There are so many great and unique places to see when it comes to the best roadside attractions. Fun roadside attractions are all part of what makes a road trip great and are the perfect way to branch out and see new things. If you’ve ever wondered what else is out there in the world, checking out the roadside attractions to see along your trip is a great idea!
Here are some of the top roadside attractions that are sure to make any trip a blast!
Ingalls Homestead (De Smet, SD)
You will truly feel like you stepped back in time when you visit the Ingall’s Homestead in De Smet, SD. This living history farm is located on land once owned and homesteaded by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family. Wilder authored the famous Little House on the Prairie children’s book series which chronicled her life as a pioneer in the 1800s. There are lots of activities to enjoy at the homestead. You could easily spend an entire afternoon exploring if you have the time!
Cadillac Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas
This classic roadside attraction is one that has been bringing in tourists for years. See 10 Cadillac car models buried halfway into the ground in a single file line. While the cars are visible from the highway, they are off in the distance. You can park your car and walk over to the Cadillac Ranch. The cars were originally installed as a piece of art. Bring your own spray paint or buy it when you get there. There’s always a place to add your own artwork!
Jolly Green Giant (Blue Earth, MN)
When they say Green Giant, they mean it! Standing tall, he’s a big reminder to eat your veggies so that you can grow big and strong like him. (or at least tell that to the kids so that they will!) Check out this 55.5 foot tall statue that welcomes visitors to Blue Earth, Minnesota. While you’re in town, you can also visit the Jolly Green Giant Museum, which houses the largest collection of Jolly Green Giant memorabilia in the world.
Field of Dreams Movie Site (Dyersville, IA)
“If you build it, they will come.” If you have ever seen the 1989 film Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner, you know that this is no ordinary baseball field! Stop by the Field of Dreams baseball field and you will feel like you stepped back in time. (You will also feel like you stepped onto a movie set because, well, you have!) You can check out the baseball field, the rows of corn stalks (in the summer months) and grab some merch from the gift stand. If you have time to stick around and want to tour the inside of the farmhouse, you can purchase a timed tour ticket.
Carhenge (Alliance, NE)
You’ll love this unique collection of rocks that will have you trying to figure out exactly how and why it happened. It’s a really cool place to sit and just relax for a bit. Carhenge is exactly what it sounds like: a replica of Stonehenge built out of cars!
Bethlehem Steel Stacks (Bethlehem, PA)
We live close enough to the Steel Stacks that we have passed by the site many times over the years. The hulking, dystopian-esque stacks were part of the long-since-closed Bethlehem Steel Company, originally founded in 1857. The factory’s early days saw the production of wrought-iron railroad ties. Not only is the factory neat to see and walk around, there are plenty of things to do within its shadow. There’s an ice skating rink, a casino, retail shops and restaurants. During the summer months the Steel Stacks host a number of live music concerts and other events. (Fun fact: the opening scene of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was filmed on factory property and you can see the stacks in the background.)
World’s Largest Garden Gnome (Kerhonkson, NY)
This is perfect for those who love to hygge! Catch the large gnome and get a selfie with him! The gnome, who goes by the name “Gnome Chomsky,” stands 13 feet, 6 inches tall and is located at Kelder’s Farm. This is a unique photo opp!
Christ of the Ozarks (Eureka Springs, AR)
While you’re traveling through this area, the Christ of the Ozarks will literally stop you in your tracks. People flock from all over to take a picture of this holy sight. This 7-story statue of Christ overlooks the town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
World’s Largest Ball of Twine (Cawker City, KS)
This is one of those funky tourist traps that people love to see. I remember first hearing about the World’s Largest Ball of Twine when Clark Griswold mentions it in the movie National Lampoon’s Vacation. This spectacle is a funny one to visit. It sits under an open air pavilion and you can walk right up and snap a picture. A shop nearby sells small pieces of twine that visitors can choose to purchase and add to the ball if they’d like.
World’s Largest Baseball Bat (Louisville, KY)
Why in the world would you want to plan a visit to Louisville, KY, without tying in something to do with baseball? The world’s largest baseball bat makes for a great roadside stop. This bat graces the entrance of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Louisville, KY. You can see some incredible baseball memorabilia on display in the museum, tour the factory and watch bats be made… there’s even a batting cage where you can try hitting some pitches with replica bats from some of baseball’s greatest players.
