Top Tips for Visiting Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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Best Tips for Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
One of Ohio’s main attractions is Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and after finally stopping in, I can see why! This place was amazing. The museum had a great mix of audio, visual, and interactive exhibits and they were all well done. But it’s also so much more than that. During your visit, you can learn and play several instruments, create a sticker for your new band, enjoy the Power of Rock Experience, and of course see the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame itself. This stop is definitely worth a visit in my opinion, even if you are not a gigantic music fan. Get ready for a rockin’ good time with our top tips for visiting Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Is Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Dog Friendly?
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is NOT dog-friendly, so you will need to make other arrangements for your pup during your visit.
See our tips for leaving your dog alone in a new place so you don’t have to miss out on any non-dog-friendly stops.
What is Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a museum dedicated to the history of Rock and Roll. Inside, you can also find a restaurant, gift shop, and of course the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame itself. This is a stop with exhibits and activities for all ages including an area where you can jam out on different instruments and become a mini rock star yourself.
Where to Stay When Visiting Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland is one of Ohio’s cities with an international airport, which means you will find a nice selection of places to stay. Camp in one of the city’s Metroparks or choose a hotel or private vacation rental in an area of your choice.
Campsites Near Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
If you are looking to camp during your stay, there are several campgrounds just outside the city where you can tent camp, bring your RV, or rent a cabin:
- Streetsboro/Cleveland KOA– starts around $50 per night (pet-friendly)
- American Wilderness Campground– $35 per night (pet-friendly with an extra fee)
- Willow Lake Park– starts at $35 per night (pet-friendly)
Hotels Near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Use our booking.com link to find the best hotel for your vacation!
Booking.comWhere to Eat When Visiting the Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
If you end up getting hungry during your visit to Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there’s a restaurant onsite! The All-Access Café is on the first floor just to the left of the main entrance. The café carries a large grab-and-go area, as well as a coffee shop, beer and wine bar, as well as other made-to-order meals such as pizza and burgers. Tip: the pizza is the best deal if you need to feed several people.
If you want to leave the Hall of Fame to grab a meal, there are tons of restaurants in and around the city of Cleveland. Here are of few within walking distance:
For a special treat, consider driving about 10 miles east to eat at the Haunted Horror Restaurant for a unique dining experience, perfect for horror fans.
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a museum, hall of fame, and concert venue all rolled into one. This attraction has 5 floors full of exhibits, interactive activities, films, and more. Play music-themed pinball, give an impromptu performance on a variety of instruments, or make a cool band sticker to commemorate your visit. No matter the age group, there’s something of interest for everyone!
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Price and Hours
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours are usually 10 am – 5 pm, however, they occasionally have extended hours depending on the season. Adult tickets cost $35 a person though there are multiple discount opportunities available. They are based on where you live, what hotel you are staying at, memberships, your career, and more.
It’s important to note that tickets are not sold on-site, so you will have to purchase them online. When you purchase your tickets, you will also need to choose a time slot for your arrival. If you are not sure when you will arrive, you can purchase your tickets online once you are there. But keep in mind that if you do decide to wait to purchase your tickets, there is a chance that the different time slots for entry may be filled if it’s a busy day.
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Gift Shop
The gift shop inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a little bit of everything and is perfect if you are a music lover. Stop in to buy your typical souvenirs like t-shirts, postcards, and key chains. This is also where you can purchase countless records, band posters, and books about (and written by) your favorite musicians.
How Long Can You Spend at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
This museum can take anywhere from several hours to the entire day depending on how busy it is and how much time you want to spend at each exhibit and activity. When you look online, most people recommend that you plan on spending around 2- 3 hours walking through the entire museum.
Personally, I recommend that you set aside closer to 4 hours so you will have time to enjoy all the exhibits and activities available. If you are going with someone who is super into music, be prepared to be there all day.
Top Tips for Visiting Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
If you are planning your visit to Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there are a few important things to know beforehand so you can relax and enjoy yourselves:
- Parking is NOT included. You will have to pay for parking at one of the surrounding paid parking lots or meters. It will be helpful to look up different parking options ahead of time.
- Tickets can NOT be bought inside the Hall of Fame. You will have to purchase your tickets online.
- This is a CASH-FREE venue. This means you will need to bring a credit/debit card or a different type of mobile payment. The plus side is most of the activities here are free!
- Break up the museum portion on Level 0. There is a ton to see and it can be overwhelming. Take a break and spend some time on the other floors before heading back to finish exploring the exhibits if you find yourself needing a break.
- If you are looking for a budget-friendly meal for a couple of people- get the pizza in the All Access Cafe!
With these tips, you will be all set to enjoy a fun and interactive day learning about the history, evolution, and effects of Rock N Roll!
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum is spread out and separated into 6 different levels. The building is pyramid-shaped, so each floor will get increasingly smaller as you go up. The main entrance is on Level 1 and they recommend that visitors start at 0 and make their way to the top. However, if it is busy, they recommend starting at level 2 and leaving Level 1 until the end.
I love reading all of the signs and looking at everything but found doing all of the exhibits on Level 0 at once overwhelming. If you are like me, take a break when your mind starts getting full and move to the 2nd floor. When you are ready to take more information in, you can always go back to the bottom floor and pick up where you left off with your mind fresh and open to taking more information in.
Rock and Roll Museum Level 0
The lower level or Level 0 is where most of the museum exhibits are and where you will probably spend the majority of your time. This main exhibition hall will cover everything Rock and Roll.
