10 American Roadside Oddities That Are Actually Worth A Stop

From coast to coast, a trove of eccentric sites dot America’s highways and byways, bringing curiosity and delight to an otherwise monotonous road trip. From colossal sculptures that seem to sprout from nowhere to a museum designed entirely around the weird, these road trip pit stops are a living homage to one of Wernie’s favorite mantras: “The journey is as fun as the destination itself.” Out of these 10 oddball attractions, there is  an air of hometown creativity that can turn a routine pit stop into a story you’ll consider worth telling your friends.

Cadillac Ranch – Amarillo, Texas A 

Half a dozen Cadillacs sit buried nose first in a Texas field, tailfins reaching for the sky. Conceived as art in the 1970s, Cadillac Ranch has evolved into a revolving canvas, with passers by leaving their mark with spray paint. The graffiti layers are decades of color and creativity. It’s an eccentric celebration of American car culture and free expression, just off the old Route 66.

Wall Drug – Wall, South Dakota 

From a small drug store in the 1930s to one of America’s most iconic roadside attractions. “Free Ice Water” at Wall Drug lured weary travelers bound across the open prairie, and grew into a sprawling draw filled with Western kitsch, cafes, and selfie ops. It’s as much a throwback as it is nouveau retro, the quintessential pause along the long journey to the Black Hills that never, ever disappoints.

Salvation Mountain – Niland, California 

In the California desert, one man’s idea became a mountain of faith and joy. Salvation Mountain, by Leonard Knight, is a hand made hill made of adobe and coated with paint, scripture, and “some of the most extraordinary folk art in America”. Made of adobe, straw, and passion, it glows against the arid desert behind it. Entire families wander down its sun flooded paths, emerging inspired by one man’s faith that kindness and art are eternal.

 The Mystery Spot – Santa Cruz, California 

The redwooded environs south of Santa Cruz give us the Mystery Spot, where the laws of physics and reason are bent. Here, balls roll up rather than downhill, and visitors tilt at impossible angles. Illusion or magnetism, the experience pleases everyone who enters. This enduring slice of kitsch, a classic tasteless curiosity of the roadside since the ’40s, is proof that nothing makes the miles more memorable than an unexplained marvel.

Carhenge – Alliance, Nebraska 

In a Nebraska field, one finds homage to Stonehenge, not in stone, but in vintage cars. Carhenge, built by Jim Reinders in 1987, replicates the ancient monument with gray painted cars. It’s a parody and an art piece that turns moribund vehicles into a cultural icon. It’s also given the place an oddly poetic, good luck feeling among visitors; a burial ground of sorts, reminding us that even in forsaken ruins, there is potential for creative reuse.

The World’s Largest Ball of Twine-Cawker City, Kansas

What began as the pastime of one man has blossomed into a record breaking testament to small town pride. The World’s Largest Ball of Twine is literally made up of tons of twine, added to by visitors who make their own contributions. Yes, there is a certain charm in its simplicity a quirky little testament to community spirit and absurd ambition that keeps travelers pulling over for photos and laughs year after year.

Foamhenge – Natural Bridge, Virginia

Foamhenge is an ironic tribute to Stonehenge that recreates the grandeur using everything from massive blocks of Styrofoam. The full scale replica, built by the artist Mark Cline, was raised to honor creativity and curiosity. Against the scenic hills of Virginia, it seems both ridiculous and extremely impressive. Visitors will admire the craft and the whimsy, and depart with a renewed sense of wonder at roadside ingenuity.

The Corn Palace – Mitchell, South Dakota

The Corn Palace is more than a building; it’s an ever changing piece of agricultural art. Outside, it’s adorned annually with murals fashioned from nothing but corn, grains, and native grasses. Locals are proud of it and tout their state’s harvest heritage. Motorists pull over to marvel at the designs, a reminder that even corn can inspire true wonder on the open road.

African Elephant of the Jersey Shore – Margate, New Jersey

Twelve stories high by the beach in New Jersey, Lucy the Elephant has stood watch there since the 1880s. This architectural oddity was built as a real estate lure and has since become an adored mascot. But visitors can clamor inside for some ocean vistas from her howdah. Half history and half whimsy, Lucy speaks to this country’s ingrained affection for the oddball, emerging from fires, wilting storms, and decades of traffic to continue welcoming visitors.

Prada Marfa – Marfa, Texas

In the middle of the Texas desert, there is a four room high end boutique that never opens. Prada Marfa is a permanent sculpture made to look like a designer store, complete with bags and shoes inside. It is a searing commentary on consumerism in the heart of nowhere. Travelers pause to snap an image of the surreal juxtaposition; modern art meets the infinite highway void at its most surprising.