The BIG State-by-State List of U.S. Roadside Attractions

Return to Table of Contents

Southwest Region

 

Arizona Roadside Attractions

Bedrock

Roadside attraction submitted by Megan of Red Around the World

If you’re going to the south rim of the Grand Canyon, chances are good you’ll be going to Flagstaff, too.  Well, between the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff you’ll find a little town called Williams, which happens to be the home of Bedrock and the Flintstones.  Whether you’re 5 or 25, this is a really fun stop.  My friend and I were both 22 when we went and had a blast running around, checking out the different characters houses and all of the other buildings.  It’s cheap to get into and if you like quirky road trip stops, it’s definitely worth a visit.

The Thing?

Roadtrip attraction submitted by Aireona of Nightborn Travel

The Thing? can be found on the I-10 at Exit 322 on a hilltop between Benson and Willcox in Arizona. Also known as the Mystery of the Desert, The Thing? is a mysterious object tucked away in an even stranger museum. Entrance is about $1.00 the last time I went, and for that you will get to wander through a random collection of cars, wax figures, and little wooden creatures before finally discovering the identity of the Thing? (Don’t spoil it for yourself on Wikipedia!) Go with good humor and you will definitely enjoy this unique little attraction.

Oatman Burros

Driving along Route 66 into Oatman, Arizona is great for two very different reasons – the drive and the burros. It is an authentic Route 66 driving experience as the road curves and meanders with the land, and it has amazing views. Also, there are wild burros running free throughout the town! Back in the town’s mining days, burros were used for working the mines. The mines closed down a long time ago and the miners all left town but the burros remain. These days, the burros roam freely along the streets and have become quite a tourist attraction.

Return to Table of Contents

New Mexico Roadside Attractions

World’s Largest Pistachio

Roadside attraction submitted by Connie of Midwest Wanderer

“The world’s largest pistachio sits just outside Alamogordo, New Mexico, at Pistachioland. Current Pistachioland owner, Tim McGinn, erected the giant nut in honor of his father, Thomas McGinn, founder of the 111-acre pistachio orchard and vineyard.”

Return to Table of Contents

Oklahoma Roadside Attractions

World’s Largest Gas Station Pump

Roadside attraction submitted by Connie of Midwest Wanderer

The world’s largest gas pump in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is a new Route 66 roadside attraction, completed in October 2017. The gas pump sits adjacent to the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum.

Catoosa Blue Whale

The last thing you would expect to find in the landlocked state of Oklahoma is a whale, and yet, there it is – a giant cement whale afloat in a small pond located along Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma. The Catoosa Blue Whale was used by travelers as a swimming hole back in the route’s heyday. And while you would no longer want to swim in that pond’s now murky waters, it is still thrilling to walk through the belly of the whale.

RELATED: Planning a Family Road Trip Along Route 66

Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park

Another fun Route 66 stop is Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park in Foyil, Oklahoma. Located on State Highway 28A just a couple miles east of Route 66, this park is home to an impressive 90-foot tall totem pole, several small poles, and a small museum.

Return to Table of Contents

Texas Roadside Attractions

Cadillac Ranch

Roadside attraction submitted by Kylie of Between England and Iowa

“Cadillac Ranch is located along I-40 (Route 66) in Amarillo, Texas.  It is made up of 10 Cadillacs buried ‘nose first’ in the middle of a field!  This public art installation has been in its current location since 1997 and visitors are encouraged to graffiti over the cars, so their colours are forever changing! It is reached by driving along the I-40 Frontage Road, carefully pull up on the side of the road and enter the field through the gate.  Cadillac Ranch was also the inspiration for the landscape of Radiator Springs in the Disney Pixar Cars movies.”

Stonehenge II

Roadside attraction submitted by Umiko of Two Worlds Treasures

“Sometimes we don’t need passports and airplane tickets to see the wonders of the world. Just pack your family in to the car and drive to Ingram in the Texas Hill Country. Then you’ll get to see the famous Stonehenge and Easter Island in one place.”

Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden

Roadside attraction submitted by Umiko of Two Worlds Treasures

“‘Have a sit, please!’ This is just one of the sculptures we saw when we drove through Lampasas, Texas. There are 19 more unique sculptures that are divided into two groups: permanent and rotating collections. You can find the Hanna Springs Sculpture Garden at Campbell Park, 501 East North Avenue in Lampasas, Texas.

Return to Table of Contents

West Region

 

California Roadside Attractions

Carbazon Dinosaurs

Roadside attraction submitted by Maggie of From Toddler to Traveler

“Looming out of the desert as you drive along I-10, the Cabazon Dinosaurs compel you to stop and act out all your dino-fantasies. Visit Large Marge and Dinny the Apatosaur made famous in movies like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and The Wizard. Once the home of a creationist museum, this roadside attraction now has an air-conditioned gift shop filled with animatronic prehistoric creatures as well as an outdoor park area where you can pan for gold and climb aboard the giant dinosaurs.”

