Rensselaer

Rensselaer is a city in Northwestern Indiana.

Get in

By car

Rensselaer has two exits on I-65 at what is nearly the exact midpoint between Chicago and Indianapolis. The northern exit, 115, leads into the town via IN-114; the southern exit via IN-53/US-231.

By train

See also: Rail travel in the United States

• 1 Rensselaer station, 776 North Cullen Street. (updated Nov 2023)
  • Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Route stopping in Rensselaer:
    • Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.

See

Rensselaer has a typical midwestern Main Street. It also has a neogothic courthouse built in the 19th century that is on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Rensselaer is also home to St. Joseph's College, a small Catholic college that is the former summer practice home to the Chicago Bears football team and the site for part of the film "Brian's Song".

Do

• Fair Oaks Dairy Farm, 856 North 600 East Fair Oaks (Just up I-65 from Rensselaer, right off exit 220), toll-free: +1-877-536-1194. store: 7AM-6PM daily, Dairy Adventure: M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-5PM. By far the most interesting attraction in the Rensselaer area is the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm, one of the largest dairy farms in the United States. The huge farm store is alone worth the trip for its unbelievably fresh ice creams and hokey cow themed gift shop. The biggest draw, however, is the 2-3 hour Dairy Adventure, which takes you on a full tour of the farm, with a bus tour and opportunities to milk a cow yourself, watch calves being born and nursed, and some kid-oriented animated features. Dairy Adventure: $10 adults, $7 children ages 3–12. 

Sleep

Rensselaer has three hotel/motels on IN-114 just off the I-65 exit 215. There is also a nice bed & breakfast closer to its downtown.

Go next

Routes through Rensselaer

Chicago ← Dyer ←	W  E	→ Lafayette → Indianapolis
Gary ← Crown Point ←	N  S	→ Jct W E → Lafayette → Indianapolis
Crown Point ← Hebron ←	N  S	→ Jct W E → Lafayette → Owensboro