the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ohio
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
On the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, a familiar pyramid stands as a temple not to ancient pharaohs or sun gods, but to the gods and goddesses of rock and roll. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s hallowed halls stand in tribute to the greats of rock music and serve as the focal point of a bucket-list pilgrimage for anyone who has rock music in their veins.
There’s enough at the museum to keep rock fans busy for days, and the city of Cleveland is begging to be explored. As you plan your trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, have you considered how an RV rental just might be the best way to see not just the museum, but everything Cleveland has to offer?
With an RV of your own, you’ll have the best of both worlds: transportation into the city for the museum, plus a mobile campground so you can get out of the hustle and bustle and into the quiet peace of a campground. Here’s everything you need to know to plan a trip by RV to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio.
It almost goes without saying, but the number one reason to visit the museum is to see the Hall of Fame itself. Located on the third floor of the facility, the Hall of Fame contains the signatures of every band and musician ever inducted into the organization’s long history. See the signatures of rock grandfathers like Chuck Berry, James Brown, and Ray Charles. Explore classic rock favorites like Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and much more.
Of particular note in the Hall of Fame is the dedicated exhibitions created around each year’s new class of inductees. In 2020, that was Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., and T. Rex. You’ll get a chance to see memorabilia and artifacts from each of these all-time greats and others, including tour gear, clothing items, instruments, and more.
The main permanent museum exhibition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is dubbed “Sonic History,” and it takes visitors through the long history of rock music, from its early roots into the many offshoots and movements within the genre over the past 70 years. It all starts with the Roots of Rock area, which takes a look at rock’s earliest influences and the trailblazers that defined the burgeoning genre once thought of as only “teen music.” Cities and Sounds takes a close look at several different cities and the specific flavors of rock they inspired, like Motown in Detroit, grunge from Seattle, and punk from New York City.
Legends of Rock houses the museum’s permanent collection of all-star memorabilia and explores the major impact on rock and roll music left by the absolute behemoths of rock music. See and hear samples from the catalogs of all-time greats like the Beatles, David Bowie, and The Supremes and relive hallmark moments from rock’s history. It’s Been Said All Along explores rock and roll as a medium for resistance and revolution and the genre’s impact on social justice through the decades. Finally, Right Here Right Now is an always-evolving exhibit that looks at the current state of rock music and where the genre might go in the coming years.
Rock and roll is nothing without the instruments that inspired and empowered rock greats to create the music fans know and love, and nowhere on earth is there a greater testament to those instruments themselves than Play It Loud, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s single largest exhibition. Play it Loud is home to an ever-growing collection of instruments, some famous in and of themselves, and some played by the most influential musicians of the last 100 years. With items from as far back as 1939, if you can name a famous rock musician or instrument, you’ll probably find it here.
How about Jimi Hendrix’s favorite hand-decorated guitar, Love Drops? It’s there. So is the Fender Stratocaster played by The Edge during the recording of U2’s seminal album Joshua Tree, and also on the album’s original tour and 2017 anniversary tour. John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin donated the keyboard he used to record Stairway to Heaven, and you’ll even find Eric Clapton’s dreadnought he played in his famous MTV Unplugged Concert. Musicians and music fans alike should plan an entire day to make their way through this incredible collection.
Maybe your history with rock music is a very specific one, revolving around certain subgenres. Maybe you’re looking to sort through the sheer volume of artifacts on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and don’t know where to begin. In either case, the curators of the museum have you covered with a selection of curated tours designed to give you a focused experience as you make your way through the museum.
Women Who Rock is a 2-hour experience that focuses on the female trailblazers of rock and roll. Using the guide prepared by the museum curators, you can quickly make your way through the exhibitions and focus on the items and installations focusing on favorite women rock stars like Aretha Franklin, Joan Jett, Beyonce, and Billie Eilish. The 2.5-hour Staff Picks tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the favorite pieces of Hall of Fame staff members, allowing you to see the museum from their perspective.
What better way to celebrate rock and roll history than with performances from rock greats themselves? The Rock Hall is home to a fantastic theater space where visitors can catch exclusive performances and special interview sessions with rock legends. Of course, this venue is home to the famous Hall of Fame induction ceremony and its performances by new inductees, but there’s always something going on so visitors can get a chance to see something memorable anytime they visit.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website has an always-updating list of events, so it won’t be hard to check out what will be happening at the Hall during your visit. Be sure to check out the events page and purchase tickets in advance for any shows you want to see.
Less than a half an hour’s drive from Cleveland in Grafton, Ohio, American Wilderness Campground is a Good Sam Park with all the amenities. Come for the spacious pull-through RV sites under the shade of the woods and hookups up to 50 amps, stay for the on-site swimming, fishing, playground, and more.
Maple Lakes Recreational Park in Seville, Ohio is another close one to Cleveland, just 45 minutes away. The park is conveniently located just off the interstate and features full hook RV campsites, all of them pull-through. Guests love the quiet atmosphere and the stocked fishing lake for catch-and-release fishing.
Down the road in Akron, Ohio, Countryside Campground is a family-friendly RV campground that prides itself on its quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Located just beside the Mogadore Reservoir, Countryside offers large, full-hookup sites, a swimming pool, and convenient access to both Cleveland and Akron.
Near Lake Erie in Geneva-On-The-Lake, Ohio, Indian Creek Camping Resort is your best option for a truly all-inclusive RV camping getaway. In addition to the on-site grocery store, gas station, restaurant, and bar, Indian Creek also offers heated pools, a great mini-golf course, and planned activities the whole family will enjoy.
If the idea of combining your Rock and Roll Hall of Fame getaway into a Cedar Point vacation sounds appealing, look no farther than Sandusky Milan RV Park, a highly rated RV resort close to Cedar Point and the Lake Erie shore. The pool and clubhouse area here is clean and inviting, and the shady RV campsites are relaxing and cool.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is home to the All Access Grill, offering typical museum-style fare in a cafeteria setting. Swing through the grill and the gift shop, and enjoy your meal in the museum’s atrium under the shadow of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, a life-sized replica of the wall set used during the band’s famous Berlin show.
For a taste of Western Europe, don’t miss Hofbräuhaus Cleveland, a massive German brewery and Biergarten plucked right from Munich. The area downtown provides a few unpretentious Irish pubs with all the classic pub favorites and beautiful pours of Guinness. Looking to keep the music going? Head for The Rusty Anchor, a waterfront restaurant offering classic Cleveland comfort food (like pierogi!) and views of Lake Erie.
For a complete listing of restaurants in downtown Cleveland right near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, visit the Cleveland tourism website.