While road trips can take multiple days, you can still have fun on the way to your destination. Split your travel time by finding roadside attractions to entertain the whole family. Each corner of the United States has quirky sites paying homage to pop culture, the area’s history or the unique interests of their creators. Enter these 25 best roadside attractions into your GPS on your next cross-country trip.
1. World’s Largest Ball of Twine
A few cities claim to have the world’s largest ball of twine, but Darwin, Minnesota, is home to the largest one built by one person. Travel an hour west of Minneapolis to find a 12-foot wide, 17,000-pound ball of twine resting in a gazebo on Main Street in Darwin.
Darwin resident Francis A. Johnson began this project in 1950 and spent hours each day wrapping it. The tiny ball of twine eventually grew large enough to earn a Guinness Book of World Records honor for 15 years. Now, you can see Johnson’s 29-year feat on display year-round.
2. Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue
American history buffs may know President Jimmy Carter best for his Georgia roots. Carter was born in Plains, Georgia — about an hour southeast of Columbus — and spent time as a peanut farmer to help his family business. The Georgia native found himself in the Oval Office in the late 1970s, leaving many Plains residents proud of his public service.
One way Carter’s hometown pays homage is with a peanut statue built in 1976. The residents made the monument to support Carter’s presidential bid and it’s still a popular site along State Route 45. The Smiling Peanut is next to a gas station and an RV park, making it an excellent place to stop on your road trip.
3. Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard
However, not every Ben & Jerry’s recipe pans out among the brand’s loyal fans. The ice cream producer’s headquarters in Waterbury, Vermont, commemorates retired pints in the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard.
A half-hour from Burlington, Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard is a blast from the past with old flavors you may recognize. Urban Jumble, Chocolate Comfort and Turtle Soup are tombstones you’ll see in the graveyard, but you never know when the famous ice cream maker will revive them for a temporary return to grocery stores.
4. Boo Castle Park
Boo Castle Park is near Carbondale, Illinois, and only a short drive from the Mississippi River. While rural, the park is a tribute to one of the most famous board games of all time — Dungeons and Dragons.
Though privately owned, Boo Castle Park is open to the public and features over 30 sculptures to make you feel like you’re part of the game. Let your imagination run wild at one of the most popular roadside attractions in the Midwest and bring your children for hours of fun. It’s free to enter, but the park accepts donations to maintain and improve the park.
5. Oppenheimer House
In the 1940s, the U.S. government took over Los Alamos, New Mexico, for nuclear weapons research. You may recognize the city from the 2023 film “Oppenheimer.” The government opened Los Alamos to the general public in the 1950s, after which the small town became a popular tourist attraction just off State Route 502.
While in Los Alamos, stop by the Oppenheimer House to see where the famous scientist lived for two years. Oppenheimer hosted parties for his fellow scientists and cared for his children in this small home. The city also features museums and historical parks to get your fill of American history.
6. Leaning Tower of Niles
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is over 4,000 miles from the United States, so where can you find a closer rendition? Head to Niles, Illinois, in northwest Chicago. The Leaning Tower of Niles is a replica of the famous structure in Pisa — although it’s about half the height. This tower stands at 94 feet, whereas the Italian tower reaches 186 feet.
Niles originally erected the building in 1934 as a gigantic water tank. The nearby Ilgair Park needed a sizable tank, so Robert Ilg constructed a Leaning Tower of Pisa replica around the equipment. Nowadays, the tower is a popular Chicago tourist attraction just off U.S. Highway 14 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
7. Trees of Mystery
Traveling around the United States means finding Paul Bunyan statues on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Which one has the biggest? You’ll find a 49-foot Bunyan monument at the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, California.
A short drive from Crescent City, Trees of Mystery is a popular tourist attraction on U.S. Highway 101. You’ll learn about the famous Redwood trees of California while walking along trails and embracing nature. The park even has a skylift so you can relax in a gondola car up and down the mountain.
8. Salvation Mountain
Another popular California roadside attraction is on the opposite end of the state. Head 36 miles north from El Centro to find Salvation Mountain in Niland. This colorful site is close to the Slab City art commune and a short drive from the Salton Sea in Riverside.
Leonard Knight created Salvation Mountain in the mid-1980s from concrete and paint to leave behind a tiny monument. While it started small, Salvation Mountain grew into a work of art with statewide recognition. Over the years, nonprofit organizations have donated to the roadside attraction to maintain structural integrity and expand the artwork. It’s a terrific stop if you drive to Mexico, with Mexicali just across the border.
9. Menlo Park Lightbulb
The lightbulbs in your house come partly because of Thomas Edison, whose Menlo Park laboratory south of New York City became famous in the late 19th century. You can’t see his lab anymore, but one of the world’s tallest lightbulbs is in its place.
The Menlo Park lightbulb is 13 feet and 8 inches tall, and stands on top of a 118-foot-tall tower. Construction began in 1931 after Edison’s death, and the structure has remained a staple for residents and vacationers. Nowadays, the town of Edison fills the tower with bright LED lights, thus replacing the incandescent bulbs the inventor became famous for in the 19th century.
