Amtrak trains calling here. There are four daily departures on the Lincoln Servie between Chicago and St. Louis. Additionally, the once-daily Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio, with through-cars to and from Los Angeles three times per week, calls here.
By car
Carlinville sits where Illinois Route 4 and Illinois Route 108 intersect. Route 4 links Carlinville to Springfield in the North and the St. Louis Metro East area to the south. Route 108 connects Carlinville to Carrollton to the west and I-55 to the east. I-55 is 12 miles east of town on Route 108s eastern terminus, linking Carlinville to A major Interstate artery connecting Chicago all the way to New Orleans.
By plane
Carlinville is not serviced directly by any airport. The closest airport is the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport SPI in Springfield, which hosts multiple daily flights from Chicago and Fort Worth Texas, but still requires transportation from Springfield down to Carlinville.
The St. Louis Lambert International Airport STL is the closest, most frequently used airport in the area and is an hour drive south west of Carlinville. The airport hosts a number of international and national flights throughout the year.
Get around
- Macoupin County Transit services the nearby town of Macoupin counts from inter-town and town-to-town travelling.
- Driving is the easiest method of travel in town and in the surrounding areas.
See
See Macoupin County War Memorial
Memorial built to honor county residents that fought in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Do
Do Bowlero Bowling Lanes
A classic example of a bowling alley. Food is served with multiple lanes to play on. Nearby is also the remains of the old Carlinville Drive-In.
Buy
Shop My Sister's Closet
Shop The Silver Owl
The old blends with the new at the Silver Owl. Browse the shelves for an eclectic array of home décor, faux floral, and gifts.
Eat
Eat Reno's Italian Pizza (Reno's)
Eat Carlinville Plaza Cafe
Hometown diner.
Eat Taylor's Mexican Chili Parlor
Eat Hawthorn Tree
Located on the historic Carlinville Square, Hawthorn Tree is where locals and visitors gather for a great cup of coffee, fresh bakery items made locally, hand-dipped ice cream and other treats.
Drink
Drink Route 66 Craft Beer and Wine
Sleep
Stay Carlin Villa Motel
Go next
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