Illinois' Charming Small Town Is A Train Lover's Paradise With Vintage Shops, Museums, And A Railroad Park

The Lincoln Highway was one of the first cross-country highways designed for automobiles in the United States, built around 1913 as cars surged into popular use. Stretching from San Francisco's Lincoln Park to New York City's Times Square, the route was a significant precursor to Route 66 — which celebrates its centennial in 2026 – as well as to the modern interstate highway system, transforming American transportation forever. Today, much of the Lincoln Highway has merged into modern roadways, but portions can still be traced through mountains, fields, and small towns across the country — from sea to shining sea. In Illinois, the "Land of Lincoln" himself, the heart of the highway traverses miles of soybean and cornfields, punctuated by small yet notable Midwest communities like DeKalb, a quaint college town with a walkable downtown and the American birthplace of barbed wire, and, 43 miles farther west, Dixon, an affordable retirement destination known for its forested trails and festivals. Equidistant between the two lies Rochelle, a historic crossroads for both railroads and highways that remains a vital nucleus for modern transportation. Its nickname, "Hub City," is immortalized in its high school mascot.

Rochelle is a Midwest oasis, rising from vast reaches of farmland at a key stop where the Lincoln Highway crosses Interstate 39, a north-south corridor leading to Rockford and onward to Wisconsin. While the highway has largely been superseded by Interstate 88, the major east-west connecting the region to Chicago, Rochelle has retained its role in Illinois commerce. Today, it offers a cozy layover for modern-day travelers. 

Downtown Rochelle is charming and walkable, with antique and vintage shops, local restaurants and bars, museums, and even a historic gas station. Nearby, one of the city's main attractions is the carefully maintained Railroad Park, a unique celebration of Rochelle's enduring role in American transportation.

Long before automobiles, the Air Line Railroad — later part of the Chicago & North Western Railway, now Union Pacific – was laid in present-day Rochelle around 1854. In 1870, the Chicago & Iowa Railroad crossed it, a line that would eventually become part of today's Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway. Although passenger service ended in 1971, freight traffic has continued at a high volume: about 80 to 90 cargo trains pass through Rochelle daily from as far away as Mexico and Canada. In 1998, the Ken Wise Rochelle Railroad Park — the first of its kind — was built at the junction, creating space for railfans and curious onlookers to watch. 

Pet-friendly and ADA-accessible, the park features benches, a covered seating area, a climbable engine (perfect for kids and photo ops), and a small museum and gift shop with train-tracking monitors and live radio dispatch audio. Locals and visitors alike gather year-round; some host viewing parties, and others even order food delivery. "It's an interesting and relaxing way to spend a day," wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer. "Trains just take your mind off everything."

Illinois' first Lincoln Highway gas station, the 1918 Standard Oil Filling Station, is maintained as a historic landmark and offers an excellent photo opportunity. Nearby, the Fire Department Museum houses Old Gertie, the town's 1924 firetruck. The Flagg-Township Museum – listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located in Rochelle's Downtown District – holds a dense collection of artifacts from the city's past. "It's unusual to find a museum full of wonderful items [from] just from one town," penned another reviewer on Tripadvisor. "Worth your time to stop." For military buffs, the Roberts Armory WWII Museum showcases an extensive private collection of U.S. armored vehicles, artifacts, and weaponry from the era. Visits are available by appointment.

Despite its Hub City status, downtown Rochelle remains a quiet Midwest town, with the Lincoln Highway acting as its main street, flanked by old brick buildings. There's ample vintage shopping and thrifting here: Pickin' Station is known for true antiques, with everything from vintage laundry machines to glassware and collectibles. Sweet Blessings features antique furniture and local artisan boutique goods, while Hope Chest operates as a traditional consignment shop, offering a wide selection of thriftable gems.

Fuel up for trainspotting at Butterfly Restaurant, a classic family restaurant-style diner serving all-day meals, including hearty skillet breakfasts and Swedish pancakes. After a day of antiquing, Acres Bistro offers a seasonal menu of locally sourced Midwestern fare, from bacon-and-beer-cheese mac to panko-crusted walleye. Aldo's Pizza, a family-owned Italian classic, has been a Rochelle staple for decades, while Las Tapatias specializes in birria tacos and Jalisco-style classics. Kennay Farms Distilling has a tasting room where you can sample locally crafted bourbon, gin, and vodka while catching occasional live music; Private tour reservations are available for groups as well. Venture just outside of downtown to a unique Rochelle hotspot, Flight Deck Bar and Grill, located at the Rochelle Municipal Airport alongside Chicagoland Skydiving Center, open April through October. Order specialty cocktails and enjoy your front-row seat to live skydiving.

Rochelle sits 25 miles south of Rockford and 80 miles west of Chicago. The closest commercial airport is Chicago Rockford International Airport, a charmingly small facility just 22 miles away, primarily serviced by Allegiant Air and American Airlines. If you're staying the night in Hub City, several hotel chains offer affordable lodging, including a Holiday Inn Express and a Comfort Inn & Suites.