State Park

Lincoln State Park

Spencer County, IndianaAbout 1,746 acresEstablished 1932
Status
Open (per official listing)
Entrance fee
Statewide rule — see below
Day-use reservations
None mentioned
Dogs
Not stated — check with park
Camping
269 campsites
Official site
in.gov812-937-4710

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Current alerts 1

Water quality BLUE-GREEN ALGAEFound in lakes year round. Don't drink the water. Shower after you swim. More information.

Posted by the park. Official alert

Overview

Lincoln State Park, Lincoln, Indiana
Lincoln State Park, Lincoln, Indiana. Photo: Cool10191. Public domain (released by the author)

Covering about 1,746 acres, Lincoln State Park lies in Spencer County, about 13 miles south of Huntingburg.

Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, and picnicking. Its trail network totals roughly 10 miles, according to the park. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are 269 campsites across 3 camping areas (tent sites and primitive or hike-in sites).

Fees and passes

Per vehicle daily gate fee: $7 Indiana plates / $15 out-of-state at state parks and state-managed lakes; exceptions Indiana Dunes ($7/$20), Prophetstown ($8/$16), Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center ($9 adult/$7 child); $2 per person age 5+ on foot, bicycle or horseback.

Statewide fee rule from Indiana's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.

Indiana park passes

  • Annual Entrance Pass — $50. Noncommercial vehicle, driver and passengers at DNR properties that charge a gate fee Details
  • Non-resident Annual Entrance Pass — $120. Non-Indiana resident noncommercial vehicles Details
  • Golden Hoosier Passport — $25. Indiana residents 65+ or eligible for SS disability; vehicle, driver and passengers Details
  • Disabled Hoosier Veteran Pass — $25. Persons eligible for a Disabled Hoosier Veteran plate Details
  • SSDI Pass — $25. Indiana residents receiving or eligible for SSDI Details

From the Indiana state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.

Reservations

Day use
No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
Booking system
ReserveAmerica (Indiana State Parks) for camping, cabins, shelters, group camps; separate inn reservations
Phone
1-866-622-6746 (camping, cabins, shelters, group camps); 1-877-563-4371 (inns and Brown County cabins)

Check availability and book

We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.

Camping

Campground or site typeSitesHookups / featuresPrice
Electric150Electric—
Non-electric88—
Primitive31—
Camping details from the park
  • Electric / 150 sites
  • Non-electric / 88 sites
  • Primitive / 31 sites
  • Group Camp
  • Youth Tent Areas
  • Dumping Station
  • Pine Hills Group Cottages
  • Blue Heron Family Cabins

From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.

Cabins and lodging

Pine Hills Group Cottages

Blue Heron Family Cabins

Things to do

PicnickingBoatingFishingHikingCanoeing and kayakingSwimmingCamping

Trails

TrailLengthDifficultyNotes
Lake Trail (Trail 1)1.5 miEasyStarts at the boat rental building (CCC ranger cabin) and goes around the south shore of the lake. This is one of the oldest remaining CCC ranger cabins in Indiana. A short-side loop leads to the fire tower (CCC built, 1935). The trail returns via the dam, back to the beach area.
John Carter Trail (Trail 2)2.1 miModerateJohn Carter was a Lincoln family neighbor. This trail starts east of the gatehouse and proceeds through beautiful pines, past an old strip mine area before connecting with Trail 1 (Lake Trail) east of the campground. A short hop across S.R. 162 from the start of this trail is the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Stop in and talk with the interpretive staff and tour the visitors center and “living farm.” Fee required.
Sarah Lincoln Grigsby Trail (Trail 3)1.7 miModerateRunning through the Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve, this is the park’s most pristine and unusual area. You may find many prairie plants unusual to the area. The dry upland forest has many steep slopes. Sarah, Abe’s older sister died at an early age during childbirth at a nearby homestead.
James Gentry Trail (Trail 4)3.7 miModerateTakes you across (north of) S.R. 162 along the northern border of the property to the site of the James Gentry home. Abraham Lincoln worked at the Gentry store as a young man and the Lincolns slept their last night in Indiana at this location. A historical marker designates the site. Passing through mature forest, the trail returns south of S.R. 162 to the Howell Shelter. A short side trail takes you to the Weber Lake trail.
Mr Lincoln’s Neighborhood Walk (Trail 5)1.7 miModerateYoung Abe spent many hours at the Gorden Mill waiting to mill grain. This trail branches off of Trail 1 at the picnic shelter just west of the beach. You will pass the Little Pigeon Primitive Baptist Church and the gravesite of Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, the Gorden Home, and Mill sites. By connecting with Trail 1 on the south shore, you can continue around the lake. (Brochures available at the park office, Nature Center, or box office.)
Weber Lake Trail (Trail 6)1.8 miEasyThis light to moderate hike takes you along the remnant of the Troy-Gentryville Road to Weber Lake. The 1.8-mile hike consists of old field succession stands of trees, a CCC pine grove, and the newly reclaimed Weber Lake. The lake is testimony to the reclamation efforts of the DNR and federal government. Weber Lake went from a “dead” lake to one that purifies water and supports a variety of wetland plant and animal species. You may walk the levee, scale the “high wall”, and look for reminders of the old mining days while viewing wildlife species.
Trail descriptions from the park

