Cracker Barrel — Rockford

Conveniently located where I90 and I39 meet up here in NW Rockford, you'll access this southern comfort cookery within 3 minutes of exiting either major highway that runs through here. That said, if you are just looking for a piece of pavement to call home for the night, you will have to carefully navigate this somewhat smaller parking lot, where generally the place (like most Cracker Barrels) are fairly jam packed.

Inside, you'll find very friendly staff exhibiting Midwestern hospitality and a warm welcome. Of course, you'll be overwhelmed the moment you walk into the restaurant by the menagerie of knick-knacks that you didn't think you needed that is covering every inch of the interior retailer. Of course, you'll find southern fare served up fairly quick and economical here and the restrooms during our stop were very clean and well organized. 

If you are looking to grab a slice of nature nearby, head just northwest to Rock Cut SP - which IMHO is likely one of the very best SPs here in the Land of Lincoln offering up not 1, but 5 different campgrounds -  where you can launch canoe or kayak from here into Pierce Lake and do some decent fishing.  And if being on the water isn't your thing, you can hike for miles on the trails here.

In the event that you are hankering for something other than down home cooking and want something quick and easy, nearby you’ll find: Steak & Shake, Machine Shed, Chick-fil-A and Thunder Bay Grill. Want to load up on groceries and supplies? Well, you are in luck as less than a mile from here you’ll be able to access CostCo, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Gordon Food, Lowe's and Home Depot.

And while parking overnight here at this Cracker Barrel might be a good idea in a pinch when you are tired or it's too late, if you were looking for something with more space or for a longer stay, check out Thousand Trails Pine Country, Holiday Acres Camping Resort, Northwoods RV Resort or the previously mentioned Rock Cut SP, where they have 5 different campgrounds as well as cabin offerings that you can land your RV at or near.

Happy Overnighting!