The Weirdest Thing You’ll Find on the Road in the American States
The Grand Canyon is old news, and we can skip the Statue of Liberty for a minute. America’s real treasures lie off the beaten path, waiting to be discovered on your next road trip. We’re talking about roadside oddities, the quirky attractions that make you slam on the brakes and yell, “What is that?!” That’s right! We’ve rounded up the weirdest of the weird from every single state.
Kansas: The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things, Lucas
Credit: Facebook
Meta alert! This tiny traveling museum by Erika Nelson features miniature replicas of America’s most outlandish roadside attractions. Think miniature versions of the world’s biggest ketchup bottle or cheese curd. It’s a chance to see all these oddities in miniature form, making the whole concept even weirder.
Where to Stay in Lucas, Kansas
Alabama: Souvenir City, Gulf Shores
Credit: flickr
This behemoth gift shop boasts a giant concrete shark as its entrance. Inside? An endless assault of touristy goodness, from gator heads to beach clothes.
Where to Stay in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Alaska: Hammer Museum, Haines
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Calling all hammer enthusiasts! This roadside stop off Haines Highway features over 2,000 hammers on display, some dating back to Roman times.
Where to Stay in Haines, Alaska
Illinois: Leaning Tower of Niles, Niles
Credit: flickr
While not quite as dramatic as its Italian cousin, the Leaning Tower of Niles is a fun Midwestern oddity. Built in 1934 to disguise a water tower, it holds its own at 94 feet tall with a 7.4-foot lean. Snap a photo pretending to hold it upright for peak tourist fun.
Best Places to Stay in Niles, Illinois
Georgia: Doll’s Head Trail, Atlanta
Credit: pexels
Nestled deep within Constitution Lakes Park lies a truly creepy sight: the Doll’s Head Trail. This interactive art installation, created by a local carpenter, features hundreds of muddy, discarded doll heads arranged throughout the woods. A unique and unsettling experience for the adventurous soul.
Where to Stay in Atlanta, Georgia
Arizona: Rainbow Rock Shop, Holbrook
Credit: flickr
Take a trip back in time with these giant cement dinosaurs outside the Rainbow Rock Shop on Route 66. You can even pose with them for a quintessentially weird photo op.
Where to Stay in Holbrook, Arizona
Arkansas: Giant Budweiser Can, Lavaca
Credit: Facebook
Just outside of Fort Smith, a massive 50-foot silo is painted to look like a vintage Budweiser can. A beacon for thirsty travelers (or beer enthusiasts with excellent taste in roadside attractions).
Where to Stay in Lavaca, Arkansas
California: Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune. Believing she was haunted by the ghosts of those killed by her family’s guns, she constructed a labyrinthine house designed to confuse and deter the spirits. Think secret passages, dead-end hallways, and windows overlooking other rooms.
Best Places to Stay in San Jose, California
Colorado: Bishop Castle, Rye
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
This 160-foot castle, built entirely by one man, Jim Bishop, is a monument to his eccentric vision. Explore the stone and steel structure, complete with a drawbridge, fire-breathing dragon, and quirky hand-painted signs expressing Jim’s personal philosophies.
Best Places to Stay in Rye, Colorado
Connecticut: PEZ Visitors Center, Orange
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Calling all candy lovers! This wonderland features the world’s most comprehensive collection of PEZ dispensers. Think characters from the past century, giant candy benches, and the world’s largest PEZ dispenser. It’s a high-tech, high-camp celebration of this iconic candy.
Best Places to stay in Orange, Connecticut
Delaware: Oddporium, Arden
Credit: X
This self-proclaimed “gallery of the peculiar and bizarre” lives up to its name. Browse vintage electroshock therapy kits, embalming pumps, and even jewelry made from bat skulls. It is not for the faint of heart, but definitely unforgettable.
Best Places to stay in Arden, Delaware
Florida: Monkey Island, Homosassa
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Head to the Homosassa River and meet a colony of spider monkeys who call this island home. They were relocated here after a history of causing mischief on the mainland (think pickpocketing and vandalism). Now, they enjoy a life of luxury, watched over by tourists from the safety of the Homosassa Resort.
Where to stay in Homosassa, Florida
Hawaii: Pineapple Garden Maze, Wahiawa
Credit: Facebook
Forget corn mazes; this Hawaiian gem boasts the title of “World’s Largest Botanical Maze.” Wander through over three acres and 14,000 pineapple plants, navigating your way to the giant pineapple center. A tropical twist on a classic challenge.
Best Places to stay in Wahiawa, Hawaii
Idaho: Oasis Bordello Museum, Wallace
Credit: iStockphoto
Step back in time at this former brothel, frozen in time since its closure in 1988. Explore the rooms with their original furnishings, including vintage dresses, gas lamps, and antique guns. The basement holds a particularly creepy vibe, and the tour even includes a peek at some old VHS tapes encased in glass.
Best Places to stay in Wallace, Idaho
Indiana: World’s Largest Ball of Paint, Alexandria
Credit: Threads
Once a humble baseball, this behemoth now weighs over 10,000 pounds thanks to more than four decades of paint accumulation by visitors. A giant ball of paint might not be the most aesthetically pleasing sight, but it’s definitely a contender for the title of “World’s Oddest Ball.”
Where to stay in Alexandria, Indiana
Iowa: The Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk, Riverside
Credit: flickr
Beam yourself up to Riverside, Iowa, the proclaimed future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk of Star Trek fame! While Kirk won’t be arriving until March 22, 2228, you can visit the monument dedicated to him and explore the Voyage Home Riverside History Center. It’s a haven for Star Trek fans, filled with memorabilia and celebrating the town’s connection to the iconic sci-fi series.
Where to stay in Riverside, Iowa
Kentucky: Dinosaur World, Cave City
Credit: flickr
Calling all dino enthusiasts! Dinosaur World boasts a staggering collection of life-sized prehistoric giants. From T-Rexes to raptors, these behemoths roam a dog-friendly property, perfect for a quirky family outing. And for good measure, there are even woolly mammoths you can climb on – a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids (and maybe some adventurous adults, too).
Best Places to stay in Cave City, Kentucky
Louisiana: The Britney Spears Museum (unofficial) at Kentwood Historical & Cultural Museum, Kentwood
Credit: X
You can’t escape pop culture on your road trip! This unofficial shrine to Britney Spears is tucked away inside an old funeral home in Kentwood. Packed with memorabilia like calendars, dolls, and even life-sized cutouts from her Femme Fatale tour, it’s a must-visit for any Britney fan. The pièce de résistance? A recreation of her childhood bedroom was relocated from her parents’ house nearby.
Best Places to stay in Kentwood, Louisiana
Maine: Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls
Credit: Facebook
Don’t let the name fool you. Wild Blueberry Land is a full-fledged, seven-acre blueberry-themed amusement park! Delightfully housed within a giant blue geodesic dome shaped like half a blueberry, this family-run park offers something for everyone. Learn about sustainable farming, play mini-golf, indulge in blueberry treats at the bakery, and, of course, take that obligatory photo in front of the giant blueberry dome.
Where to stay in Columbia Falls, Maine
Maryland: The William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History, Linthicum Heights
Credit: Youtube
Here’s a truly unique museum experience. This free national urology museum delves into the fascinating (and sometimes cringeworthy) history of urology. Explore medical oddities like Victorian anti-masturbation devices, historical medical tools, and other artifacts related to men’s health.
Where to stay in Linthicum Heights, Maryland