10. Lucy the Elephant
If you’re on a New Jersey road trip, you might go to Atlantic City for fun and games on the East Coast. Check out Lucy the Elephant in Margate City while cruising on Atlantic Avenue. This six-story structure is just steps from the beach, making it a fun stop for families or anybody curious about the gigantic elephant.
Lucy the Elephant is a U.S. National Historic Landmark that dates back to the 1880s. In fact, she’s the oldest roadside attraction in the United States still available for the general public. In the late 19th century, James V. Lafferty designed the elephant to attract tourists and promote real estate along the Jersey Shore.
11. Cadillac Ranch
How many roadside attractions let you touch and even graffiti the monuments? This behavior is encouraged at Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, Texas. The famous site features 10 Cadillacs produced between 1949 and 1963 buried in the ground. The original architects — Chip Lord and Doug Michels — designed the Cadillacs to tilt at the same angle as the Pyramids of Giza.
Cadillac Ranch is on private property, but the general public is welcome to visit and touch the cars resting inside the ground. You can even bring spray paint to add your graffiti to one of the vehicles. Prioritize this site on your road trip across the American Southwest.
12. Miles the Monster Statue
If you like cars and motorsports, you’ll love the Miles the Monster statue outside Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. The 1-mile track has hosted NASCAR, IndyCar, USAC and other famous racing organizations since its construction in 1969. Race fans know Dover as The Monster Mile, so it’s only fitting you see a statue of a monster in front of the track.
Dover Motor Speedway has featured Miles since 2000, modeling him after The Hulk or The Thing from the Fantastic Four comics. When a race weekend approaches, you may see a real racecar inside one of Miles’ hands. The sizable concrete structure is easily viewable from U.S. Highway 1 as you traverse the East Coast.
13. Carhenge
Americans enjoy taking famous international structures such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and putting their spins on them. Another example of quirky American architecture is Carhenge — a Nebraska recreation of Stonehenge in England.
Carhenge is in a rural location — about an hour from Scottsbluff, Nebraska — but it’s worth the drive if you enjoy quirky American architecture. Jim Reinders built the automobile monument in the late 1980s and used real cars to create it. All vehicles have a coat of gray spray paint to emulate the longstanding English structure in Wiltshire.
14. Iowa 80
Convenience stores are popular stops for road trips, letting you stock up on food and drinks for the long journey ahead. What if you turned the truck stop into a part of your sightseeing vacation? The Iowa 80 near Davenport is a famous destination along Interstate 80 because it’s the world’s largest truck stop. This roadside attraction is so gigantic that it serves over 5,000 customers daily.
The Iowa 80 truck stop is for more than just sodas and gasoline — you can enjoy a movie theater, barber shop, TV lounge and library here. Is your back hurting? Stop by the chiropractor for a session. This massive truck stop has a laundry facility and workout rooms, making it feel like a hidden paradise in the Midwest.
15. World’s Largest Buffalo Statue
Bison are integral to the history of North America, as the animals have roamed the Great Plains for centuries. How can the United States best honor the creature? North Dakotans built the world’s largest buffalo statue in Jamestown, amassing a 26-foot-tall monument along the James River. The townsfolk don’t have to worry about theft because the statue weighs 60 tons.
Elmer Petersen built the structure in 1959, giving Jamestown residents a popular roadside attraction. The town named the statue Buffalo Thunder in 2010, further honoring the role of bison in the American Midwest. You can also visit the nearby National Buffalo Museum and Frontier Village to learn more about the area’s history.
16. Hole ‘N’ The Rock
When heading north to Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park, stop at Hole ‘N’ The Rock for one of the most stunning roadside attractions in the United States. This site features a home Albert Christensen carved into a sandstone cliff in the 1940s. Christensen died in the late 1950s and the area has since been open for public viewing.
While unconventional, Christensen’s home totals 5,000 square feet and features 14 rooms inside the cliff. You can take a guided tour to see the property’s exotic petting zoo. If you enjoy crafts, you’ll appreciate the Native American pottery and jewelry at the site’s trading post. Plus, you won’t be far from Moab — a fast-growing city in eastern Utah.
17. Bigfoot Discovery Museum
People across the Pacific Northwest and Canada have reported seeing Sasquatch in the woods. If you’re curious about the sightings, visit the Bigfoot Discovery Museum — a short drive from Scotts Valley in the Bay Area. The museum celebrates the mythical creature’s history and takes you through the history of its reported sightings.
Admission to the museum is free, making it a popular roadside attraction for those driving on California Route 1. Michael Rugg and Paula Yarr co-founded the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in 2006 to provide public education about Sasquatch and its place in the Pacific Northwest lore. You’ll also see memorabilia from Bigfoot’s appearances in pop culture, such as “Harry and the Hendersons.”
18. Blue Whale of Catoosa
Route 66 is among the most famous American road trips, stretching over 2,400 miles from Illinois to California. While the long journey features many popular sites, you should make time to see the Blue Whale of Catoosa in northeast Oklahoma.
