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Michigan Guides

Oakland County · Metro Detroit

Rochester & Rochester Hills city guide hub

Main Street charm, Meadow Brook Hall and the Paint Creek Trail.

Visit the Rochester & Rochester Hills Guide

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About Rochester & Rochester Hills

Rochester and Rochester Hills function as one destination with two municipalities. Rochester is the small, historic city with the Main Street shopping and dining district; Rochester Hills is the larger suburban community that surrounds much of it.

The area's landmarks are unusually good for its size. Meadow Brook Hall, the Dodge-Wilson family mansion, sits on the Oakland University campus and is one of the largest historic homes in the country. The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm covers the area's agricultural history.

Outdoors, the Paint Creek Trail runs north out of downtown Rochester along an old rail line, and the Clinton River corridor threads green space through both communities. Downtown Rochester's winter light display draws visitors from across the region.

What Rochester & Rochester Hills is known for

  • Meadow Brook Hall
  • Oakland University
  • Downtown Rochester's Main Street
  • The Paint Creek Trail
  • Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm
  • The downtown holiday light display

Neighborhoods and areas

  • Downtown Rochester
  • Van Hoosen / Stoney Creek
  • Older Farms (Rochester Hills)
  • Great Oaks

Rochester & Rochester Hills questions, answered

Are Rochester and Rochester Hills the same city?
No. They are two separate, adjacent municipalities in Oakland County that share a name, a school district area and a common identity.
What is Meadow Brook Hall?
A historic mansion built by Matilda Dodge Wilson, now a museum and event venue on the Oakland University campus.
Where does the Paint Creek Trail go?
It runs roughly eight miles north from downtown Rochester toward Lake Orion along a former rail corridor, popular with walkers and cyclists.

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