Things to Do in Rocky Mount NC: A Practical One-Day Itinerary

Downtown Rocky Mount gives your day a central starting point, though the specific downtown attractions and their hours can vary. If you want to choose a stop before heading on, this guide to downtown Rocky Mount covers the area.

From downtown, plan the rest of your day around the Imperial Centre, Rocky Mount Mills and Battle Park. Their addresses and details below can help you order the stops to suit your schedule.

The Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences combines the Children’s Museum & Science Center, Maria V. Howard Art Center and a theater at 270 Gay St. Check its official site before you go, especially if you are planning around opening hours, admission or a performance.

The centre is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; it is closed Monday.

Admission to the Children’s Museum & Science Center is $6 per person, with infants under 2 admitted free. The Maria V. Howard Art Center is free to visit. On Sundays, Rocky Mount residents receive free Children’s Museum admission with valid picture ID.

Theater tickets are listed at $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and students with ID, and $7 for children 12 and under. Show schedules and availability vary. At the centre, parents or guardians must accompany children at all times, and food and drinks are not allowed beyond the main lobby.

If the museum, art centre or theater is your main stop, use the Imperial Centre visitor guide to plan around the different offerings.

Rocky Mount Mills offers places to eat and drink alongside outdoor spaces by the Tar River. The campus is at 1151 Falls Road and includes the Rocky Mount Brewmill.

Campus businesses include Tipsy Tomato, The Rustler at The Mills, Goat Island Bottle Shop, River Walk Coffee Co., Fullsteam, HopFly Brewing Co., Bright Penny Brewing, Prime Smokehouse and Mixers. You can also find a beer garden, river patio, lawn, wiffle ball field and Smokestack Courtyard on the campus map.

For a break between the Imperial Centre and a walk, pick a meal or drink at the mills, then spend some time in the outdoor areas. The Rocky Mount Mills visit guide has more context for planning a stop on campus.

Battle Park has walking and mountain biking trails along the Tar River, making it an outdoor option to add when trail conditions are dry. The park covers 66 acres and is at 1300 Falls Road.

The city’s seven-mile Rocky Mount Greenway links parks near the city centre, following the Tar River through Battle Park and crossing the river into Stith-Talbert Park. Battle Park’s access includes a parking lot on Falls Road and Battle Park Lane along the park’s northern border.

Do not use the natural-surface trails when they are wet. The city advises that if it rained today or yesterday, a trail is probably closed; heavier rain or damage can keep trails closed for longer. Review the city’s trail safety rules and maps before heading out, including its Battle Park and Salamander Ridge XC/MTB trail map.

Build your Rocky Mount day around the Imperial Centre’s opening pattern, then fit in Rocky Mount Mills and Battle Park according to your schedule and the weather. The centre is closed Monday, so choose another day if its museum, art centre or theater is a priority.

For a dry-weather plan, you could visit the Imperial Centre first, take a break at Rocky Mount Mills, then finish with a walk at Battle Park. If trails are wet, skip the natural-surface trails and spend the remaining time at the centre or mills instead.

Before leaving for Battle Park, check the city’s trail information for current conditions and closures. For hours, admission and theater availability, check the Imperial Centre’s official site before you go.

How much does the Children’s Museum & Science Center cost?

Admission is $6 per person, and infants under 2 are admitted free. Rocky Mount residents receive free admission on Sundays with valid picture ID.

Is the Maria V. Howard Art Center free?

Yes. The Maria V. Howard Art Center is free to visit.

Can you walk or bike at Battle Park?

Yes. Battle Park has walking and mountain biking trails. Avoid its natural-surface trails when they are wet, and check the city’s trail information for current conditions.

What can you do at Rocky Mount Mills?

The campus has dining and drink businesses as well as outdoor areas including a beer garden, river patio, lawn and Smokestack Courtyard.