Team Jellie May AdventureRails, E-Bikes, Lincoln, and Late-Night Dive Bars

Team Jellie May Adventure

Rails, E-Bikes, Lincoln, and Late-Night Dive Bars

Planning a unique spring getaway? Let me walk you through our Team Jellie May Adventure — a relaxed, rail-first escape from Lansing, Michigan to Springfield, Illinois. No highway stress. No parking headaches. Just trains, Portola e-bikes, historic streets, and the kind of dive bars that don’t pretend to be anything other than what they are.

This is our Sunday-to-Wednesday Cinco de Mayo week plan.

And yes — the bikes are coming with us.

Step One: Lansing to Chicago — Early Departure

We begin bright and early at Lansing’s Amtrak station, boarding the Blue Water line around 6:45 a.m.

Coffee in hand. Sunrise through the windows. No steering wheel. No traffic.

The Blue Water runs west through Michigan farmland and small towns before arriving at Chicago Union Station just before 11:00 a.m.

Bringing the Portola E-Bikes on Amtrak

This part matters.

Amtrak allows bicycles on many routes, including the Blue Water and Lincoln Service lines. For standard bike service:

Bikes must be under 50 lbs (many folding e-bikes qualify)

Some routes require removal of batteries for transport

A small bike reservation fee typically applies

Folding bikes that meet size requirements may be treated as carry-on

Our Portola e-bikes fit the folding category, making this realistic.

That changes everything.

Instead of relying on rideshares or walking everywhere, we now have portable freedom waiting for us at every station.

Chicago Layover — Reset and Refuel

Union Station is worth the stop alone.

We stretch our legs under the Great Hall’s skylight. Grab lunch. Maybe a quick espresso. No rushing.

By noon or shortly after, we board the Lincoln Service line heading south toward Springfield.

Chicago to Springfield — Three Scenic Hours

The Lincoln Service route passes through:

Joliet

Bloomington-Normal

Open Illinois farmland

Small rail towns with classic Midwest character

Around 3:30 p.m., we step off the train at Springfield’s Amtrak Station — right downtown.

No shuttle required.

No Uber needed.

We unfold the bikes and roll.

Why Springfield?

Springfield is compact, historic, walkable — and surprisingly good for a dive-bar-meets-Lincoln-history crossover.

Early May weather:

Highs in the low 70s

Lows in the low 50s

Occasional spring rain (pack a light shell)

Perfect biking weather.

Downtown Springfield — First Ride

The Amtrak station sits just blocks from:

Old State Capitol

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Walkable pub corridor

We roll straight into history.

Historic Stops Worth the Ride

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Serious storytelling. Immersive exhibits. Surprisingly modern presentation.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Preserved 19th-century neighborhood. Quiet streets. Great photo content.

Old State Capitol

Iconic dome. Classic Illinois architecture. Easy central landmark.

History by day.

Dive bars by night.

The Dive Bar Circuit — Ranked for Atmosphere

Here’s where Springfield gets interesting.

1. Floyd’s Thirst Parlor

210 S 5th St

Downtown. Large rotating tap list. Upstairs game area. Casual and easy.

This is your “first stop” bar. No pressure. Good beer selection. Friendly energy.

2. JP Kelly’s Pub

Near the Old State Capitol

Classic Irish pub feel. Brick walls. Dim lighting. Local regulars.

Good transition bar between historic touring and late-night chaos.

3. George Rank’s

Circular bar layout. Live music nights. No-frills personality.

This one feels authentic in a way you can’t fake.

4. The Curve Inn

3219 S 6th St

Established 1932. Legendary south-side institution. Beer garden. Live music.

This is where the night either ends responsibly… or not.

Worth the short bike ride.

5. The Bird Tavern

1451 W Jefferson St

Beer garden. Shuffleboard. Affordable drinks. True neighborhood energy.

Excellent “last call” candidate.

Speakeasy Energy

Springfield has legitimate Prohibition-era roots. The city historically housed underground drinking establishments during dry periods.

While not a modern Instagram speakeasy scene, the historic architecture and older bar interiors still give you that subtle bootlegger atmosphere — especially in the downtown district.

It feels earned. Not staged.

Sample 3-Night Structure

Sunday

Arrive 3:30 p.m.

Bike loop downtown.

Dinner + Floyd’s.

Early night.

Monday

Lincoln Museum + Home.

Afternoon rest.

JP Kelly’s → George Rank’s.

Tuesday (Cinco de Mayo)

Bike the historic neighborhoods.

Find local Mexican restaurants downtown.

Evening: Curve Inn or Bird Tavern.

Wednesday

Morning coffee ride.

Lincoln selfie.

Board return train.

Why the E-Bikes Change the Trip

Without bikes:

You’re confined to walking radius

You depend on rideshares

You move slower

With folding Portola e-bikes:

Downtown to south-side bars becomes effortless

Historic neighborhoods become accessible

Sunset riverfront rides become possible

The city opens up

You’re no longer tourists.

You’re mobile locals for 72 hours.

The Rail Advantage

Driving from Lansing to Springfield would take roughly 6–7 hours.

By train:

Productive travel time

Relaxed pace

No fatigue

Built-in transition moments

Rail travel feels intentional.

It sets the tone for the entire adventure.

Why This Trip Works

✔ Direct downtown arrival

✔ Mild spring weather

✔ Historic depth

✔ Legit dive bar scene

✔ Bike-friendly city grid

✔ Manageable scale

✔ No airport chaos

It checks a surprising number of boxes.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t Chicago big-city energy.

It’s smaller. Quieter. More personal.

Springfield feels like the kind of place where:

You can explore presidential history in the afternoon…

And drink in a nearly 100-year-old bar by night.

And because we’re bringing the Portola e-bikes and riding Amtrak, the journey becomes part of the story.

That’s the real point.

Not just where we go —

But how we move through it.

Team Jellie May Adventure.

Rails. E-Bikes. Lincoln. Dive Bars.

Cinco de Mayo week just got interesting.

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