Dutch windmills & the Great River Road
Whiteside County
Sterling, Rock Falls, Morrison, Fulton & beyond: where small towns and two rivers lead you all the way to the Mississippi.
Roll the Windows Down
Whiteside County is made for the unhurried road trip. Follow the Rock River through the twin cities of Sterling and Rock Falls, where Centennial Park offers a lake, paddle boats, and access to the Hennepin Canal trail. Step back in time at the Dillon Home Museum in Sterling, an 1858 home that retains all its original furnishings, or catch a movie under the stars at the retro Midway Drive-In Theater.
In Fulton, the Dutch heritage is alive and turning: the De Immigrant Windmill, an authentic, fully functioning Dutch windmill nearly 100 feet tall, grinds grain above the Mississippi, with the Windmill Cultural Center nearby. Wander Wierenga's Heritage Canyon, a recreated 19th-century village tucked into an old limestone quarry, then refuel with pastries at Krumpets Restaurant & Bakery.
Prefer the quiet? Morrison Rockwood State Park serves up fishing on Lake Carlton, hiking, birding, and camping in a picture-perfect setting.
By the numbers
What's Waiting Here
Fuel the day
Eat & Drink
- SterlingDon’s Seafood & ChickenLocally owned Sterling restaurant established in 1992, serving battered fish and chicken, bone-in chicken, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, sides and family-style meal options. Don’s Seafood & Chicken is known for approachable prices and generous comfort-food choices; check the official website or call for the current menu and hours.
- SterlingAurelio’s Bake ShopFamily-owned bakery and coffee house specializing in custom cakes for weddings, quinceañeras, birthdays, and other celebrations, plus cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, pastries, tres leches desserts, and coffee. Dine-in and drive-thru service are available at the Locust Street location.
- FultonKing Pins Saloon & Dance HallKing Pins Saloon & Dance Hall is an easygoing Fulton bar and gathering place serving burgers and fresh-made bar food, including hot beef, Italian beef, tacos, made-rites, and soup of the day. Established in 2015, it pairs food and drinks with a roomy dance-hall atmosphere and music just outside the city limits.
- MorrisonForest Inn Restaurant & LoungeClassic steakhouse since 1934, known for steaks, seafood, spirits, and a huge salad bar. Cozy setting, great food, on the historic Lincoln Highway. Open Tues-Sat 4-10pm, Sun 4-9pm. Menu available online.
Out and about
Things to Do
- ErieBos Brothers Historical Farm
- FultonMartin House MuseumThe Martin House Museum is Fulton’s local-history museum and the headquarters of the Fulton Historical Society. The 1855 brick Italianate home, later expanded with Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts details, preserves Fulton memorabilia, genealogy resources, plat books, historic newspapers, and community stories. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the accessible museum is open Sunday afternoons or by appointment, and offers a guide to Fulton’s historic district.
- SterlingDuis Recreation CenterSterling Park District recreation center with indoor aquatics, a 25-yard pool and diving well, lap swim, open swim, water walking and a gymnastics facility. The renovated center includes locker rooms, a multipurpose room, elevator access and viewing areas, and has served the community since 1970.
- SterlingSterling-Rock Falls Historical Society Carriage House MuseumLocal-history museum tracing Sterling and Rock Falls from prehistoric times through the modern industrial era with permanent and rotating exhibits; summer public hours and separate appointment access are posted by the Historical Society.
Home base
Stay the Night
- ErieErie Campground, Inc.Erie Campground is a public campground at 9480 Erie Road beside the Rock River and Glenn Miller Marina. Current tourism sources list electric and water service, a playground, restrooms, a dump station, pavilion, and river- or lakefront camping. Call ahead for availability and current rates.
- Rock FallsCrystal Lake Recreation & RV ParkRock Falls. Man-made lake (swimming), go-karts, aqua-golf, RV/campground (no tents), 68 full-hookup sites, Wi-Fi, meeting room, laundry, arcade, 6 family bathrooms, 350’ sandy beach, snack bar, boat/kayak rental. Year-round.
- MorrisonMorrison-Rockwood State Park Campground1,152-acre state park with fishing, boating, concessions, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and more. 92 camping sites (electricity, grill, table), shower building, equestrian trail (14 miles, seasonal), year-round camping.
- SterlingCrow Valley CampgroundOpen April 15-Oct 15. Nothing beats a relaxing stay along the Rock River at Crow Valley Campground in Sterling, Illinois. Located just off Interstate 88 and surrounded by nature, this family-friendly campground offers a peaceful setting for RV and tent campers alike, as well as anyone looking to spend more time outdoors. Visitors can fish along the river, cool off in the swimming pool, enjoy a campfire, or simply unwind beneath the trees. The campground features electric and water hookup sites, primitive tent camping, free Wi-Fi, a game room, playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts, hiking trails, and a pavilion for gatherings. Holiday weekends often include family activities and campground games, making it a fun option for both weekend getaways and longer summer stays. Its location near Sterling and Rock Falls also makes it easy to explore local restaurants, shopping, biking trails, and river recreation throughout the Sauk Valley area.
Main streets worth the stop
Towns to Explore
Ready when you are
Plan Your Whiteside County Days
Browse every place to eat, stay, and explore, or let the 2026 Expedition Guide ride shotgun.