Few people realize that Lincoln Logs, one of America’s most beloved toys, was invented by the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most renowned architect.
But, regardless of their architectural roots, these charming wooden blocks have been bringing smiles to children’s faces for more than a century.
In a world filled with screens and high-tech toys, we need more toys like Lincoln Logs. Whether you’re looking to stoke your nostalgia or open the door of low-tech wonder for your little one, you can’t go wrong with these entertaining toy sets.
These durable toy sets invoke creativity and problem-solving. While you can’t go wrong with any Lincoln Log set, we’re sharing 14 of our all-time favorites.
Check them out, and let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Best overall
Our opinion
The 100th Anniversary Lincoln Log Set (check price on Amazon) will stir up some deep nostalgia for older generations while sparking fresh excitement in young ones.
You can combine all 111 pieces to create a large log meeting house, or mix them up to create two smaller log cabins, a lookout tower, and a bonfire. There are more than enough pieces to freestyle your own creations.
What we love
- Real tin container, just like the old days!
- Manual contains directions for three builds
- 111 all-wood building pieces
- Compatible with all other Lincoln Log sets
Watch for
- Today's logs are lighter in weight compared to the original logs
Best upgrade
Our Opinion
The Collector’s Edition Village (check price on Amazon) sets the stage for endless play hours. Like all Lincoln Logs, the 327 pieces in the Village Set are made from solid stained maple.
This set comes with color-coded instructions for three moderately complex building concepts and there are more than enough blocks to build a small village.
What we love
- Huge village builder’s set with an amazing 327 pieces
- Manual contains diverse model cabin selections
- Plenty of pieces for sibs or friends to help found the village
- Compatible with all other Lincoln Log sets
Watch for
- Some parents suggest there are too many pieces of one size and would prefer more variety.
Best budget buy
Our opinion
Oak Creek Lodge (check price on Amazon) can be anything you imagine it to be. Building ideas include:
- A one-room lean-to.
- An outhouse.
- A horse stall.
- A two-floor colonial-era log mansion.
With nearly 150 blocks at their disposal, your children will have no trouble building a world of their own.
What we love
- Reasonably priced set for beginners, or to add to a larger collection
- Manual contains three village cabin models
- Smaller size, 137 pieces, won’t overwhelm younger ones
Watch for
- Definitely a starter set with limited piece sizes
Best for train lovers
Our opinion
The Sawmill Train Express (check price on Amazon) will have your child thinking they’re part of a railroad boom!
This set comes with 101 pieces, including natural wood blocks, charming plastic building accessories, and an available track and train.
It also comes with lots of fun figures, including an overall-clad engineer, a cowgirl, and a horse.
What we love
- A great build-and-play set for budding engineers and conductors
- Directions to build the station building and depot
- Comes complete with track and train
- Includes figurines
Watch for
- For a broader play experience, why not consider buying two sets of this kit?
Best for farm building
Our opinion
If you’re a farmer or live near a farming community, your child will be fascinated by crop growing and farm animals. Fun on the Farm (check price on Amazon) could become their favorite building set. If your child owns other types of sets, this will make a great addition.
What we love
- Excellent addition to a larger village set
- More than 100 pieces, including a working barn door
- Comes with figurines of a farmer, farm implements, and animals
Watch for
- A bit small for maximum play value on its own
Best for cowpokes
Our opinion
Let your little ones create the wild prairies of their minds with the thrilling, 83-piece, Horseshoe Hill Station (check price on Amazon). This kit contains dozens of notched wooden pieces, a plastic roof, a door, and a flag. It also comes with a plastic cowboy and a horse.
What we love
- Ideal if your kid's a diehard horse lover
- The 83-piece stable building set pairs well with Fun on the Farm
- Three configurations with a horse and its cowboy
Watch for
- As a standalone toy, it may not keep kids entertained for long.
Best for forest lovers
Our opinion
If your kid already has several kits to make a village, why not add this Hiker’s Mountain Cabin Refuge (check price on Amazon) to the collection? Lost or injured hikers in mountains the world over find refuge in these buildings.
They come complete with food, blankets, and first aid kits. Make this tiny build an educational opportunity to study actual mountain huts. What supplies might your child include?
What we love
- Away from the town in the high forest, this mountain hut will shelter lost hikers
- 59 pieces of Lincoln Log blocks build this cozy cabin
- Easy to build, and a great addition to your child’s Lincoln Log collection
Watch for
- Too small to be a child’s only building set
How we chose these Lincoln Log sets
There aren’t many toys or building sets with the rich history and fun of Lincoln Logs. They were an immediate hit 100 years ago when they first appeared, and they’re just as popular now.
The first advertising copy featured the tagline, “Interesting Playthings Typifying the Spirit of America.” It was true in 1916 and is still true today!
The building sets we feature here are significant parts of the whole. With a large base-set of two, every gift-giving occasion cries out for an additional, more specialized set.
What to look for in a Lincoln Log set
- Age and level of coordination. Lincoln Logs are safe for almost any kid. Most small logs are about an inch long and might tempt babies and toddlers to sample the taste. What’s significant about these building sets is that almost any child can build, thanks to the notches in every piece.
- How will the child use the set? Some families will set up a large, permanent village in a basement or playroom. Others will dump all the logs on the floor and have them at it. At the end of the play session, they deconstruct their creations and put the blocks away in one container (hopefully)! If your kids are the careful planner type, they will probably want to keep the logs in each original set’s container. The way your kids play has a lot to do with what sets you’ll buy. If they’re the carefree type who dump-and-run, it might be easier to buy several of the larger base sets.
- Sustainability. Not only are Lincoln Logs an absolute hands-on toy with no electronics involved, but the wood used to manufacture them is unique in today’s plastic world. A majority, 83 percent of parts made of wood, are made in the USA. An impressive 70 percent of the wood comes from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The plastic parts are made in China.
Final verdict
Our number-one choice is The 100th Anniversary Lincoln Log Set (check price on Amazon). We see this as the Lincoln Log’s base set, the one that provides the basic structures.
There are enough pieces to start a good-sized collection, but for kids who are really into their building, investing in a second or third set may prove a good idea.
Add this set to the smaller specialized collections and your kids will have a blast creating an entire mini-civilization!
