Rockingham County, also known as North Carolina’s North Star, is a place of family fun and outdoor adventure. There are plenty of opportunities for playing outside here, from cycling, lake paddling, and hiking, to nature exploring in one of the many parks, or even going to street fairs, festivals, and local events.
There’s always something to celebrate here, whether it’s a historical event, different water sports, or just the fun and joy of getting to explore this amazing and resourceful county. Start planning your trip by learning more about the best things to do in Rockingham County, North Carolina.
1. Mayo River State Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Mayo River State Park offers the amenities that you can expect at a state park. It covers 1092.7 hectares (2,700 acres) of land and has several access areas. The Mayo Mountain access, also the park’s interim facility, opened to the public in April 2010 and features several facilities for fun outdoor recreation. This access has a pavilion-style picnic shelter, fishing ponds, several hiking trails, a small picnic area, and restrooms.
Organized groups can request group camping events in the park’s office. Other popular access areas of Mayo River State Park include Deshazo Mill, Anglin Mill, Hickory Creek, and Mayodan access.
Mayo River State Park
Address: 500 Old Mayo Park Road, Mayodan, NC 27027
Website: Mayo River State Park
Opening hours: Nov - Feb: 8am - 6pm; Mar - Apr: 8am - 8pm; May - Aug: 8am - 9pm; Sep - Oct: 8am - 8pm (closed on Christmas Day)
2. Autumn Creek Vineyards
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Come out today from 2- 5:30! We will have live music on our lawn! All ages welcomed! We have a cash bar selling wine, beer, water, and soda!
Posted by Gioia dell'Amore Cellars at Autumn Creek Vineyards on Saturday, June 6, 2020
Whether you simply want to enjoy wine, celebrate a perfect wedding, or have a rewarding getaway, Autumn Creek Vineyards in the rolling countryside of Rockingham County can accommodate you. It houses a tasting room open every Friday through Sunday that hosts the sampling of its 11 award-winning wines. Autumn Creek’s selections from big bold red to light and dry white wines cater to every selective taste.
The vineyard is often picked as a location for weddings, receptions, and other social occasions. Its elegant and rustic pavilion that can welcome 300 seated guests, not to mention the shaded oak trees, lawn, gazebo, barrel room, and outdoor bar, can make any occasion special. There are also cabins that can be rented out for weekend getaways, romantic honeymoons, and anniversary celebrations.
Autumn Creek Vineyards
Address: 364 Means Creek Road, Mayodan, NC 27027
Website: Autumn Creek Vineyards
Opening hours: Fri: 1pm - 6pm; Sat: 11am - 6pm; Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed from Mon - Thu)
3. Haw River State Park
A visit to Haw River State Park comes with an invitation to explore and get your body moving. While you are in the park, you can choose between three easy trails and a 3.2 mile (5.1 km) public trail, that was inaugurated last year. Any of these trails will take you through different scenic routes, where you will be able to admire the wildlife of the park, along with views of wetlands, swamps, bridges and the headwaters of Haw River.
This is a perfect activity for the whole family, with many opportunities for quality time and teachable moments.
Haw River State Park
Address: 339 Conference Center Dr, Browns Summit, NC 27214
Website: Haw River State Park
4. Belews Lake
Belews Lake is a reservoir of cooling water for four of North Carolina’s counties, Stokes, Rockingham, Guilford and Forsyth. This area has plenty to do and see. You can try one of the hiking trails in the area, visit the surrounding waterfalls and parks or choose the indoors and visit some of the Rockingham museums.
For nature lovers and sports enthusiasts, there are also opportunities for horseback riding or golf courses.
Carolina Marina on Belews Lake
Address: Stokes / Rockingham / Guilford / Forsyth counties, North Carolina, United States
Website: Carolina Marina on Belews Lake
5. Museum and Archives of Rockingham County
On a break from the incredible outdoors of Rockingham County, visit the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County, for a lesson in culture, community and history. Here, you’ll get to see the decades of work by a group of locals and the artifacts and archival records they’ve managed to restore and organize. It is a great place to visit in Rockingham to understand its history and get a grasp of bygone times, in an interactive and meaningful way.
Museum and Archives of Rockingham County
Address: 1086 NC Hwy 65, Reidsville, NC 27320
6. Catch a classic at the Eden Drive-in Movie Theatre
What better way to enjoy a family night out than catching a classic drive-in flick? A popular haunt for local families, the Eden Drive-in Movie Theatre is a single-screen drive-in that shows second-run films at discounted prices. There’s also a snack bar so that you can fill up on popcorn and hot dogs during the movie. A great way to get some classic entertainment while enjoying a good old-fashioned drive-in experience!
Eden Drive-in Movie Theatre
Address: 106 Fireman Club Rd, Eden, NC 27288, USA
Website: Eden Drive-in Movie Theatre
7. Fill up on comfort food at Mom's Kitchen
Considered one of the best places to eat in Rockingham County, Mom’s Kitchen serves up Southern-stye comfort foods - steak cheese melts, corned beef hash, brisket, and more. Check it out for lunch or dinner and enjoy a lovely atmosphere, with friendly hosts and warm conversation. Just like when you’re at Mom’s!
Mom's Kitchen
Address: 8403 NC-87, Reidsville, NC, USA
Website: Mom’s Kitchen
8. Roll down to the Roll-A-Bout Skating Center
Who doesn’t love speeding about on a pair of roller skates? The Roll-A-Bout Skating Center offers sleek roller skating rinks for your whole family to get slipping and sliding in style. If you’re lucky, you might catch one of their theme nights, frequently organised throughout the year.
Roll-A-Bout Skating Center
Address: 1023 S. Van Buren Rd. Eden, NC
Website: Roll-A-Bout Skating Center
9. Freedom Park
You can visit Freedom Park, in Eden, at any hour of the day, since it is open from morning until sunset. The park is perfect for a leisure filled day - it still has plenty of activities you can do, but also lots of space to just sit and relax in the middle of nature. The park covers 58 acres (23.5 hectares) of land and offers walking trails, places where you can enjoy a picnic on the grass or on one of the on-site picnic tables, volleyball courts and a playground.
Freedom Park
Address: 121 N Edgewood Rd, Eden, NC 27288
Website: Freedom Park
10. Eden Historical Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
It would be a shame to leave Rockingham County without digging a little deeper into the area’s history. That’s why we recommend a visit to the Eden Historical Museum. The museum tells Eden’s history, from ancient, prehistoric times to 1967, when Leaksville, Spray, and Draper united to form one city - the Eden we know today.
Whether you are a local or not, this is a great chance to take a walk down history lane and see how people used to live, in the area, hundreds of years ago and what the places you visit today used to look like.
Eden Historical Museum
Address: 656 Washington St, Eden, NC 27288
Website: Eden Historical Museum
Rockingham County - A family-fun destination
Rockingham County is one of North Carolina’s most family-oriented vacation destinations. Pretty much everything in the list above can be enjoyed with loved ones and is kid-friendly. When it comes to children, Rockingham offers an interactive, educational, but also fun and enjoyable experience.
So, next time you consider taking the family on a fun trip, definitely put Rockingham County on your list!
Frequently asked questions about the best things to do in Rockingham County, North Carolina
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