Looking for a hotel?

Stay at On the Waterfront’s choice hotel, The Courtyard by Marriott!

Directions To On the Waterfront Festival

Google Directions

On the Waterfront is held within 25 city blocks in the heart of downtown Rockford, Illinois. Rockford is located in north central Illinois, 20 minutes from the Wisconsin border.

From the west (Dubuque, IA; Galena, Freeport) – Take Highway 20 East to downtown

From the southwest (Quad Cities) – Take 88 East to 39 North to By-Pass 20 West. Take the Alpine Road exit and travel north to E. State Street. Turn left (west) onto E. State Street and continue to downtown Rockford.

From the east (Chicago, Elgin, Marengo and other Chicago suburbs) – Take 90 West to Business 20/E. State Street Exit. Travel west on E. State Street and continue all the way downtown.

From the south (DeKalb, Rochelle, southern Illinois) – Take 39 North to By-Pass 20 West. Take the Alpine Road exit and travel north to E. State Street. Turn left (west) onto E. State Street and continue to downtown Rockford.

From the north (Madison, Janesville, Beloit, WI) – Take 90 East to Business 20 /E. State Street Exit. Turn right (west) and follow E. State Street to downtown.

From the north-east (Milwaukee, Lake Geneva or Delevan, WI) – Use 43 South to 90 East and exit at Business 20/E. State Street. Turn right (west) and take E. State Street to downtown.

Other north-east directions (Poplar Grove, Harvard, some Chicago suburbs) – Take 173 West to Alpine Road and turn left (south). Take Alpine Road to E. State Street, turn right (west) onto E. State Street, and follow it to downtown.

Rockford Hotel Information

Learn More About Rockford, Illinois

Northern Illinois Map

Rockford Map

Rockford Map

RMTD PARK AND RIDE SHUTTLE

Ride to the Festival in comfort and ease on the RMTD OTW Shuttle. Park at Target on E. State Street or Cliffbreakers located at 700 W. Riverside Blvd. and ride to the Festival entrance in air-conditioned comfort on the WREX-TV bus or the Pearson Plumbing bus. Shuttle buses will run at approximately 30-minute intervals, on the hour and on the half hour during Festival hours. Shuttle rides are $1 round-trip.

PARKING

Public parking is available on the west side of the Rock River at the lot on the corner of Green and Church Streets, at the ramp on Church Street between Elm and Chestnut Streets, and at the ramp on North Main Street between West Jefferson and Park Streets. On the east side of the Rock River, parking is available at South Second and Walnut Streets. Handicapped parking is available in the ramp on Church Street between Elm and Chestnut Streets and in the lot on First Street between E. State and Walnut Streets. An excellent alternative to downtown parking is our RMTD shuttle.