With some terrific day trip options available in the surrounding area, having your own car makes good sense. Without one, it wouldn’t be half as easy to soak up all that Carlyle, 40 miles away, has to offer. West Access Marina, Governors Run Golf Course and Hazlet State Park alone justify the drive. Springfield is another popular destination. It’s 45 miles away and boasts tons of awesome things to do. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Illinois State Capitol and Lincoln Home National Historic Site are only the start.