Shoemaker's Travel Center in Lincoln, Nebraska

Shoemaker’s Travel Center: A Historic Stop on US Route 6 in Lincoln

When travelers think about memorable stops along Historic US Route 6, they often picture classic diners, friendly faces, and places that tell a story. In Lincoln, Nebraska, Shoemaker’s Travel Center has earned that reputation over decades of welcoming visitors from across America. It was featured as the December 2022 Location of Interest on the homepage of the US Route 6 Tourist Association, and it remains a destination worth discovering today.

More Than a Truck Stop

For generations of Nebraskans, the phrase “Meet me at Shoemaker’s” has needed no explanation. Since opening on West O Street in 1967, Shoemaker’s has become one of Lincoln’s best known gathering places for local residents, professional drivers, and road trippers alike. The current travel center opened across the street in 2009 with expanded facilities while maintaining the family atmosphere that made the original location famous.

Located along US Route 6 and just off Interstate 80, Shoemaker’s is an ideal stop whether you’re crossing Nebraska or exploring Lincoln and its surrounding attractions.

A Celebration of Highway History

One of the most unique features inside Shoemaker’s Travel Center is its impressive collection of antique gas pumps, vintage service station memorabilia, and transportation artifacts. Walking through the building feels like stepping into a museum celebrating the golden age of American highway travel.

Visitors can also admire a hand painted mural depicting the entire journey along Historic US Route 6 from Massachusetts to California. The artwork celebrates the communities, landscapes, and history that have made America’s longest historic highway such a remarkable travel experience. The travel center has even received recognition for its interior design, including an honorable mention from Convenience Store News and praise from AAA Online Magazine as a “Trendy Truck Stop.”

A Favorite Stop for Travelers

Shoemaker’s continues to offer exactly what travelers need after a long day on the road.

Guests will find:

Comfortable restaurant serving homestyle meals
Twenty four hour convenience store
Fuel for cars, trucks, and RVs
ASE certified service center
Antique transportation displays
Free WiFi
Clean restrooms and showers
Truck parking and traveler amenities

Whether you’re stopping for breakfast before continuing west or taking a well deserved break while exploring Nebraska, Shoemaker’s has built its reputation on friendly service and dependable hospitality.

Discover Lincoln While You’re Here

Because Shoemaker’s sits along Historic US Route 6, it also serves as an excellent starting point for exploring Lincoln.

Nearby attractions include:

Nebraska State Capitol
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Historic Haymarket District
Museums, parks, and local restaurants
Historic neighborhoods along US Route 6

Many visitors discover that what begins as a fuel stop often becomes an opportunity to spend the day exploring Nebraska’s capital city.

Why It Was Chosen as a Location of Interest

The US Route 6 Tourist Association highlights places that preserve the character and spirit of America’s historic highway.

Shoemaker’s Travel Center represents everything that makes US Route 6 memorable:

Family owned hospitality
Rich transportation history
Preservation of highway heritage
Support for travelers
A genuine sense of community

It is the kind of place where stories are exchanged over coffee, travelers meet people from across the country, and the history of American road travel is proudly displayed for everyone to enjoy.

Plan Your Visit

If your Historic US Route 6 adventure brings you through Nebraska, make time to stop at Shoemaker’s Travel Center in Lincoln. Browse the remarkable collection of vintage gas pumps, enjoy a hearty meal, admire the Route 6 mural, and experience one of the highway’s most welcoming destinations.

Some stops simply provide fuel.

Shoemaker’s provides memories, history, and a reminder that the best road trips are about the people and places you discover along the way.

Shoemaker’s Travel Center has been welcoming travelers for nearly six decades, offering family hospitality, transportation history exhibits, a restaurant, fuel, and services while celebrating Historic US Route 6 through its unique murals and memorabilia.