Hillcrest, IL

Hillcrest is a small farming town in north-central Illinois, about 15 miles southeast of Rockford. Reach it via I-39 Exit 104 or State Route 64. The drive from Chicago takes about 90 minutes. The town sits on gently rolling prairie at 850 feet elevation, surrounded by corn and soybean fields. Its century-old grain elevator still operates seasonally and serves as a landmark visible for miles across the flat countryside.