Discovery Center Museum
Discovery Center Museum
5
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Discovery Center is a children's science museum with more than 300 hands-on exhibits relating to the human body, simple machines, agriculture, sports, color and light, air and flight and communication. In addition, Discovery Center has an outdoor park complete with a dinosaur dig pit, sandbox, swings, slides, echo tubes, climbing structure, water play area, Secret Garden and more. The museum has garnered local, state and national recognition as one of the top children's museums in the country.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
340 reviews
Excellent
270
Very good
61
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Danielle M
Lacon, IL86 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We live in peoria about 2 hours away and ate membership reciprocated. My kids live it. We spent 5 hours and we finally had to drag them away with dinner. That is the one down side. They have no food. So, bring your own food and snacks. Otherwise, wonderful.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to rate and review us. We're always happy to host out-of-town folks and thrilled you spent 5 hours with us. We bet you were hungry! We have tried to get food vendors to have a cafe on site, but we simply do not have enough traffic all day throughout the year for businesses to invest in a cafe. We do, however, have a number of great local and chain restaurants within a 5-minute drive from us and guests are welcome to leave the museum to eat and then return for more museum fun. Simply show us your receipt when you return from eating. We hope you visit us again soon.
Written September 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
travelwiththefam
LaPorte, MN42 contributions
Jan 2020
Stopped by with our family on the way to Orlando. We had been here once before many years ago. It had improved and was so fun for everyone in or group from our infant to the grandparents. Some of our favorites were the bubble area, the tornado tube, farm area, and the list could go on. We had to limit ourselves to two hours but could of easily spent more time there.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to rate and review us. Thanks, too, for stopping by our place on your way to Orlando! We hope you had a good trip to Florida. We strive to make Discovery Center a place where people of all ages can enjoy themselves and even learn a little something. It sounds like your family did just that! Hopefully next time you are on your way through town you can spend more time with us! Thanks again.
Written September 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
005teresa
Ashton il.2 contributions
Mar 2013 • Family
i wanted to suprise my grandson so on march 9th of 2013 we took a drive 45 min to rockford to the discovery center and boy was I disappointed along with my grandson who is into anything about science and things that pertain to it theres were so many things broke dirty and where there should of been paper for things there were none he says to me maw maw i really dont care for this im disapointed i was sad to hear that and to charge me * dollars for him the same price as an adult come on. So we left and went to see JANE wow what a differnece it was interestinf very clean great lay out and we were in there for almost two hours and it was cheaper???? i think you need to go thro and fix things talk to crew about keeping paper around ect not well managed wont go back or recomend
Written March 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer S
Rockford, Illinois, United States367 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
We Love going here, we go once to twice a month (we bought the membership and bought it again this year). My kids are 3, 5, 6, & 15. They love coming here, they are playing and learning and they don't even know it. Their outside play area is Spectacular! There is an area to bring in a lunch (which we did often) they only have pop/water drink machine. They are attached to the Burpee Museum but your DC pass does not get you in there, they are attached but two different places.
I really like every couple of months they will change up different areas or have traveling attraction come in for 3 months at a time.
There are free times to come in they are different days every month, call to see what they days are. Also pick up or look up their monthly activity sheet, on different days they will have free craft or activity tables for the kids.
I really like every couple of months they will change up different areas or have traveling attraction come in for 3 months at a time.
There are free times to come in they are different days every month, call to see what they days are. Also pick up or look up their monthly activity sheet, on different days they will have free craft or activity tables for the kids.
Written January 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewKellogg
Rockford, Illinois16 contributions
This is a destination place. Your kids will spend hours here and love every minute of it. Combine this with a trip to the Burpee museum next door and you would have a full days activity. Out of town visitors looking for a weekend family trip couldn't go wrong here and for cheap.
Written April 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
binchenbinchen
Naperville, IL27 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
Clean and good value. When we visited at the 2014 Christmas Eve, there aren't many people. My daughter and I are the only audience to their planetarium. Despite that, the two staffs still work very hard and we had a wonderful discussions and learning experiences. We will come back during summer for its outdoor water park!
