Rockford welcomes visitors with a unique blend of arts, culture, and scenic landscapes, boasting an array of exceptional museums and gardens.
Known as the “City of Gardens,” visitors can enjoy the serene landscapes and riverside trails and strolls beside the ornamental lagoon. Rockford offers year-round contemporary music and ballet performances for the whole family’s enjoyment. Visit some of the delightful boutiques, teahouses, and art galleries and take in the picturesque greenery of the surrounding gardens. After sunset, treat yourself to a trip to the local planetarium to experience the amazing night sky in all its glory.
Rockford offers the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. Explore the list below to find some of the most noteworthy attractions you can visit during your stay in this idyllic town.
The 57 Most Popular Things To Do In Rockford, Illinois
57. Funderburg Forest Preserve
4.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Jacob Ball, Google Maps
Location: 3927 S Meridian Road Rockford IL
Web Address: http://winnebagoforest.org/
56. Nelson Knitting Company (Home of the Sock Monkey)
5.0 (2 reviews)
Location: 909 S Main Street Rockford IL
55. LIB Conservation Area
4.0 (4 reviews)
Credit: Kyle Schilling, Google Maps
Location: 5601 Newburg Road Belvidere IL
Tel: 815 547 7935
Web Address: https://bccdil.org/explore/kishwaukee-bottoms-conservation-area/lib-conservation-area/
54. The Funderburg House
5.0 (4 reviews)
Credit: The Funderburg House, Google Maps
Location: 605 N Streetate Street Belvidere IL
Tel: 815 544 8391
Web Address: https://funderburghouse.org/
53. Bell Bowl Prairie
4.2 (5 reviews)
Location: 6045 Cessna Dr Rockford IL
Tel: 815 201 2643
Web Address: https://savebellbowlprairie.org/
52. Erlander Home Museum
4.4 (8 reviews)
Credit: Roger W, License, Flickr
Location: 404 S 3rd Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 963 5559
Web Address: http://swedishhistorical.org/
51. La Paloma Gardens
4.1 (11 reviews)
Location: 3622 Brookview Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 399 0324
Web Address: http://lapalomagardens.com/
50. Severson Dells Forest Preserve
4.0 (11 reviews)
Location: 8786 Montague Road Winnebago IL
Web Address: https://seversondells.com/
49. Olson Lake
4.2 (13 reviews)
Credit: Dale Wishop, Google Maps
48. Pierce Lake
4.3 (15 reviews)
47. Levings Lake
4.4 (18 reviews)
46. Swanson Park
4.6 (27 reviews)
Credit: Lucas Schooling, Google Maps
Location: Cherry Valley Path Rockford IL
Web Address: http://rockfordparkdistrict.org/
45. Ethnic Heritage Museum
4.6 (31 reviews)
Credit: Joseph Gage, License, Flickr
Location: 1129 S Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 962 7402
Web Address: https://ethnicheritagemuseum.org/
44. Levings Park
4.6 (55 reviews)
Location: 1420 S Pierpont Ave Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8800
Web Address: https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/levings-park
43. Anna Page Park
4.8 (57 reviews)
Credit: M. Readey, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3102 N Springfield Ave Rockford IL
Web Address: https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/anna-page-park
42. BeachWatch LLC – Olson Beach
3.6 (61 reviews)
Web Address: http://beachwatch.net/
41. Oak Ridge Forest Preserve
4.6 (78 reviews)
Location: 8321 Blomberg Road Cherry Valley IL
40. Forest Preserves of Winnebago County
4.7 (79 reviews)
Location: 5500 Northrock Dr Rockford IL
Tel: 815 877 6100
Web Address: https://winnebagoforest.org/
39. Rockford Park District
4.0 (82 reviews)
Credit: M. Readey, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 401 S Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8800
Web Address: https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/
38. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House
4.8 (91 reviews)
Credit: Teemu008, License, Flickr
Location: 4646 Spring Brook Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 877 2952
Web Address: http://laurenthouse.com/
37. Olson Swedish Heritage Park
4.8 (98 reviews)
Location: 7901 Harlem Road Caledonia IL
Web Address: https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/olson-swedish-heritage-park/
36. Veterans Memorial Hall
4.6 (104 reviews)
Credit: Teemu008, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 211 N Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 969 1999
Web Address: http://veteransmemorialhall.com/
35. Deer Run Forest Preserve
4.6 (105 reviews)
Location: 5691 River Road Cherry Valley IL
Tel: 815 877 6100
34. Espenscheid Memorial Forest Preserve
4.5 (118 reviews)
Credit: Troy Bednar, Google Maps
Location: 4800 S Perryville Road Cherry Valley IL
33. Beattie Park
4.3 (131 reviews)
Credit: M. Readey, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8800
Web Address: https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/contact-us
32. Snow Park at Alpine Hills
4.3 (132 reviews)
Location: 4402 Larson Ave Rockford IL
Tel: 815 966 8737
Web Address: https://alpinehillsadventure.com/
31. Mercyhealth Sportscore One
4.3 (137 reviews)
Credit: Mercyhealth Sportscore One, Google Maps
Location: 1288 Elmwood Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 1640
Web Address: http://mercyhealthsportscore.com/sportscore-one/
30. Kishwaukee Gorge North Forest Preserve
4.7 (154 reviews)
Location: 4643 Blackhawk Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 877 6100
29. Lockwood Park & Trailside Equestrian Centre
4.6 (160 reviews)
Location: 5201 Safford Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8809
Web Address: https://lockwoodpark.com/
28. Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens
4.6 (168 reviews)
Credit: steeleman204, License, Flickr
