Rocky Mount brings together a variety of visitor experiences: art and science at the Imperial Centre, trails along the river and through parks, and a restored textile mill campus. As you plan your trip, consider whether culture, nature, or a sporting event will be your main focus. This lets you explore Rocky Mount from different perspectives without reducing its individual offerings to a single theme.
Art, Museums, and History
The Imperial Centre in downtown Rocky Mount brings together an arts center, the Children’s Museum & Science Center, and a community performing arts theater. The arts center produces visual and performing arts programs, with an emphasis on art education for all ages. The Children’s Museum & Science Center features a live animal gallery, the Cummins Planetarium, temporary exhibitions, and interactive permanent exhibits. The different formats offer a variety of ways to enjoy a visit, from art and performances to hands-on exhibits.
The history of the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum also goes back a long way: founded in 1952, it was one of the first children’s museums in the United States. Those interested in the area’s cultural heritage will find another point of interest at Rocky Mount Mills. The restored campus of a 19th-century textile mill is now also associated with live music, festivals, and special events throughout the year. If such events are a deciding factor for your trip, check the dates during your planned visit.
Parks, Trails, and Water
The Rocky Mount Greenway connects a park system across seven miles. The connected parks encompass nearly 300 acres of parkland. The Greenway follows the Tar River through Battle Park. Rocky Mount also offers natural-surface trails for mountain biking, cross-country running, and hiking. For time outdoors, you can choose between the Greenway along the Tar River and the nature trails.
On the water, the Tar River Paddle Trail provides ten access points for canoes and kayaks and connects more than 55 miles of the Tar River and Stony Creek. One of the access points on the Upper Tar section is at Sunset Park. The park also has a boat ramp onto the Tar River. The Sunset Park Amusement Center is located at the same site: its seasonal offerings include a historic miniature train, an antique carousel, a spray-play water park, and a beetle-themed children’s ride. Sunset Park therefore offers both river access and seasonal rides and play attractions.
Sports and Events
The Rocky Mount Sports Complex includes six youth baseball fields, four flexible-use baseball/softball fields, and a baseball field for championship games. It also has eight soccer/football fields, a professional disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts, picnic shelters, and a walking trail. The complex’s Athletic Football Stadium hosts the Down East Viking Classic each year. If you’d like to plan your trip around this event, check the current event dates.
Getting Around Rocky Mount
Tar River Transit provides fixed-route bus service throughout Rocky Mount. Routes and schedules can change, so check the latest information before planning a specific trip. Tar River Transit offers Dial-A-Ride services for visitors with disabilities who do not live in the Rocky Mount area; eligibility requirements apply. Check these requirements if you’d like to consider the service in your plans.
For the broader travel overview: Nash.