Not far from Tulsa, the Blue Whale of Catoosa is among the top roadside attractions because it’s an excellent spot for pictures and taking a meal break. Hugh Davis constructed it in the 1970s as a gift for his wife, who loved the sea creature. Once finished, the structure became a popular spot for locals and tourists to play, fish, eat, and relax.
19. World’s Largest Pistachio
If you enjoy pistachios, there’s a good chance your nut comes from the American Southwest. New Mexicans take pride in their pistachio production, especially Alamogordo. The city is home to the world’s largest pistachio statue, which you can see as you drive down U.S. Highway 54.
Tom McGinn built the 30-foot-tall statue in 2007 to honor his father’s pistachio ranch and the property has become a roadside favorite in the Southwest. Besides the statue, McGinn’s PistachioLand has a farm with guided tours, an ice cream parlor, a winery and other fun sites to satisfy everyone’s interests.
20. Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo
Dinosaurs haven’t roamed the Earth for 65 million years, but you can find the creatures in Michigan at the Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo. Located 12 miles from Alpena, this zoo features numerous dinosaur replicas like the Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. Each statue lets you walk inside to understand better how tall these reptiles were when they existed.
The walking tour is the most famous activity here, as guests have patronized the park since 1935. Additionally, you can play putt-putt golf and dig for fossils to emulate a real archaeologist. You can even host a birthday party here, creating an incredible experience for kids interested in dinosaurs. Take a summer trip here and spend time at nearby Lake Huron.
21. Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo
While dinosaurs are long gone, you can get up close and personal with their crocodilian cousins at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo. This Hot Springs zoo has been an Arkansas favorite since 1902. You can’t pet the adult alligators, but you can hold their babies with a trained professional nearby. The staff does daily demonstrations of alligator feedings and teaches you fun facts about these creatures.
Besides alligator encounters, you can take advantage of the petting zoo with rabbits, emus, pygmy goats and other adorable animals. The zoo is an excellent educational opportunity for the whole family and a fun stop as you pass through Hot Springs, Arkansas.
22. Titanic Museum Attraction
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to board the Titanic? This famed ship made its maiden voyage in 1912 and provided top-of-the-line service to its passengers. You can sample the massive cruiseliner by visiting the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — a short drive from Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains.
While the ship is large, this replica is only half the size of the original Titanic. The roadside attraction features authentic artifacts and memorabilia, giving you a glimpse at the 2,200 people who boarded the famous vessel. A self-guided tour on the replica will take about two hours. Your ticket will list the name of an actual Titanic passenger and you’ll learn more about them on your expedition.
23. Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
If you’re on a journey for wisdom, visit the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee, Montana. This spiritual site is just 30 minutes from Missoula and features about 750 square feet of Buddha statues. Development started in 2000 and the garden received its 1,000th Buddha in 2015. Stop by this peaceful site on a road trip to Big Sky Country. You don’t have to pay an entry fee for the garden, making it an accessible space for families.
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas exists because of Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche, who found inspiration while traveling to Montana. Rinpoche arrived in the state to teach the dharma and envisioned the garden’s existence, leading to its construction. Its goal is to transform your mind and body positively amidst the negatives in your life.
24. World’s Tallest Thermometer
Are you taking a road trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? You’ll see plenty of desert on this five-hour drive, but there are also some worthwhile stops. For instance, you’ll see the world’s tallest thermometer in Baker, California, off Interstate 15.
Temperatures in the California desert can get scorching hot, reaching well over 100° Fahrenheit in the summer. This thermometer commemorates Death Valley’s record heat of 134° F by standing at 134 feet tall and reaching a maximum of 134° F on its meter.
This unique sign contains steel and electric power, letting passersby see the real-time temperature. The Utah-based Young Electric Sign Company constructed it in 1991 but quickly saw powerful winds destroy it. Rebuilding efforts included pouring concrete inside the structure to stabilize it.
25. Unclaimed Baggage Store
Flying to your destination means you’re putting a lot of trust in the airliner to bring your bags safely. While most people get their bags, a tiny fraction of passengers lose their luggage. Research shows the mishandled baggage rate was 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2022. Lost and unclaimed luggage often arrives at stores like Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama.
People don’t intend for their luggage to end up at this store, so you never know what items will show up at this roadside attraction. You might find electronics, suits of armor, musical instruments and designer jewelry. The store says unclaimed bags have contained live rattlesnakes, Egyptian artifacts and parts for a military fighter jet. The Scottsboro business sees a million visitors annually because people worldwide want to see what they offer.
Find Your Slice of Americana at Roadside Attractions
The sheer size of the United States provides numerous opportunities for fun road trips and lifelong memories. While traversing the interstates and highways, you’ll see quirky roadside attractions that give you no choice but to stop, so look out for these 25 spots to embrace American culture and learn something new. You might not get another opportunity to hold baby alligators or see Dungeons-and-Dragons-themed playgrounds.
Read our guide on how to plan the perfect plan trip here!
