A lifelike mannequin dressed as Cleopatra with dramatic makeup, ornate headdress, and a beaded gold outfit, illuminated by warm light.

8 Unusual Roadside Attractions Worth Stopping For in the U.S.

ByNatalie Rushing

There are two types of travelers: those who want to get there as fast as possible and those who try to enjoy the journey, because getting there is half the adventure. I’ve been both, depending on my mood, but lately I’m Team Enjoy the Journey. I’m a sucker for unusual roadside attractions–if I see a sign saying World’s Largest anything, I’m pullin’ over. I almost never plan to stop at these attractions–I just see signs for them and say, you know what, I’m stopping for a look.

So with that being said, here are some roadside attractions I’d recommend plus what makes an attraction worth stopping for to me.

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A woman in sunglasses and maroon clothing stands inside a large black metal sculpture with the words BRANDON, IOWA written on it, in a grassy outdoor area on a sunny day.

If this is Iowa’s largest, just imagine the world’s largest!

Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan

Brandon, IA

I always stop here when I pass through, and I tell everyone else to do the same. It’s located close to the interstate and takes only a few minutes to get your fill of fryin’ pan goodness. Just imagine the flapjacks you could make on this thing…

A gray, dome-shaped metal pod with a hatch and control dials sits on a concrete platform surrounded by dense green bamboo and plants in bright sunlight.

UFO at Abita Mystery House

Abita Mystery House

Abita Springs, LA

Okay, this is my kind of weird. For the low, low price of 5 bucks, you can walk through the Abita Mystery House, a collection of odd art displays and other weird stuff arranged in unique ways. Here’s what I mean…

A colorful diorama titled Martians at Mardi Gras displays small figurines in festive poses, a large Mardi Gras float with a jester mask, and miniature buildings, all enclosed in a glass case with reflections.

A vintage arcade machine displays a scene with a mannequin scientist and a floating, severed head. The mannequin has disheveled hair, wires, and a spider nearby, with illuminated buttons labeled START and AFTER at the bottom.

Pro tip: bring quarters if you want to interact with these art displays. You’ll walk through a few small buildings which will lead to an open area out back where the UFO is. You can climb inside if you’d like, but…it was kinda gross in there. A great way to spend about half an hour!

A tall, pyramid-shaped outdoor sculpture made of assorted metal objects and junk items, forming an archway people can walk through; trees and blue sky are visible in the background.

Cathedral of Junk

Austin, TX

The Cathedral of Junk is a multi-level structure made of…well, junk, housed in the back yard of an Austin resident. It’s not just any old junk though–each “room” has a theme, and every piece is carefully chosen. Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour marveling at all the junk here.

A wall made of glass bottles and bricks is decorated with old blue TVs and a speaker. Sunlight filters through the scene, and part of an American flag is visible at the top left.

Looking up through a dome made of eclectic, recycled materials like metal, glass, and colorful signs, with blue sky and sunlight visible through gaps, creating a kaleidoscopic, artistic ceiling.

Preeeetty…

Alecpie, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota

Darwin, MN

Weird Al even wrote a song about this one! Sitting in a gazebo in Minnesota is the largest ball of twine in the world rolled by one person, and it took him 29 years. Apparently there’s a larger ball of twine in Kansas, but I guess they had two people for that one.

A small white two-story house with green door, flower boxes under the windows, and a brick sidewalk and street in the foreground, set against a sunny blue sky.

Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home and Museum

Hannibal, MO

If you ever drive through Hannibal, MO, you’ll see that everything is Mark Twain-themed–casinos, convenience stores, etc. That’s where Twain grew up, and you can visit the home he and his family lived in throughout his formative years. This is a longer attraction–perfect if you need a longer leg stretch. Plan to spend at least an hour here, as there are several buildings and a lot of things to do here.

A historical marker in front of a white wooden fence reads: Tom Sawyer’s Fence. Here stood the board fence which Tom Sawyer persuaded his gang to pay him for the privilege of whitewashing. Tom sat by and saw that it was well done.

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A historical room display features antique wooden furniture, books on a desk, a bust and plaque of Mark Twain, and a white statue of him near a quote on a standing banner, all set against pink walls and windows with white curtains.

If you have a little longer in Hannibal, check out the Mark Twain Caves as well.

Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Robbie’s of Islamorada

Islamorada, FL

If you’re road tripping through the Florida Keys, it’s a must to stop at Robbie’s of Islamorada. This may be a longer stop depending on how much you want to do there. Feed live tarpon with your bare hands (or just watch other people do it) and have a bite to eat (maybe wash your hands first). They also have activities like parasailing, snorkeling, and sunset cruises.

A lifelike mannequin dressed as Cleopatra with dramatic makeup, ornate headdress, and a beaded gold outfit, illuminated by warm light.

Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum

St. Louis, MO

Don’t go in expecting a Hollywood Wax Museum–this is a much creepier, dimly-lit, unkempt version. Again, this is my kind of weird. The wax statues are delightfully creepy and don’t look at all real, and that’s what makes it fun.

A life-sized figure in a black-and-white striped suit with wild white hair and dark eye makeup stands behind a chain-link fence in dim lighting, resembling a character from a horror or Halloween display.
Wax figures depicting The Last Supper are arranged behind glass, with Jesus and his disciples gathered around a long table against a brick wall. Nameplates identify each figure.

Love the office name displays…

Large painted concrete buoy at night reads “Southernmost Point Continental U.S.A. 90 miles to Cuba, Key West, FL, Home of the Sunset.” The base is wet and there are metal barriers in the background.

Southernmost Point in the U.S.

Key West, FL

Okay, if you’re in Key West, you can’t not go here. Seriously. You’ll stumble across it while walking around, and there’s usually a giant line. That’s why I returned at midnight. Only con was no one was around to take my picture.

Final Thoughts: What Actually Makes a Roadside Stop Worth It to me

Here’s what I consider when deciding whether to stop or not:

  • How long will this take?
  • Will this make me laugh or teach me something?
  • Do I need a break from the monotony of whatever road trip I’m on?

If the answer to #1 is less than an hour and the other two are yeses, I’m stopping. Period.

I hope my list has inspired you to find your own silly stops on your next road trip and to take the time to enjoy them!

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A woman in sunglasses stands in front of a large black sign reading Brandon, Iowa under bright blue sky. Text overlays above her read Travel Guide: Unusual Roadside Attractions and outsiderodyssey.com.

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