1. LAKE TRAIL (1.5 miles) EASY—Starts at the boat rental building (CCC ranger cabin) and goes around the south shore of the lake. This is one of the oldest remaining CCC ranger cabins in Indiana. A short-side loop leads to the fire tower (CCC built, 1935). The trail returns via the dam, back to the beach area.

2. JOHN CARTER TRAIL (2.1 miles) MODERATE—John Carter was a Lincoln family neighbor. This trail starts east of the gatehouse and proceeds through beautiful pines, past an old strip mine area before connecting with Trail 1 (Lake Trail) east of the campground. A short hop across S.R. 162 from the start of this trail is the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. Stop in and talk with the interpretive staff and tour the visitors center and “living farm.” Fee required.

3. SARAH LINCOLN GRIGSBY TRAIL (1.7 miles) Moderate—Running through the Sarah Lincoln Woods Nature Preserve, this is the park’s most pristine and unusual area. You may find many prairie plants unusual to the area. The dry upland forest has many steep slopes. Sarah, Abe’s older sister died at an early age during childbirth at a nearby homestead.

4. JAMES GENTRY TRAIL (3.7 miles) MODERATE— Takes you across (north of) S.R. 162 along the northern border of the property to the site of the James Gentry home. Abraham Lincoln worked at the Gentry store as a young man and the Lincolns slept their last night in Indiana at this location. A historical marker designates the site. Passing through mature forest, the trail returns south of S.R. 162 to the Howell Shelter. A short side trail takes you to the Weber Lake trail.

5. MR LINCOLN’S NEIGHBORHOOD WALK (1.7 miles) MODERATE—Young Abe spent many hours at the Gorden Mill waiting to mill grain. This trail branches off of Trail 1 at the picnic shelter just west of the beach. You will pass the Little Pigeon Primitive Baptist Church and the gravesite of Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, the Gorden Home, and Mill sites. By connecting with Trail 1 on the south shore, you can continue around the lake. (Brochures available at the park office, Nature Center, or box office.)

6. WEBER LAKE TRAIL (1.8 miles) EASY—This light to moderate hike takes you along the remnant of the Troy-Gentryville Road to Weber Lake. The 1.8-mile hike consists of old field succession stands of trees, a CCC pine grove, and the newly reclaimed Weber Lake. The lake is testimony to the reclamation efforts of the DNR and federal government. Weber Lake went from a “dead” lake to one that purifies water and supports a variety of wetland plant and animal species. You may walk the levee, scale the “high wall”, and look for reminders of the old mining days while viewing wildlife species.

Swimming

Swimming / Beach (Policy) Lake Lincoln will close July 7, 2025 and drained in preparation for dam repairs. More information.

Boating and paddling

Boat Launch Ramp

Boating / Elect. motor only

Rental-Canoe, Paddleboat, Rowboat

Fishing

Fishing

A state fishing license is usually required.

Amenities

Facilities

  • Picnic areas
  • Nature center or museum
  • Park or camp store

Water

  • Swimming beach
  • Boat ramp

Camping

  • Tent camping
  • Primitive or backcountry camping

✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.

Getting there

Address
P.O. Box 216
Lincoln City, IN 47552
Nearest town
Huntingburg — about 13 mi south (straight line)
Coordinates
38.1112, -86.9981
Phone
812-937-4710

Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)

Directions from the park

Mapping Address: 15476 County 300 E Lincoln City, IN 47552

Nearby state parks

Sources and freshness

“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology

Report a correction for this park