Location: 411 Kent Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 964 2424
Web Address: http://tinkercottage.com/
27. Davis Park at Founders Landing
4.4 (184 reviews)
Credit: steeleman204, License, Flickr
Location: 320 S Wyman Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 968 5600
Web Address: https://gorockford.com/listings/davis-park-at-founders-landing/275/
26. Aldeen Golf Club
4.6 (188 reviews)
Credit: Aldeen Golf Club, Google Maps
Location: 1902 Reid Farm Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 282 4653
Web Address: http://aldeengolfclub.com/
25. Aldeen Park
4.4 (223 reviews)
Credit: Joseph Gage, License, Flickr
Location: 623 N Alpine Road Rockford IL
Web Address: https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/
24. Searls Park
4.6 (255 reviews)
Credit: Jon Nelson, Google Maps
Location: 4950 Safford Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8800
Web Address: http://rockfordparkdistrict.org/
23. Severson Dells Nature Center
4.7 (292 reviews)
Credit: Brian Thoren, Google Maps
Location: 8786 Montague Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 335 2915
Web Address: http://seversondells.org/
22. Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve
4.7 (297 reviews)
Location: 5757 Blackhawk Road Rockford IL
Web Address: https://winnebagoforest.org/preserves/kishwaukee-river/
21. Spencer Park
4.6 (300 reviews)
Credit: Janet Everett, Google Maps
Location: 899 Appleton Road Belvidere IL
20. Rockford Casino
3.8 (360 reviews)
Credit: Rockford Casino, Google Maps
Location: 610 N Bell School Road Rockford IL
Tel: 779 269 9010
Web Address: https://hardrockcasinorockford.com/
19. Martin Park
4.4 (411 reviews)
Location: Martin Memorial Park Loves Park IL
Tel: 815 987 8800
Web Address: http://rockfordparkdistrict.org/
18. Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve
4.7 (428 reviews)
Credit: shehan peruma, License, Flickr
Location: 5360 Mulford Rd. & 5801 Perryville Rd Rockford IL
Tel: 815 877 6100
Web Address: http://winnebagoforest.org/preserves/blackhawk-springs/
17. Mercyhealth Sportscore Two
4.4 (508 reviews)
Credit: Mercyhealth Sportscore Two, Google Maps
Location: 8800 E Riverside Blvd Loves Park IL
Tel: 815 987 8890
Web Address: http://mercyhealthsportscore.com/sportscore-two/
16. Sinnissippi Park
4.7 (647 reviews)
Credit: Roger W, License, Flickr
Location: 1401 N 2nd Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8858
Web Address: http://rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg
15. Baumann Park
4.7 (767 reviews)
Credit: SuburbanPhotographer, License, Flickr
Location: Cherry Valley IL
Tel: 815 332 3441
Web Address: http://cherryvalley.org/
14. Rockford City Market
4.5 (823 reviews)
Location: 116 N Madison Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 977 5124
Web Address: http://rockfordcitymarket.com/
13. Belvidere Park
4.6 (872 reviews)
Credit: Belvidere Park, Google Maps
Location: 1006 W Lincoln Ave Belvidere IL
Tel: 815 547 5711
Web Address: http://belviderepark.org/
12. Volcano Falls Adventure Park
4.4 (970 reviews)
Credit: Volcano Falls Adventure Park, Google Maps
Location: 7602 Rock Valley Pkwy Loves Park IL
Tel: 815 282 2100
Web Address: http://volcanofalls.com/
11. Rockford Speedway
4.5 (993 reviews)
Location: 9572 Forest Hills Road Loves Park IL
Tel: 815 633 1500
Web Address: https://rockfordspeedway.com/
10. Sinnissippi Gardens
4.8 (2,505 reviews)
Credit: Roger W, License, Flickr
Location: 1354 N 2nd Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8858
Web Address: https://nicholasconservatory.com/
Our Top picks
9. Rockford Art Museum
4.6 (115 reviews)
Credit: Alexbaumgarner, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 711 N Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 968 2787
Web Address: http://rockfordartmuseum.org/
8. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden
4.7 (465 reviews)
Credit: KlehmArboretum, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 2715 S Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 965 8146
Web Address: http://klehm.org/
7. Midway Village Museum
4.6 (521 reviews)
Credit: Vail Marston, License, Flickr
Location: 6799 Guilford Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 397 9112
Web Address: https://midwayvillage.com/
6. Burpee Museum of Natural History
4.7 (715 reviews)
Credit: Kranar Drogin, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 737 N Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 965 3433
Web Address: http://burpee.org/
5. Discovery Center Museum
4.8 (1,530 reviews)
Location: 711 N Main Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 963 6769
Web Address: http://discoverycentermuseum.org/
4. Hurricane Harbor Rockford
4.1 (1,934 reviews)
Credit: Cubanito, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7820 Cherryvale N Blvd Cherry Valley IL
Tel: 847 249 4636
Web Address: https://sixflags.com/hurricaneharborrockford/
3. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
4.7 (1,974 reviews)
Credit: Bryan Lee, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1354 N 2nd Street Rockford IL
Tel: 815 987 8858
Web Address: http://nicholasconservatory.com/
2. Anderson Japanese Gardens
4.7 (3,106 reviews)
Credit: Djngsf, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 318 Spring Creek Road Rockford IL
Tel: 815 229 9390
Web Address: http://andersongardens.org/
1. Rock Cut State Park
4.6 (3,319 reviews)
Credit: Lectrician2, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 7223 West Lane Road Caledonia IL
Tel: 815 885 3311
Web Address: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/pages/rockcut.aspx
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Rockford, Illinois! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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