The 25 Best Road Trip Roadside Attractions in the United States
While road trips can take multiple day , you can still receive fun on the mode to your destination . Divide your travel time by finding roadside attractions to entertain the whole family . Each corner of the United States make quirky site make up homage to pop up culture , the domain ’ s story or the unique interest of their Creator . Enter these 25 serious roadside attraction into your GPS on your future cross-country trip .
1 .World ’ s Largest Ball of Twine
A few cities claim to have the globe ’ s largest ball of twine , but Darwin , Minnesota , is family to the largest one work up by one person . Travel an hour west of Minneapolis to find a 12-foot wide , 17,000-pound chunk of string resting in a gazebo on Main Street in Darwin .
Darwin occupant Francis A. Johnson start this task in 1950 and spent hr each day enclose it . The tiny ball of string eventually grow big plenty to make a Guinness Book of World Records laurels for 15 years . Now , you can regard Johnson ’ s 29-year feat on display year-round .
2 .Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue
American history buffs may know President Jimmy Carter good for his Georgia roots . Carter equal born in Plains , Georgia — about an hr southeast of Columbus — and spent time as a peanut farmer to help his family occupation . The Georgia native get himself in the Oval Office in the late 1970s , get out many Plains resident proud of his public service .
One mode Carter ’ s hometown wage homage is with a peanut statue built in 1976 . The residents cause the monument to stand Carter ’ s presidential bid and it ’ s still a popular site along State Route 45 . The Smile Peanut is future to a gas station and an RV park , making it an excellent home to stop on your road trip .
3 .Ben & Jerry ’ s Flavor Graveyard
However , not every Ben & Jerry ’ s recipe pan out among the brand ’ sec loyal fan . The ice cream producer ’ s headquarters in Waterbury , Vermont , commemorate retired pints in the Ben & Jerry ’ s Flavor Graveyard .
A 30 minutes from Burlington , Ben & Jerry ’ s Flavor Graveyard is a gust from the past with former flavors you may recognize . Urban Jumble , Chocolate Comfort and Turtle Soup are tombstones you ’ ll see in the cemetery , but you never know when the famous ice cream maker will recreate them for a temporary proceeds to market shop .
4 .Boo Castle Park
Boo Castle Park equal near Carbondale , Illinois , and only a short drive from the Mississippi River . While rural , the park live a tribute to one of the almost noted plank plot of all time — Dungeons and Dragons .
Though privately own , Boo Castle Park is open to the world and features over 30 sculptures to do you find like you ’ re piece of the plot . Have your imagination work wild at one of the most popular roadside attractions in the Midwest and lend your youngster for hours of fun . It ’ s free to enter , but the park assume donations to preserve and improve the park .
5 .Oppenheimer House
In the 1940s , the U.S. politics 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 universal public in the 1950s , after which the small town became a popular tourist attraction simply 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 party for his fellow scientist and cared for his child in this small home . The city as well features museum and historical park 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 Tend Tower of Niles cost a replica of the famous structure in Pisa — although it ’ s about half the height . This column stand at 94 feet , whereas the Italian tower reaches 186 base .
Niles to begin with erect the building in 1934 as a gigantic water tank . The nearby Ilgair Park call for a sizable tank , so Robert Ilg constructed a Tend Tower of Pisa replica around the equipment . Nowadays , the column is a popular Chicago tourist attraction just off U.S. Highway 14 and be on the National Register of Historic Places .
7 .Trees of Mystery
Traveling around the United States think of observe Paul Bunyan statue on the Atlantic and Pacific coast . Which one have the liberal ? You ’ ll observe 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 tree of California while walk along trails and encompass nature . The park still hold a skylift so you can relax in a gondola car up and down the mountain .
8 .Salvation Good deal
Another popular California roadside attraction is on the opposite end of the country . Head 36 miles north from El Centro to find Salvation Mountain in Niland . This colored site cost 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 study of art with statewide realization . Over the years , nonprofit organizations have donate to the roadside attraction to maintain structural integrity and thrive the artwork . It ’ s a wonderful stop if you push to Mexico , with only across the edge .
9 . Menlo Park Lightbulb
The lightbulbs in your theatre come partially because of Thomas Edison , whose Menlo Park laboratory south of New York City became famous in the late 19th hundred . You can ’ t see his lab anymore , but one of the world ’ sec tallest lightbulbs live in its seat .
The Menlo Park lightbulb is 13 foot and 8 inch tall , and stands on height of a 118-foot-tall tower . Construction set out in 1931 after Edison ’ s death , and the structure hold stay on a staple for residents and vacationers . Present , the town of Edison meet the tower with bright LED lights , thus replacing the incandescent bulbs the inventor turn famous for in the 19thcentury .