On this floor, you will get to learn the different types of music Rock N Roll evolved from and get to hear snippets of individual songs that led to this popular new music genre. There is even a section where you can listen to parts of over 500 songs that shaped the rock and roll movement.
After seeing where Rock N Roll came from, you will start hearing about the top legends of Rock N Roll starting with founding artists like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley and leading up to more recent musicians like Jimi Hendrix, and the Rolling Stones.
After exploring different artists, the museum takes time to explore the most influential cities in the musical movements that grew from Rock N Roll like Detroit’s Motown, Philadelphia’s Soul music, and even Seattle’s Grunge scene.
Throughout the entire level, you can see different stage props, costumes, and instruments from top artists. This floor is also where the temporary exhibits will be like the Beetles and Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.
Level 0 in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum does a fantastic job showing how music has played (and still plays) an important role in society. I enjoyed seeing the progression of music over the years and how Rock and Roll influenced all the different genres, even country music.
Rock and Roll Museum Level 1
Level 1 is the floor you are on when you first walk into the museum. This is where you will find the gift shop, customer service, and information desk, as well as the restaurant. This main floor is also where many of the concerts are held.
Rock and Roll Museum Level 2
Musicians and the young at heart will love Level 2. This floor is all about hands-on fun. There are two musician-themed Pin Ball machines that are free to play as well as the “Garage”. The garage is where you can pick up an instrument (or grab a mic) and participate in an impromptu jam session or just learn the basics of playing different instruments.
Just outside the Garage is where you can put your artistic abilities to the test and design a FREE sticker for your band! We had fun creating a sticker for our imaginary band “Wagn Tails N Wanderlust”. I thought the name was perfect for us! Once you finish your design, it will print out 2 stickers, one to take home and one so you can leave your mark on one of the walls.
Rock and Roll Museum Level 3
To see the actual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you will want to go up to Level 3. This is where you will get to see not only the Hall of Fame, but also the Inductee Signature Gallery, New Inductee Exhibits, and the In Memoriam.
There are films, photos, song clips, and memorabilia from all of the different artists that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame over the years. There is also a station where you can vote for the musician of your choice in the upcoming Hall of Fame awards.
The Hall of Fame area is just outside the theater for the Power of Rock Experience. This is where they play highlights of different performances at the Induction ceremonies over the years. This 15-minute film plays throughout the day so you will have plenty of opportunity to watch it during your visit.
Rock and Roll Museum Level 4
Level 4’s main attraction is a large replica of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” from their 1990 performance in Berlin. There is a small snack station here where you can purchase drinks and food with a small seating area where you can relax and take your time enjoying the art.
This floor also has a short film that runs in the Foster Theater. This 30-minute film covers segments from the 38 years of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. This film provides an entertaining overview of the most popular during the time that the TV show was running in the USA.
Rock and Roll Museum Level 5 and 6
The top level (5) of the museum has the “Legends of Rock” where you will see artists who inspired, created, and were greatly influenced by Rock ‘n Roll over the years. This floor is full of artists’ stage costumes and instruments. As you walk through you will get to see how even the stage props and outfits changed over the years. You will also get to see how artists were able to use them to display their individual personalities.
We loved going through this floor and spotting our favorite artists from over the years. Take your time and go down memory lane as you read different stories and see infamous items from the past. You will see rappers, country music singers, pop artists, etc. It’s amazing to see how rock n roll helped to shape almost every single artist we have today.
There is a smaller additional exhibit, up a flight of steps from this floor. It is separated with a warning about graphic content so those with small children will know to skip this area. This space is divided into 4 displays, each with a video and a few additional props that commemorate an influential artist in Rock and Roll history.
Helpful Reminder
Don’t forget that you can move between the floors freely, which is great in case you need a break, or the line is too long for an activity. It worked out perfectly as we had just missed the start of the Power of Rock Experience so we were able to go play pinball one floor down while we waited for the next one.
Nearby Attractions:
For ideas of places to visit in and around Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, check out these stops.
Attractions Near Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Cleveland Zoo
- Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick
- The Haunted Horror Restaurant
Attractions Near Cleveland Ohio
If you are visiting Toledo, Ohio we have plenty of posts full of different activities you are sure to enjoy!
Dog-friendly Attractions near Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
- Worden’s Ledges
- Bridal Veil Falls (Bedford Reservation)
- DogHouse Hotel and Brewery
- Troll Hole Museum
Why You Should Visit Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more than just your typical museum. The graphics throughout the museum are made so you can either easily scan as you walk through or take your time to read more details about the subject. And there are plenty of things to keep the attention of non-readers as well. From music clips, short films, instruments, props, and costumes there is so much to look at!
What’s even more fun is that they have an entire area where you can live out your Rockstar dreams. If you have ever wanted to try an instrument or have dreamed of giving an impromptu concert, now is your chance! Personally, I like music but am not a hardcore fan and I still enjoyed learning and seeing the history and evolution of Rock and roll. My husband and brother (who are BIG music fans) poured over the information throughout the museum and loved the whole experience.
For years after moving to Ohio, I had heard about Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and how my husband and I should visit. The only issue was that no one really told us WHY it was worth the 2–3-hour drive. After finally taking the time out to see this attraction, I can totally see why people recommended that we go. If you are traveling through or near Cleveland, this stop is totally worth it!
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