Written January 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your good review! We are so pleased you and your daughter had a good time here on Christmas Eve. We'd love to have you come back this summer and visit our outdoor park. We do have a nice water play area...no swimsuit necessary...just stand at the huge water trough and play with nozzles to spray water, watch toy boats come down the flume and more. There is also a cave, dinosaur dig pit, 2-story wooden maze, swings, slides and much more!
Thanks again for the review!
Written January 26, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
eric j
Kenosha, WI118 contributions
May 2014 • Family
This is a fantastic place for recreation for kids in Rockford. Wish we had an exact copy where we live. There are indoor and outdoor areas, both well equipped with things kids can get their hands on and experiment. The planetarium show was also much appreciated.
Written May 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Woodguy21
Casa Grande, AZ213 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
We have visited here with our grandchildren each time we visit Rockford and there is always something NEW to see and do. The kids are always anxious to visit and enjoy the various exhibits. Even adults can learn a lot of things. You should consider a membership as a gift for your family. It is a REAL VALUE!
Written May 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuxeMama
Lake Zurich, IL178 contributions
What a great museum for all ages! Two families with kids ranging in ages of 3-11 took the trip from Lake Zurich to Rockford to enjoy this little gem of a place. I had avoided it for so long due to the 1.5 hour ride but I have to say it was so worth it. Fun, dynamic, hands-on, diverse, modern and clean! Highly recommend it. Just beware if you are taking 90 West to get there, it's a construction nightmare so plan accordingly!
Written May 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wingsofjoy77
Lena140 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
Something here for everyone .. the little boys enjoyed the car they could be mechanics on, and they enjoyed playing with their mom in the playhouse. Fun with a quilt will interest grandma, and lots of scientific fun that will interest dad and grandpa. Put yourself inside a giant bubble ... play water games with each other, climb through the maze staircase ... tons of fun for everyone!
Written April 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is fee for a day visit?
Michael R
Rockford, IL
Admission is $9/person. It is free to museum members and to children ages 1 and younger. A 1-year membership is $90.
Thisisnot M
Philippines1 contribution
How much is a family pass?
Michael R
Rockford, IL
A family pass begins at $90 and is good for 1 year.
Would a 10-year-old boy enjoy this
Dawn F
Sugar Valley, GA12 contributions
This discovery center has fun for nearly every age and enough variety and diversity that areas may remain favorites each visit but the activity that grabs their attention enough to spend their time exploring is different. So many subjects are covered I hear often ,"Look, I don't remember that before."
_tammijonesrn
Edwardsville, IL7 contributions
I am thinking of bringing my 10 and 14 year old to the museum. Are they too old to enjoy the activities? I have heard it may not be of interest to an older child.
Would adults have fun at the museum?? Or is it geared more for kids?
Michael R
Rockford, IL
Hello! Discovery Center is a children's science museum, but because of the science-related exhibits and content, many adults find our museum interesting and fun as well. We see people here on dates or in groups for something fun to do. And, as someone else stated, the Rockford Art Museum and Burpee Museum of Natural History are also located on our museum campus.
I have never been to this Rockford Museum but have experience working at the Madison's children Museum .I am a teenager,and I was wondering are there any open opportunities . I would love to look at the Museum.
Michael R
Rockford, IL
Thanks for your interest in Discovery Center. Are you looking for employment or just checking out the museum?
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Claim your listingDiscovery Center Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery Center Museum
- Discovery Center Museum is open:
- Tue - Sun 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Hotels near Discovery Center Museum:
- (0.75 mi) Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront
- (0.42 mi) Lafayette Hotel
- (6.28 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Rockford
- (6.16 mi) Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Rockford
- (6.24 mi) Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Rockford
- Restaurants near Discovery Center Museum:
- (0.16 mi) Lucerne's Fondue & Spirits
- (0.28 mi) Prairie Street Brewing Co
- (0.26 mi) Marys Place
- (0.67 mi) Social Urban Bar and Restaurant
- (0.43 mi) Octane RKFD
Discovery Center Museum Information
Excellent Reviews | 270 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 61 |
Discovery Center Museum Photos | 85 |