Macomb joins Amtrak summer discount program for 2026 travel season

By AI, Created 8:48 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Macomb, Illinois, has joined Amtrak Illinois’ “Your Ticket to Summer Savings” program, giving summer rail travelers discounts at participating businesses downtown and nearby. The move ties train access to Macomb’s history attractions, festivals and outdoor recreation, with Memorial Day-to-Labor Day redemption available at the Thomas C. Carper Amtrak Station.

Why it matters: - The program gives Amtrak riders a built-in incentive to stop in Macomb instead of just passing through. - The offer supports downtown businesses and tourism during the peak summer travel window. - Macomb is packaging rail access, local discounts, history, outdoor recreation and events into one short-trip destination.

What happened: - Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia and the City of Macomb joined Amtrak Illinois’ “Your Ticket to Summer Savings” program for the 2026 travel season. - Travelers who arrive at the Thomas C. Carper Amtrak Station between Memorial Day and Labor Day can show a print or digital Amtrak ticket to redeem exclusive discounts. - The discounts apply at participating businesses in downtown Macomb and the surrounding area. - Macomb is served by two daily round-trip Amtrak routes from Chicago: the Carl Sandburg and the Illinois Zephyr. - The trip from Chicago Union Station takes just over three hours.

The details: - Participating businesses include The Bird’s Nest, Bold Brew Coffee House, Chick’s On The Square, Community News & Market, Larry A’s Pizza, Macomb City Hall, Macomb Park District’s Ball Fore Mini & Park Golf, Maurices, Michael’s Hair Designers, Princess Shoppe, Spellbound Games & Toys, Sullivan Taylor Uptown, The Old Dairy, The Wine Sellers and the WIU Union Bookstore. - A map of participating businesses is available through the program materials. - Participating businesses are updated throughout the season. - A current list is available on the Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia tourism map at the tourism map. - Macombopoly is a free-to-play, app-powered game played across the real streets and storefronts of Courthouse Square. - The 170,000-square-foot game uses the Macombopoly app, powered by eATLAS. - The game honors Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie, the Macomb native whose 1903 invention became the direct predecessor to Monopoly. - Macombopoly has a 4.9-star rating and has drawn thousands of players since launch. - Macomb is a federally designated Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. - The Looking For Lincoln self-guided tour includes 10 sites tied to Lincoln’s legal career, his 1858 Senate campaign and his personal ties to the Magie family. - The tour includes the nation’s only Living Lincoln Topiary Monument, a 16-foot bust made from living, flowering plants. - Visitors can also follow the Underground Railroad heritage trail. - The city highlights the legacy of C.T. Vivian, the Macomb-born civil rights pioneer who worked with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - A 75-foot mural honors Vivian in Macomb. - Macomb has launched an America 250 trail linking these stories into a walkable experience. - Full itineraries and a digital hub are available at visitforgottonia.com/250. - Argyle Lake State Park and Spring Lake offer hiking, kayaking and biking. - The region also has disc golf courses. - The area is home to the nation’s only seven-circuit Prairie Labyrinth. - Heritage Days runs June 25-28 at Chandler Park. - The festival features live music, food trucks, a classic car show, a carnival, a community parade and an airport pancake breakfast fly-in. - Macomb’s July 4 celebration will also mark America’s 250th anniversary and McDonough County’s bicentennial with music, festivities and fireworks. - The Al Sears Music Fest returns Sept. 16-19 with performances spanning big band, rhythm and blues and early rock and roll. - Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia says the event calendar is meant to make summer travel easy for rail visitors who want history, music and outdoor activities in one stop.

Between the lines: - Macomb is leaning into a station-to-downtown model that works well for short leisure trips. - The city is also using national milestone anniversaries to connect local history with broader American heritage themes. - Macombopoly helps differentiate the destination by turning the courthouse square into an interactive attraction rather than a standard walking tour.

What’s next: - The participating-business list will continue to change during the season. - Travelers can book tickets to Macomb through Amtrak’s Midwest booking page at Amtrak.com/Midwest. - Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia says more destination information is available at visitforgottonia.com.