10 Of The Best Roadside Attractions In The US
As someone who's been to about 44 states, I can say I've learned a lot and have seen some weird stuff on the road. The US is littered with tourist traps and oddball roadside attractions. People will travel hours just to see some of the really random ones, like the classic Largest Ball of Twine or the entire town of Roswell, New Mexico.
Here are some of my personal favorite roadside attractions that I've been to in the US.
1. Wall’s Drug Store - South Dakota
After you pass the border into South Dakota, you will immediately see signs for Wall Drugs. The signs start about 200 miles away, with a countdown to the exit to get to this place. The signs announce “Wall’s Drugs, Fresh Coffee, 195 Miles Ahead”, or “Wall’s Drugs, Homemade Pies, 75 Miles Ahead”. Every sign says something different, and when you finally get there they all hold true to form. This is a huge tourist trap. It features a restaurant, several gift shops, several photo ops, and, of course, a drug store. It’s a nice pit stop on your way to Mount Rushmore.
2. Farmers Museum - New York
Located in Cooperstown (Home to the Baseball Hall of Fame), is this oddball museum. It's history on upstate New York, an example of an old farm, and houses some weird memorabilia from New Yorks's past. One of the oddest things on the grounds is the Cardiff Giant; a Barnum-esque sideshow attraction. It’s a giant piece of rock carved into the shape of a person. There’s also a lot of Jelll-o and Lifesaver memorabilia, two candies from the area.
3. South of the Border - South Carolina
If you've ever driven down the East Coast to Disney World, you've definitely passed South of the Border. When you cross from North to South Carolina, you'll see a giant man with a sombrero straddling a gift shop. There’s also a restaurant, motor lodge, and a reptile park. It's a fun spot to stop and take pictures.
4. Reading Pagoda - Pennsylvania
Someone literally thought to slap a full-sized Chinese-style pagoda on the top of a hill in Reading, PA. It was meant to be a restaurant or hotel, but the roadway up to the top made it too dangerous for nighttime travel and now rests as a tourist stop. It’s a great ride for motorcyclists because the road to the top of the mountain is very windy. There’s also a great view from the top.
5. Cape Cod Potato Chip Tour - Massachusetts
Cape Cod is known for beaches and the original landing point of the pilgrims, but there's also a potato chip company that produces products right on the cape. The lovely little chip factory is a great rainy day activity for anyone. You can enter the factory, see how the chips are made, and leave with a free bag of chips. It’s a quick little tour but still fun.
6. Corn Palace - South Dakota
Another random stop on the road to nowhere in South Dakota. In the town of Mitchell, there sits a giant building with the exterior entirely decorated with multicolored corn husks. They have an annual summer festival around the palace. There’s a gift shop inside the palace and the area is full of corn-related restaurants and shops. It’s truly a-maize-ing.
7. Herkimer Diamond Mine - New York
Just outside Utica, Herkimer is a tiny town famous for its diamonds. Herkimer diamonds aren't actually diamonds, instead, they are very hard forms of quartz. The town hosts a diamond mine. For a small fee, you can get a hammer and daily access to the mine. Whatever you find, you can either keep or sell to the shop. They also offer the possibility of making it into a necklace, earrings, or a ring. They have a lovely campground, restaurant, gift shop, and education center on-site.
8. Our Lady of The Pines- West Virginia
West Virginia is one of those places where there isn't much to see. However, Our Lady of the Pines is an adorable little pitstop. Nestled off a quiet street is a teeny tiny little church. It has only six teeny pews. Next door is an equally tiny post office that only has the window open on Friday the 13th. Postcards boast it as “the smallest church in the lower 48” but the claim is controversial. Regardless, it's still adorable.
9. One Log Home - California
While my family was driving around lost on the Avenue of the Giants, trying to find Redwood National Forest, we stumbled upon many tree-themed roadside stops. This one was super fun. Basically, one man cut down a big tree and carved the inside into a house. It was even on wheels, touring the country for a while. You can walk through it, sit down at the table, and then of course enjoy a gift shop or a snack from the cafe.
10. Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour - Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was once a huge coal mining state and remnants of that golden age of industrialism are still present all over the place. One of the best, and one that has turned into a tourist attraction. Nestled just outside Scranton in the mountains, the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour is in a state park dedicated to the coal mining history. You can board a cart and be lowered deep into the mines where a guide will tell you the history, how coal was mined, and even a story or two about the locals. It makes you grateful for not having to be a coal miner!
