Sterling, Illinois
Welcome to the Rock River Valley.
Two hours west of Chicago, and a lot calmer for it. Here's the guide.
Freshly checked August 2026 ✓
Quick info
The basics
MacLean Mallard Sterling
101 Mallard Rd, Sterling, IL 61081
- Local time
- —
- Usually open
- Mon–Fri, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Parking
- Front lot on Mallard Road. Visitor spaces are near the office door.
Check-in
You'll check in at the front desk
No kiosk here yet — the front desk will sign you in and hand you a badge.
Want travel times from where you are? 📍
We can show how long it'll take to reach the facility, dinner, your hotel, and more. We only use it right now — nothing gets stored.
You made it. Now what?
Simple arrival. Park up front and sign in.
- 1
Park up front
Front lot on Mallard Road, visitor spaces near the office.
- 2
Find the office door
Office entrance at the front of the building.
- 3
Check in
Sign in at the desk and you'll get a visitor badge. Keep it visible.
- 4
Shop floor rules
Safety glasses and closed-toe shoes if you're heading past the office. We keep loaners at the desk.
Safety
What to wear on the floor.
Standard PPE for this plant. Pack it or plan to borrow it.
Required PPE
Before you head past the office, you'll need:
- Safety vest
- Safety shoes
- Hearing protection
Loaners are usually available at the front desk — ask when you check in.
Getting here
Let's get you here.
Quad Cities
Closest commercial airport and an easy drive east on the highway.
Chicago Rockford
Limited schedule, but a short and simple drive when it works.
Rental car, no question 🚗
Rideshare is thin here. Pick up a car at whichever airport you fly into.
All drive times are approximate — traffic gets a vote.
Stay
Sleep well.
A few places we'd recommend when you're in town.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Rock Falls
Concur Most Preferred and the standard stay for this site, right across the river.
Tru by Hilton Dixon
Concur Most Preferred. Fifteen minutes down the river when Rock Falls is full.
Book through Concur — it stays the system of record.
Eat & drink
Hungry?
Short list, honest food.
Candlelight Inn
Where locals go for a proper sit-down dinner. Comfortable and on-budget.
Los Compadres
Fast, generous portions, and hard to spend fifteen dollars.
Rock River Junction
Casual, big tables, easy when there's a crew of you.
Kelly's Bakery & Cafe
Good stop on the way in for coffee and something warm.
Got some time?
Got some time?
If you've got a free evening, here are a few places worth checking out.
Sinnissippi Park & riverfront
Riverside path and a bike trail. Nice way to unwind after work.
Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home
Small, well-done historic house in Dixon. Quick and genuinely interesting.
Useful nearby
Need something?
Kroger
Closest full grocery run.
Walgreens
For anything you forgot to pack.
Good to know
A few things the locals know.
Winter roads
Open country means blowing snow and drifting. Check conditions before driving in from the airport.
Fuel
Fill up in Sterling. It's a long stretch of two-lane in every direction.
Chicago drive
Two hours east on I-88 if you're connecting through O'Hare. Add an hour in rush.
Local tip
Sterling and Rock Falls are twin towns across the river. Everything is five minutes away.
Ready to make it official?
Book your flight, hotel, and transportation through Concur.
Go to ConcurSafe travels.