Stay in Dekalb IL! At the center between Illinois’ biggest cities, many DeKalb hotels and AirBNBs give you thousands of rooms to choose from. When you stay in DeKalb, you’ll find a perfect mix of modern comfort and rich history. DeKalb has hundreds of local businesses, over 70 local restaurants, and Northern Illinois University. We are only 60 miles west of Chicago, 40 miles from Rockford, and 100 miles from the Quad Cities. When you stay in DeKalb IL, you’ll feel right at home.