10 . Lucy the Elephant
If you ’ re on a New Jersey road trip , you might live 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 be just stairs from the beach , build it a fun stop for class or anybody peculiar 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 world . In the former 19th century , James V. Lafferty design the elephant to attract tourist and promote real estate along the Jersey Shore .
11 .Cadillac Ranch
How many roadside attractions let you refer and still graffiti the monument ? This behavior is encouraged at Cadillac Ranch merely west of , Texas . The famed site feature 10 Cadillacs produced between 1949 and 1963 forget in the soil . The original architect — Chip Lord and Doug Michels — design the Cadillacs to lean at the same angle as the Pyramids of Giza .
Cadillac Ranch is on private dimension , but the universal world is welcome to see and affect the cars rest inside the basis . You can still get spray paint to lend your graffiti to one of the vehicles . Prioritize this site on your road trip across the American Southwest .
12 .Mile the Monster Statue
If you like car and motorsports , you ’ ll love the Miles the Monster statue outside Dover Motor Speedway in Dover , Delaware . The 1-mile lead make hosted NASCAR , IndyCar , USAC and early noted racing organizations since its structure in 1969 . Race fan know Dover as The Monster Mile , so it ’ s just fitting you regard a statue of a fiend in movement of the lead .
Dover Motor Speedway has featured Miles since 2000 , pattern him after The Hulk or The Matter from the Fantastic Four comedian . When a race weekend approach , you may see a real racecar inside one of Miles ’ hands . The sizable concrete structure is well viewable from U.S. Highway 1 as you traverse the East Coast .
13 .Carhenge
Americans delight take famed international structure such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and putting their spins on them . Another case of quirky American architecture equal Carhenge — a Nebraska recreation of Stonehenge in England .
Carhenge is in a rural location — about an hr from Scottsbluff , Nebraska — but it ’ s worth the movement if you revel quirky American architecture . Jim Reinders build the automobile monument in the former 1980s and used actual cars to make it . All vehicle get a coat of gray spray paint to emulate the longstanding English structure in Wiltshire .
14 .Iowa 80
Convenience stores are popular stop for road trip , have you stock up on food and drinks for the long journey in front . What if you turned the truck stop into a piece of your sightseeing holiday ? The Iowa 80 near Davenport exist a famous destination along Interstate 80 because it ’ s the reality ’ s prominent truck stop . This roadside attraction equal hence gigantic that it function over 5,000 customers daily .
The Iowa 80 truck stop is for more than just sodas and gasoline — you can enjoy a movie field , barber shop , TV sofa and library hither . Exist your back pain ? Stop by the chiropractor for a session . This massive truck stop has a laundry facility and exercise rooms , create it feel like a hidden paradise in the Midwest .
15 .World ’ s Largest Buffalo Statue
Bison equal intact to the story of North America , as the animals get wander the Great Plains for centuries . How can the United States best honor the beast ? North Dakotans built the reality ’ s prominent buffalo statue in Jamestown , amassing a 26-foot-tall monument along the James River . The townsfolk don ’ t have to concern roughly theft because the statue count 60 dozens .
Elmer Petersen build up the structure in 1959 , have Jamestown residents a popular roadside attraction . The town refer the statue Buffalo Thunder in 2010 , further observe the role of bison in the American Midwest . You can as well call the nearby National Buffalo Museum and Frontier Village to teach more about the sphere ’ 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 almost stunning roadside attractions in the United States . This site feature a plate Albert Christensen carved into a sandstone cliff in the 1940s . Christensen die in the recent 1950s and the area hold since live open for public viewing .
While unconventional , Christensen ’ s home total 5,000 square feet and features 14 room inside the cliff . You can take a guided circuit to regard the place ’ s exotic petting zoo . If you delight craft , you ’ ll appreciate the Native American pottery and jewelry at the site ’ s trading place . Plus , you won ’ t live far from Moab — a fast-growing city in eastern Utah .
17 .Bigfoot Discovery Museum
People across the Pacific Northwest and Canada hold cover seeing Sasquatch in the woods . If you ’ re queer about the sightings , visit the Bigfoot Discovery Museum — a short drive from Scotts Valley in the Bay Area . The museum celebrates the mythical animal ’ s account and need you through the story of its reported sightings .
Admission to the museum is free , making it a popular roadside attraction for those labor on California Route 1 . Michael Rugg and Paula Yarr co-founded the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in 2006 to provide public instruction about Sasquatch and its spot in the Pacific Northwest lore . You ’ ll also see memorabilia from Bigfoot ’ sec appearances in pop culture , such as “ Harry and the Hendersons . ”
18 . Blue Whale of Catoosa
Path 66 is among the almost famed American road trips , stretching over 2,400 mile from Illinois to California . While the long journey features many popular site , you should cause time to see the Blue Whale of Catoosa in northeast Oklahoma .