As for that giant bat outside? It’s actually a 120 foot tall replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat.
Uranus Fudge Factory (Uranus, MO)
Sometimes, it’s just all about the name, right? The town of Uranus, Missouri is not shy about their name… AT ALL. This town is full of fudge, and they want you to come and eat it. Known for their crass name and offerings, everyone in the family will get a good chuckle stopping here for a bite. Stop by the Uranus General Store for fudge and more merch stamped with the word “Uranus” than you ever thought existed.
Wall Drug (Wall, SD)
We actually enjoyed our stop at Wall Drug so much a few years ago, that I wrote an entire post about it. Check out our Wall Drug visit experience and definitely plan a stop if you happen to road trip along Interstate-90 in SW South Dakota!
Lucy the Elephant (Margate, NJ)
Elephant fans will love setting their eyes on Lucy the Elephant. Get your camera ready and take it all in! Lucy was built in 1881 to attract visitors and potential property owners to the surrounding area. This giant elephant structure has become an iconic symbol of the Jersey Shore town, Margate. You can tour Lucy’s interior and also stop in the gift shop during your visit.
Ted Drews Custard (St. Louis, MO)
Every good road trip needs a good treat! Stopping for some fresh-made custard will fuel your belly to help you fuel up your trip! Ted Drews Custard has been in the custard business for more than 80 years! They have 2 locations in St. Louis and their menu offers a variety of different custard flavors.
Cabazon Dinosaurs (Cabazon, CA)
Cabazon Dinosurs is a neat stop off Interstate 10, located not far from Joshua Tree National Park. This attraction has been featured in several movies over the years. Here you can see more than 50 different dinosaurs and check out all the prehistoric themed toys. Perfect for dino fans!
Magnolia Market (Waco, TX)
Fans of the HGTV series Fixer Upper have flocked to Magnolia for years. It is a nice place to stop and there is a lot to see, buy, and eat! Depending on what you want to see and/or buy while you’re there, you could make a quick stop or spend a couple of hours on-site.
Idaho Potato Museum’s Giant Potato (Blackfoot, ID)
Are you a fan of all things potato? This giant potato stop will have you craving fries, baked potatoes, and more! When driving through a state known for its famous “Idaho Potatoes” it just feels right to make a pit stop at the Idaho Potato Museum as you drive through the state. This museum is an entertaining place to explore and yes, there’s even a gift shop!
The entire town of Casey, IL
Hard to believe that an entire town can be a roadside attraction, but it is! Here you’ll find a ton of “world’s largest” items that are out of the ordinary and make great photo opps. From a rocking chair to a windchime… as well as a golf tee and knitting needles, this town is full of record-breaking spectacles! Check out Casey, IL for a bunch of different noteworthy attractions.
Digger’s Dungeon (Poplar Branch, NC)
A really fun stop on the main (and only) highway into the Outer Banks, North Carolina is Digger’s Dungeon. Check out the shop where the Grave Digger Monster Trucks are built, grab a bite to eat at the restaurant, or buy tickets to ride in a real monster truck. This roadside attraction is a great way to break up your drive to (or from) the beach.
Calico Ghost Town (Calico, CA)
We discovered Calico Ghost Town quite by accident. We were road tripping from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and saw a sign for the ghost town. Not in any rush, we made a pitstop and had a great afternoon exploring Calico. The town was home to a booming silver mine back in the 1800s. Now the site is made up of mostly replica buildings, but it’s still easy to envision the town as it was 150 years ago. I don’t know that we saw any ghosts during our visit, but it was something different to see and made for a great story.
As you can see, there are a ton of great famous roadside attractions that you can easily plan out for a ton of stops. Doing this is a great way to make the trip that much more fun and it really breaks up the long drives! There are many more worthwhile roadside attractions in the US than we have listed here. Use this list as your starting point! As you plan out your next road trip route, be sure to search for more unique and random places to stop along the way.
This was so much fun to read! Thank you for the thoughtful reminders of what’s fun on the road!
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it! We LOVE a fun roadside attraction to break up the long days of driving!