CLOSED for the season, re-opening April 10, 2024!

Garden Center Hours

Our Garden Center season is April 10th to October 10th every year. Hours listed below. Our event center, The Barn, is a year-round facility.

Nursery Hours

Please note we are closed for the 2023 season. Opening day in 2024 is Wednesday, April 10th! 

April 10 through July 10
Monday-Saturday from 8-5
Sundays from 12-5

July 11 to October 10
Monday-Saturday from 8-5
Closed Sundays

Closed Easter Sunday, July 4, and Labor Day.

Driving distances to Hornbaker Gardens from:
Chicago: 110 miles

Rockford: 73 miles
Peoria: 55 miles
Quad Cities: 56 miles
Bloomington: 85 miles

Directions from I-80 at Princeton, Exit 56: Follow Route 26 as it winds through town, and continue south on Route 26 from the east edge of town. About a mile or so south of town, watch for a “Tourist Activities” sign for Hornbaker Gardens. Turn right at the sign onto 2155 E. St., and go about 1/2 mile. Take the first left at the “Y” intersection, and then go 2 miles until you see our sign on the left.

Directions from I-80 at Exit 61: (4 miles east of Princeton) go south on I-180 about 5 miles, take Exit 7 for Route 26 Princeton. Go west, toward Princeton only about 1/4 of a mile, and take the first left where you see a large sign up on the hillside. Follow this winding road for 2 miles to the top of a steep hill and you’ll see our sign and entrance on the right.

Directions from Peoria: Take Route 29 North. It turns into I-180. Continue north to Exit 7 for Route 26 Princeton exit. Turn left and go just 1/2 mile and take the first left where you see a large sign up on the hillside. Follow this winding road for 2 miles to the top of a steep hill and you’ll see our sign and entrance on the right.

Directions from Bloomington: Take Route 39 North. Take exit #51 for IL 71. Turn left (west) onto IL 71 toward Hennepin. IL 71 turns into I-180. Continue west and then north on I-180. Take Exit 7 for Route 26 Princeton. IMPORTANT: wait for Exit 7, Route 26 Princeton. Ignore all the other exits for Rte 26.  At the end of the ramp, turn left and go just 1/2 mile and take the first left where you see a sign up on the hillside. Follow this winding road for 2 miles to the top of a steep hill and you’ll see our sign and entrance on the right

TRUCKERS and BUS DRIVERS should not use the Directions from I-80, as shown above. Instead, at exit 61, go south on I-180 about 1 mile, and exit at Route 6. Go west about 3 miles to the stop sign on the east edge of Princeton. Turn left, or south, on Rt. 26 and go about 1 mile south of town. Watch for a “Tourist Activities” sign for Hornbaker Gardens. Turn right at that sign onto 2155 E St., and go about a half mile. Take the first left (at a Y intersection), and then go 2 miles until you see our sign on the left. Come all the way back on our lane (about ¾ of a mile). There will be a place to turn around.

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