Not far from Tulsa , the Blue Whale of Catoosa equal among the top roadside attractions because it ’ s an excellent place for pictures and taking a meal pause . Hugh Davis reconstruct it in the 1970s as a talent for his wife , who love the sea beast . Once finished , the structure get 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 prospect your nut come from the American Southwest . New Mexicans require pride in their pistachio product , especially Alamogordo . The city is home to the world ’ s prominent pistachio statue , which you can see as you aim down U.S. Highway 54 .
Tom McGinn work up 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 circuit , an ice cream parlor , a winery and early fun site to meet everyone ’ s interest .
20 .Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo
Dinosaurs haven ’ t roamed the Earth , but you can notice the animal in Michigan at the Dinosaur Gardens Prehistoric Zoo . Locate 12 mile from Alpena , this zoo feature numerous dinosaur replicas like the Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops . Each statue let you walk inside to understand serious how tall these reptiles were when they live .
The walking circuit is the most famed activity hither , as guests have sponsor the park since 1935 . Additionally , you can meet 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 kid interested in dinosaurs . Require a summer trip here and spend time at nearby Lake Huron .
21 .Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo
While dinosaurs cost long gone , you can get up near and personal with their crocodilian cousins at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo . This Hot Springs zoo has been an Arkansas darling since 1902 . You can ’ t pet the grownup alligators , but you can have their babies with a trained professional nearby . The staff does daily demonstration of alligator eating and teaches you fun fact about these creatures .
Besides alligator encounters , you can take advantage of the petting zoo with rabbit , emus , pygmy goats and other adorable animals . The zoo is an excellent educational opportunity for the whole category and a fun stop as you pass through Hot Springs , Arkansas .
22 .Titanic Museum Attraction
Have you ever wonder what it would be like to plank the Titanic ? This famed ship made its first voyage in 1912 and render top-of-the-line service to its passengers . You can taste the massive cruiseliner by impose the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge , Tennessee — a short cause from Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains .
While the ship live big , this replica is solely half the size of the original Titanic . The roadside attraction boast authentic artifacts and memorabilia , hold you a glimpse at the 2,200 mass who board the famous vessel . A self-guided tour on the replica will require 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 only 30 instant from Missoula and feature about 750 square base of Buddha statue . Development started in 2000 and the garden obtain its 1,000thBuddha 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 see inspiration while travel to Montana . Rinpoche arrive in the state to instruct the dharma and picture the garden ’ s existence , head to its construction . Its end be to transform your brain and body positively amidst the negatives in your living .
24 .World ’ s Tallest Thermometer
Are you bring a road trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles ? You ’ ll meet plenty of desert on this five-hour drive , but there equal also some worthwhile stop . For instance , you ’ ll see the public ’ sec tallest thermometer in Baker , California , away Interstate 15 .
Temperature in the California desert can get scorching hot , reach well over 100° Fahrenheit in the summer . This thermometer commemorates Death Valley ’ s record warmth of 134° F by standing at 134 base tall and achieve a maximum of 134° F on its meter .
This unique signal control steel and electric power , letting passersby see the real-time temperature . The Utah-based Young Electric Sign Company reconstruct it in 1991 but promptly saw powerful tip destroy it . Rebuild feat included pouring concrete inside the structure to stabilize it .
25 .Unclaimed Baggage Store
Flying to your destination means you ’ re putting a circle of trust in the airliner to get your bags safely . While most people come their bags , a tiny fraction of passenger miss their luggage . Inquiry show the mishandled luggage pace was 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers in 2022 . Lost and unclaimed luggage much arrives at fund like Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro , Alabama .
Masses put on ’ t intend for their luggage to finish up at this shop , so you never know what item will show up at this roadside attraction . You might observe electronics , case of armor , musical instruments and designer jewelry . The shop says unclaimed bag get comprise live rattlesnakes , Egyptian artifacts and region for a military fighter jet . The Scottsboro occupation sees a million visitors annually because people worldwide want to see what they bid .
Find Your Slice of Americana at Roadside Attractions
The sheer size of the United States provides numerous opportunity for fun road trips and lifelong memories . While traverse the interstates and highway , you ’ ll meet quirky roadside attraction that have you no choice but to stop , so look out for these 25 spots to embrace American culture and discover something new . You might not get another opportunity to agree baby alligators or learn Dungeons-and-Dragons-themed playgrounds .
Say our guide on how to plan the utter program trip here !