The United States has hundreds of oddball attractions worthy of a stop or two. Some are historical, some are comical, some are just flat-out tourist traps. Regardless, don't be afraid to explore!
Opinions and Perspectives
Found four perfect crystals at Herkimer. Made them into necklaces for my kids.
Had my first date with my wife at the Reading Pagoda. Now its our special place.
Wall Drug bumper sticker collection spans three generations in my family.
Cape Cod factory tour might be short but those warm fresh chips make up for it.
The coal mine tour really puts modern work complaints in perspective.
Did anyone actually drink the free ice water at Wall Drug? I was too scared.
South of the Border billboards are an art form unto themselves.
The coal mine guide told the best stories. Really brought history to life.
South of the Border hat collection is legendary. Must have tried on twenty different ones.
Tried mining at Herkimer in the rain. Muddy but actually easier to spot the crystals!
One Log Home makes you realize just how massive those redwoods really are.
Wall Drug free ice water saved us during a heat wave. Marketing genius right there.
Spent three hours at Herkimer and found nothing. Still had fun though!
The Corn Palace looks different every time I visit. Always fun to see the new designs.
Never understood the appeal of Wall Drug until I drove across South Dakota. Those signs really work their magic.
Can confirm about the Farmers Museum Jell-O collection. Its surprisingly extensive!
Found my best souvenir ever at Wall Drug. A jackalope mounted on wood. So ridiculous I had to have it.
The coal mine tour changed my perspective on mining history. Really eye-opening experience.
South of the Border needs a major update but I still stop every time.
Herkimer is better than most realize. The camping area is actually really nice.
The Pagoda got struck by lightning when I visited. Made for quite the spectacular show!
Finally someone mentions Our Lady of the Pines! Such an overlooked gem.
The Corn Palace feels like something from a fever dream. But in a good way.
Took my kids to the Cape Cod chip factory and now they insist on only eating those chips. My wallet is not happy!
I worked at South of the Border one summer in college. The stories I could tell...
Anyone remember the old Wall Drug bumper stickers? My grandparents car had one for decades.
The Cardiff Giant exhibit is fascinating. Love how they embrace the whole hoax aspect of it now.
Thanks for mentioning the Lackawanna tour. Been living in PA for years and never knew about it. Adding it to my summer plans!
Wall Drug is like stepping into a time machine. Feels like pure Americana from the 1950s.
The One Log Home makes me sad thinking about cutting down such an ancient tree just for a tourist attraction.
I remember being so excited to see Pedro at South of the Border as a kid. Now it feels pretty problematic with all the stereotyping.
Farmers Museum is actually really educational. The Cardiff Giant story is wild - America's first major hoax!
These places remind me of simpler times before everyone just rushed to their destination on the interstate.
The Reading Pagoda looks so out of place but that's what makes it special. Great spot for sunset photos.
To the person asking about Herkimer mining - absolutely worth it! Bring work gloves and safety glasses. Found some beautiful crystals last time.
Wall Drug is the definition of a tourist trap. Five dollars for a cup of coffee? No thanks.
Our Lady of the Pines is adorable but getting harder to find. GPS kept leading us wrong but worth the hunt once we found it.
Just visited One Log Home last month. Amazing to think someone actually traveled around living in it! Those redwoods are something else.
That coal mine tour sounds fascinating. My grandfather was a coal miner in PA and I'd love to understand more about what his life was like.
The Cape Cod chip factory tour is way too short now. They used to let you see more of the process but scaled it back. At least the free samples are still good!
Strongly disagree about the Corn Palace being disappointing. The craftsmanship that goes into those murals is incredible. They change them every year!
South of the Border is so tacky but that's what makes it fun! Been stopping there since I was a kid on family trips to Florida.
Has anyone actually tried mining at Herkimer? I'm planning a trip there this summer with my geology-obsessed nephew.
The Corn Palace was honestly disappointing. Drove hours out of our way to see it and while the corn art is impressive, it's basically just a gym with a gift shop.
I love Wall Drug! Those signs really build up the anticipation. My kids counted them all the way from Minnesota. The free ice water tradition is such a smart marketing move.