Earthbound Organic Farmstand and Organic Café

Roadside attraction submitted by Darla of Fun Fitness Family

“Earthbound Farm Organic Farm Stand is a short detour off Pacific Coastal Highway and Carmel-by-the-Sea. This farm is where a lot of organic produce comes from so it is an interesting stop for those interested in agriculture! It offers garden tours, a market, an organic café, and a Kids’ Alphabet Garden. Check out their Facebook page for seasonal events.”

Solvang Danish Village

Roadside attraction submitted by Darla of Fun Fitness Family

“Three hours south on the Pacific Coastal Highway, you’ll find the most charming Danish town in Santa Barbara County named one of the ‘10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the Western United States’ by Sunset magazine! Spend some time wandering shops and tasting wine in this quaint European village complete with a full-sized windmill! Don’t miss out on the ‘Paula’s Special’ authentic Danish pancakes topped with fruit and fresh whipped cream at Paula’s Pancake House.”

Ostrichland USA

Roadside attraction submitted by Darla of Fun Fitness Family

OstrichLand is located right outside of the Danish Village of Solvang and makes another nice stop of Pacific Coastal Highway. Kids and adults alike will love feeding the personality-filled ostriches and emus! The experience is unforgettable!

Return to Table of Contents

Colorado Roadside Attractions

Bishop Castle

Roadside attraction submitted by Tara at Travel Plus Family

On a lonely road in the beautiful San Isabel National Forest of southern Colorado stands Bishop Castle, a quirky castle built of iron, stone, and dreams. For more than a century, Jim Bishop slowly built his namesake castle based off his boyhood dreams. The finished castle, complete with an impressive iron dragon, is three stories tall and contains a grand ballroom, towers, and bridges. Bishop Castle is always open and admission is free!

Eagle Rest Area Caboose

A quick stop at the Eagle Rest Area off from I-70 as we roadtripped across Colorado ended up being way more fun than we expected it to be. Not only was the rest area a lovely place for a picnic with its views of the Colorado River, but it has a Rio Grande Caboose on site. Our family was thrilled to find that the caboose is open for travelers to walk through. Delightful!

Dinosaur Ridge

A little west of Denver and just off C-470 is Dinosaur Ridge. Any dinosaur enthusiast will love this stop where you can see actual fossilized dinosaur footprints. Walk the Dinosaur Ridge Trail for free, or purchase an affordable Adventure Pass which gains you access to the exhibit halls, a guided shuttle bus tour, the Discovery Center, and more.

Georgetown Loop Train

Have you seen the traffic on I70 near Denver during rush hour? We did a couple years ago during our family road trip across the country. Yikes!! When we could no longer stand the stop-and-go traffic, we hopped off the interstate at exit 226 and were delighted to discover the Georgetown Loop Train right off the exit. While the rest of Denver was stuck in traffic, we were enjoying a ride on a narrow gauge train over the ominous sounding Devil’s Gate Bridge.

Return to Table of Contents

Nevada Roadside Attractions

Seven Magic Mountains

Roadside attraction submitted by Megan of Red Around the World

Seven Magic Mountains is a cool, but temporary, sculpture piece in the Nevada desert, just a short drive from the Las Vegas strip.  Seeing as most people fly into Las Vegas or Los Angeles to start a Southwest US road trip, this is the perfect roadside stop.  It’s easy to get to, involves no hiking, and is just a cool thing to see if you’re in the area.  Seven Magic Mountains is a temporary sculpture by Ugo Rondinone, a Swiss artist living in New York.  It’s only around until May of 2018, so time is running out to see it.  If you can’t make it to this, there is one mountain in Miami as well.

 Return to Table of Contents

Washington Roadside Attractions

Gum Wall

Roadside attraction submitted by Monica of In The Muse

“In a dimly lit stretch of Pike Place Market’s Post Alley in Seattle, the barely discernible brick wall pops with the colors of thousands of gum wads. In the early 1990s, patrons of the Market Theater placed wads of gum with coins adhered to them on the wall. Despite repeated early clean-up efforts by theater workers, the idea stuck and has become a popular attraction at the market. Some people have written their names in the gum graffiti, and some sections even feature gum ‘stalactites.’ If you’re a germophobe, do not touch! The Gum Wall was named the second ‘germiest’ attraction in the world by Trip Advisor!”

 Return to Table of Contents

 

What is YOUR Favorite United States Roadside Attraction?

Is your favorite roadside attraction on this list? Let me know in the comments. If your favorite is not already included in this list, maybe I can add it.

SIDE NOTE: Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this list of United states roadside attractions – friends, family, travel bloggers and tourism bureaus. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Happy travels, everyone!

P.S. Don’t forget to pin this post for future reference!

 

 

Are you following our minivan on social media yet? If not, please check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.